Latest news with #DerbyshireDales
Telegraph
4 days ago
- Business
- Telegraph
‘My hut has no running water but the council charged me double tax'
When Derbyshire Dales district council voted to saddle second home owners with double council tax bills, officials argued it would free up more homes for first-time buyers. Those prospective buyers, however, likely have little appetite for a one-bedroom 1920s hutment with no running water, electricity or mains sewage system. And yet the council saw it fit to slap owners John and Fiona Jeffrey with a double council tax bill, amounting to £3,000 a year. Mr Jeffery, 66, and Mrs Jeffery, 63, whose main residence is in Sheffield, are outraged – not least because you would be hard-pressed to call their hutment habitable. It is inaccessible by road and a 40-minute walk from the nearest village. Had the council wanted to inform the couple in writing about the property's new tax bill, they wouldn't have been able to send a letter because there is no postal service. In fact, it is difficult to think of any council service that reaches their property. There is no bin collection or street lighting let alone libraries or schools. And yet, they are one of around 1,000 second home owners in the Derbyshire Dales who must now pay twice as much for these services.
BBC News
23-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
New Ashbourne Park splashpad plan as repair bill thwarts reopening
A replacement is planned for an ageing splashpad at a park in Dales District Council said the 16-year-old facility at Ashbourne Park will not reopen in authority said a new design will cost about £170,000 and residents will be able to have input in what it could look like, with work likely to begin "in late summer".A council spokesperson said it would have cost £10,000 to repair the existing splashpad for one last summer's use due to "serious issues" following the winter break. In 2024, reopening had been delayed into June, missing the May half term school spokesperson said: "We hope local people understand that we can't justify spending that amount of money for around three months of operation up to its removal."Instead, we will be focusing on creating the new splashpad."Elsewhere in the district, a new splashpad opened in Hall Leys Park, Matlock, in April, while a new splashpad is also planned at Bakewell Recreation Ground.
BBC News
10-05-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Derbyshire councillors quit Conservative group to form new party
Two Conservative councillors in Derbyshire have quit the party to start their own group, claiming some of their former colleagues have "forgotten where they come from".Councillors Gareth Gee and Nigel Edwards-Walker, Conservative members of Derbyshire Dales District Council, left the party to form Derbyshire leaves the Conservative group on the district council - which is controlled by a Liberal Democrat-led alliance – down to nine councillors, the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) Sue Hobson, deputy leader of the Derbyshire Dales Conservative group, said it was a "shame" individuals elected two years ago "changed their political allegiance". 'The right time' The councillors, who represent Bakewell and the Dovedale, Parwich and Brassington wards respectively, made the move following a stark local election campaign for the also stood in last week's Derbyshire County Council elections as a Conservative candidate in Matlock but was unsuccessful, with Liberal Democrat Sue Burfoot winning the said: "This is not a decision I have made lightly but it is the right time for me at this part of my career. Politics needs to change and be more local."He told the LDRS the core aim of the new Derbyshire First party was to campaign against new housing targets and to ensure districts and boroughs were not divided through local government council has had its housing targets increased from 216 per year to 580, under reforms announced by the former group leader and now deputy leader of the Derbyshire Dales Conservative group, said: "It is a shame that individuals who have been voted in by residents just two years ago have broken that trust and changed their political allegiance."Rest assured that Derbyshire Dales Conservatives will continue to work hard for their residents."Edmunds-Walker was approached for comment.
Yahoo
19-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Prep school once named ‘best in Britain' by Tatler to close over VAT raid
A 137-year-old prep school once hailed as the 'best in Britain' by Tatler has been forced to close as a result of Labour's VAT raid. St Anselm's School in Bakewell, Derbyshire, told parents this week it would shut at the end of the academic year because of the 'unrelenting headwinds we face' under the Labour Government. As well as the controversial 20pc levy on school fees introduced in January, the school cited the upcoming increases to National Insurance contributions next month as well as the loss of business rates relief. Paul Houghton, chair of the board of governors, said: 'We have simply been left with no alternative. 'Despite our best efforts it has proved difficult to secure a viable future given the headwinds we face. 'We are deeply upset to have reached the point where there are no viable options for St Anselm's as an independent prep school.' The day and boarding school, founded in 1888, and situated in the heart of the Peak District, has struggled in recent years to attract new pupils. There are currently 125 pupils at the school, a decrease from 150 last year. As recently as 2020 it had more than 200 pupils. The difficulty in attracting new pupils came as it was forced to increase its fees by almost £4,000, a rise of 16pc, in January as a result of Labour's decision to levy VAT on education for the first time. Sarah Dines, the former MP for Derbyshire Dales, described the school's closure as a 'real loss'. She said: 'I am not only sad, but angry, that this socialist government seems intent on destroying the independent school sector, part of their ideological attack on the freedom of choice of parents. This is a real loss to Bakewell and Derbyshire Dales.' The sharp turnaround in the school's fortunes comes after it was crowned Prep School of the Year at the Tatler Schools Awards in 2021. The prestigious title was awarded in recognition of the school's commitment to make sure children were not left behind during the Covid pandemic and work it had completed to expand its boarding house. St Anselm's closure comes in the same week as Buxlow Preparatory School in Wembley announced it was closing its school to focus on solely providing nursery provision. The school has framed the decision as an 'exciting new chapter' that will allow its current pupils to join its nearby sister school. Ministers have admitted the VAT levy will force an additional 100 private schools to close over the next three years. A government spokesman said: 'Ending tax breaks for private schools will raise £1.8bn a year by 2029/30 to help fund public services, including supporting the 94pc of children in state schools to achieve and thrive. 'On average, around 50 mainstream private schools typically close each year. This is due to a range of reasons, including financial struggles and school standards issues. 'Local authorities and schools commonly support children and parents in these circumstances. We are confident in local state schools' ability to accommodate new pupils.' St Anselm's school was approached for comment. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
