Latest news with #Ashbourne
The Sun
3 days ago
- Business
- The Sun
Our once thriving town is dying thanks to MONTHS of roadwork hell – pubs empty, shops shut & tourists can't stand racket
A ONCE-thriving town and gateway to one of Britain's 'Seven Wonders' has become a "ghost town" - with tourists "actively avoiding it". Horrendous roadworks and noise pollution are making the popular staycation destination a "nightmare" for visitors, locals and traders say. 19 19 19 Located on the southern edge of the Peak District, Ashbourne is undergoing a huge and costly redevelopment to make its roads narrower and footpaths wider. But blocked off streets, dug-up roads and piercing noise from heavy machinery are driving visitors away from the picturesque Derbyshire town, according to residents. The high street, which is home to quaint shopfronts and inviting pubs, is instead littered with bright orange barriers, diggers and road closed signs - and could kill off trade altogether, locals fume. Business owners have slammed the council over the £15m Ashbourne Reborn campaign, which has heavily impacted footfall and caused shops to take in as little as £10 a day. The roadworks, which have forced several local shops to close, are not scheduled to finish until at least October - well after the summer influx of tourists. It's become a ghost town and it's become survival of the fittest because shoppers and tourists are simply avoiding us, which is very sad. Georgina Ashworthshop owner Georgina Ashworth, owner of local shop Pretty Things, said: "Visitors and shoppers are thinking twice about coming here, and businesses are closing down. "It's become a ghost town and it's become survival of the fittest because shoppers and tourists are simply avoiding us, which is very sad. 19 19 19 "They can't just nip across the road to browse and buy in many shops because the place is dug up and it's so noisy, people are walking around with their fingers in their ears. "The roadworks have been going on for months and have driven everyone away. People are avoiding Ashbourne. "[The council] have not offered any compensation for loss of business and it seems to be getting worse, rather than better. I visited creepy ghost town on tropical island - there is one building open "Shops are closing - the vintage clothing shop across the road shut its doors last weekend and more will follow. It's a shame. "If there are any visitors, it will put them off coming back again." She told how even local residents had been outfoxed by the confusing layout and rampant roadworks. The council -run project has seen excavators targeting all routes in and out of town, causing traffic chaos and delays. Jacob Hackett, who works at The Bridge Pub, said business was so bad the boozer had started closing early. The bartender said: "We're just not getting the footfall. 19 19 19 "We've had roadworks outside for two months and the noise from the machinery drives you mad! "Normally we get a lot of tourists and passing trade but they're not coming into town. "We're open from midday to 11pm but the other day we closed at 3pm because we had no customers." Whilst pedestrians can still access the streets on narrow, sealed-off footpaths, no vehicles can enter. Traders have pointed to the summer months as being crucial for the survival of small businesses in the area. But the chaos of excavators running rampant through the town centre poses a serious threat to shopkeepers' livelihoods. 19 19 Jo Hall, owner of The Olde Sweet Shoppe, told Derbyshire Live: "I do not understand why there was no impact assessment done. "It could have given businesses hope as to what positive impact we can expect after the losses we're facing this summer. "It's summers that get you through the winters. Next autumn and winter, I believe we will see a lot of shops struggle. "Ashbourne is made up of micro-businesses, most of us traders here don't have another shop somewhere else to fall back on. "It may well be that shop after shop just can't cope." Ms Hall's shop is now only accessible by a narrow, dead-end footpath. Derbyshire County Council apologised for the disruption but insisted the town was still accessible and "open for business". A council spokesperson said: 'We understand that local people, traders and visitors are feeling frustrated with the roadworks in Ashbourne at the moment and would like to offer our apologies for any inconvenience they are causing. "We were always mindful that the works would cause disruption, but business are open and accessible and Ashbourne is still very much open for business. 19 19 'We are working with all our partners, including Derbyshire Dales District Council, to do all we can to both speed up the roadworks and work with traders to address any specific concerns they may have. "Once the work is finished Ashbourne will be a much better place to visit.' Derbyshire has developed a reputation for its quirky spa towns, rich history and grand country homes. Ashbourne has previously been hailed as an "underrated" getaway, providing a cheaper option for Brits looking to book somewhere close to the national park. It is often referred to as "the gateway to Dovedale" - a popular valley in the Peak District which was hailed as one of the seven wonders of the UK by the Royal Geographical Society in 2021. According to analysis by Independent Cottages, the town has gained more attention in recent years than more celebrated staycation spots in the area, including places like Bakewell. 19 Ashbourne is home to more than 200 listed buildings, including Grade I listed Old Grammar School and The Greenman Pub. Another landmark in the area is St Oswald's Parish Church, which boasts an impressive 212ft high spire. It is also famed for its globally renowned gingerbread, which was allegedly brought to the town during the Napoleonic War. Legend has it that the recipe was given to a local by the personal chef of a captured French general, who was being held captive there at the beginning of the 19th Century. The black and white timber-framed gingerbread shop can still be seen in the roadwork-ridden town centre today. Once a year, locals participate in a peculiar sporting tradition known as Shrovetide Football. Taking place on Shrove Tuesday, the annual event is played over two eight-hour periods, with the goals spaced three miles apart and players able to handle the ball. The games can often become quite violent due to the lack of rules. Local shops and businesses have taken to boarding up their windows in anticipation of the spectacle - but they could be boarding their businesses up for good if the town continues to be plagued by roadworks.
BreakingNews.ie
25-05-2025
- BreakingNews.ie
Woman dies after being hit by car in Co Meath
A woman has died after being struck by a car in Co Meath. The pedestrian, in her 60s, was involved in a collision on the Dublin Road (R135) in Ashbourne at around 7:10pm on Saturday. Advertisement She was pronounced dead at the scene. Her body was taken to the mortuary at Our Lady's Hospital Navan, where a post-mortem examination will be conducted. The male driver and passenger of the car, both in their 20s, were taken to Connolly Hospital Blanchardstown for treatment to injuries that are not believed to be life-threatening. The road remained closed on Saturday night, pending a technical examination by Garda forensic collision investigators. Advertisement Gardaí have appealed for witnesses to the incident to come forward.
Irish Times
24-05-2025
- Irish Times
Gardaí appeal for witnesses following fatal collision in Meath
Gardaí have appealed for witnesses following a fatal road traffic collision involving a car and a pedestrian, at Dublin Road (R135), in Ashbourne, Co Meath, on Saturday. Gardaí and emergency services responded to reports of the collision, which occurred at about 7.10pm. The pedestrian, a woman aged in her 60s, was pronounced dead at the scene. Her body was removed to Our Lady's Hospital, Navan, where a postmortem examination is expected to place. READ MORE The male driver and passenger of the car, aged in their 20s, were conveyed to Connolly Hospital Blanchardstown for treatment of injuries believed to be non-life-threatening. The road was closed pending technical examination by Garda forensic collision investigators. It was expected to remain closed until mid-afternoon on Sunday. Gardaí are appealing for witnesses to the incident to come forward. Any road users who may have camera footage (including dashcam) and were travelling in the area between 6.30pm and 7.30pm on Saturday are asked to make this footage available to investigating gardaí. Anyone with any information is asked to contact Ashbourne Garda station on (01) 801 0600, the Garda confidential line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda station.
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Yahoo
Student Brings WWII Hand Grenade to School. A Teacher Takes It to Save the Day: 'I Wasn't 100 Percent Happy Carrying It'
An elementary school in England was forced to evacuate after a young student brought a WWII-era hand grenade to school for show and tell on Friday, May 16 The school's head teacher, Jeanette Hart, carried the weapon out of the building and placed it behind a tree as staff waited for authorities to arrive "It was entirely innocent," Hart said of the student who brought the grenade to school. "I don't think he ever really knew what it was. We'd been talking about VE Day, and he knew it was from the war and just thought it was an interesting thing"A bomb squad was called to a British elementary school after a student brought a World War II hand grenade to school for a show-and-tell presentation. According to the BBC, teachers and administrators at Osmaston Church of England Primary School in Ashbourne, England — located about 35 miles outside of Sheffield — were shocked when a boy pulled a World War II-era hand grenade out of his pocket to present at show and tell on Friday, May 16. The school's head teacher, Jeanette Hart, told the outlet that although she didn't know if the grenade was live or not, she carefully took the weapon from the student and carried it outside, leaving it behind a "substantial" tree in the parking lot. "It looked old and I thought it might be safe, but I didn't want to take the risk," Hart said, sharing that the boy had brought the family heirloom to school without telling his parents. "I ended the assembly, took it off him and slowly carried it outside and put it behind a far tree in the car park," she recalled to the BBC. "I wasn't 100% happy carrying it, to be honest." Emergency personnel were called to the school, including officers from the Matlock, Cromford, Wirksworth and Darley Dale Police SNT, who shared that the weapon was a "grade 5 hand grenade" in a Facebook post on Friday. Local police wrote in their statement that military weapons experts were also called to the scene and confirmed that the grenade was not live. "Thanks to the EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) [for] popping along and deeming the device safe (not active), through x-rays — we even got to see those images and [were] told a detailed analysis of how there was nothing that would set the grenade off," police said. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. "It was quite an eventful assembly," Hart added to the BBC of the surprising incident. "It was going fine and there was a boy who brought an old bullet case in, which I knew about, but then his friend produced a hand grenade from his pocket." "That, I was not expecting," she added. Hart also told the outlet that most of the children were not aware of what was happening and were swiftly taken outside. "The children didn't really know what was going on, but they knew something was different and they were excited because they saw the police and because they were playing out when they would have been in school," she said. Hart also told the BBC that she had a "little chat" with the boy and his family after the incident. "It was entirely innocent," she said. "I don't think he ever really knew what it was. We'd been talking about VE [Victory in Europe] Day, and he knew it was from the war and just thought it was an interesting thing." is now available in the Apple App Store! Download it now for the most binge-worthy celeb content, exclusive video clips, astrology updates and more! "His family didn't know [he took it], and they were a little taken aback," she added. In their statement, police warned parents and guardians to keep a close eye on what their kids bring to school. "Just a word of guidance for parents and guardians — double check what your kids are taking to show and tell, especially when they are family heirlooms," they wrote. Read the original article on People
The Independent
17-05-2025
- The Independent
Primary school evacuated after student brings in a grenade for show and tell
A primary school in Derbyshire has had to be evacuated after a student brought a grenade in for a World War II show and tell assembly, it has been reported. Students and staff at Osmaston CofE Primary Care School, in Ashborne, Derbyshire, were evacuated on Friday, and bomb disposal experts were called in. Head teacher Jeanette Hart told the BBC said she was unsure if the device was live, so she took it from the boy and slowly placed it behind a "substantial" tree in the car park as the school was cleared and emergency services were called. "It was quite an eventful assembly," Mrs Hart she said. "It was going fine and there was a boy who brought an old bullet case in, which I knew about, but then his friend produced a hand grenade from his pocket. That, I was not expecting." Bomb disposal experts later established that the grenade was safe. According to the report, the student had brought in the grenade, which was a family heirloom, without telling his parents. Mrs Hart said, "It looked old and I thought it might be safe, but I didn't want to take the risk." "I ended the assembly, took it off him and slowly carried it outside and put it behind a far tree in the car park. I wasn't 100 per cent happy carrying it, to be honest." Police and army bomb disposal experts were called to the scene, and the children and staff moved to safety. Derbyshire Police said army explosives experts determined the grenade was safe using X-ray equipment. Officers praised the school staff for their quick thinking. A spokesman for the Matlock, Cromford, Wirksworth and Darley Dale Police Safer Neighbourhood Team said: "We even got to see those [X-ray] images and [were] told a detailed analysis of how there was nothing that would set the grenade off. "Just a word of guidance for parents and guardians - double check what your kids are taking to show-and-tell, especially when they are family heirlooms."
