Latest news with #DerbyshireDalesDistrictCouncil
BBC News
15-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Traveller site at Matlock railway station car park approved
Plans to turn a makeshift traveller site in a railway station car park into a formal temporary plot have been approved by of the Matlock railway station car park off Derwent Way was one of four sites earmarked for temporary use last plot – which is already in use and has been for years – would be restricted to use only by a specific homeless traveller family for whom the council has a legal obligation, and only for a maximum of two approved the formal decision at a Derbyshire Dales District Council meeting on Tuesday. The Local Democracy Reporting Service said the railway station site will have space for four caravans and six vehicles and be barred from hosting commercial activity, with councillors also backing a requirement for a site management Hobson, a district and county councillor, told the meeting the site was "wholly unsuitable" and questioned the "credibility" of a temporary designation "when the family have been there for years".However, fellow county and district representative Sue Burfoot said the two-year window "is reasonable", and praised Matlock residents for being "very tolerant"."There have been issues in the past but they have been dealt with very professionally by the team at the district council," she said."No car park is ideal as a traveller site. None of us are saying that a car park is a suitable site for a traveller site but we are where we are."We have gone through two administrations where we have failed to find a permanent site and there is an identified need for a family for which we have a homeless obligation in law. We cannot get away from that."
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- Yahoo
'Bronze Age stone will not stop holiday park plans'
A forestry agency has said plans for a woodland holiday park will not be affected by the discovery of a stone dating back to the Bronze Age. A single standing stone thought to be part of a larger ceremonial site dating back 3,700 years was found in Farley Wood, near Matlock in Derbyshire, after excavations by Forestry England in partnership with archaeology series Time Team. Save Farley Moor campaigners hoped the discovery may put the brakes on plans to build 75 cabins in 140 acres of woodland off Farley Lane. However, Forestry England said in a statement: "Following recent excavations at the Farley Moor Standing Stone, we are confident that it will remain unaffected by our proposals for a Forest Holidays location." Plans for the scheme - which are being considered by Derbyshire Dales District Council – also include a car park, shop, cafe, outdoor play area, and an archery range. But residents and campaigners, including over 3,000 who have signed a petition against the scheme, have raised objections including an increase in traffic problems. Campaigner Sarah Benson said: "We're very much hoping that these significant findings will ensure that the proposed development doesn't go ahead. "There are also reports of other significant stones within the area designated for development that still require a full archaeological investigation." Dr Lawrence Shaw, Forestry England's lead historic environment adviser, had confirmed that what had been discovered was evidence of a much more complex ceremonial landscape including the original standing stone. However, Forestry England has said the standing stone lies outside of the proposal, and its preservation will continue. It added: "The wider landscape that surrounds the monument has been forested for approximately 50 years, meaning that the prehistoric landscape to which the site was originally connected has long since been altered. "As a result, the proposals will not affect the setting or historic landscape character of the site. "As part of the planning application process, an Archaeological Assessment was carried out and submitted with the application which noted the presence of the standing stone but that no other known sites or monuments are recorded as being present within the proposed development area. "The county council has assessed the proposal and raised no objections on heritage grounds. "Based on this we are confident we can take the appropriate mitigation measures to account for these and any other unknown features, as is normal within the planning process." Follow BBC Derby on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@ or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210. 'How I helped discover hidden Bronze Age monument' Archaeologists uncover Bronze Age stone circle Forestry England
BBC News
27-03-2025
- BBC News
'Bronze Age stone will not stop holiday park plans in Farley Wood'
A forestry agency has said plans for a woodland holiday park will not be affected by the discovery of a stone dating back to the Bronze Age.A single standing stone thought to be part of a larger ceremonial site dating back 3,700 years was found in Farley Wood, near Matlock in Derbyshire, after excavations by Forestry England in partnership with archaeology series Time Farley Moor campaigners hoped the discovery may put the brakes on plans to build 75 cabins in 140 acres of woodland off Farley Forestry England said in a statement: "Following recent excavations at the Farley Moor Standing Stone, we are confident that it will remain unaffected by our proposals for a Forest Holidays location." Plans for the scheme - which are being considered by Derbyshire Dales District Council – also include a car park, shop, cafe, outdoor play area, and an archery residents and campaigners, including over 3,000 who have signed a petition against the scheme, have raised objections including an increase in traffic Sarah Benson said: "We're very much hoping that these significant findings will ensure that the proposed development doesn't go ahead."There are also reports of other significant stones within the area designated for development that still require a full archaeological investigation."Dr Lawrence Shaw, Forestry England's lead historic environment adviser, had confirmed that what had been discovered was evidence of a much more complex ceremonial landscape including the original standing stone. However, Forestry England has said the standing stone lies outside of the proposal, and its preservation will added: "The wider landscape that surrounds the monument has been forested for approximately 50 years, meaning that the prehistoric landscape to which the site was originally connected has long since been altered."As a result, the proposals will not affect the setting or historic landscape character of the site."As part of the planning application process, an Archaeological Assessment was carried out and submitted with the application which noted the presence of the standing stone but that no other known sites or monuments are recorded as being present within the proposed development area."The county council has assessed the proposal and raised no objections on heritage grounds."Based on this we are confident we can take the appropriate mitigation measures to account for these and any other unknown features, as is normal within the planning process."
Yahoo
13-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Privacy concerns over CCTV in female toilets
There are calls for a Derbyshire council to carry out a review of a CCTV camera in a female public toilet facility after the BBC found the inside of a cubicle is partially visible. Concerns were raised by local residents on social media about the public toilets in Ashbourne after women complained the cameras made them feel "violated". While no laws prohibit the use of CCTV in public toilets, guidance from the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) says their use must be in line with the Data Protection Act. Derbyshire Dales District Council says data protection laws can only be breached where an individual is identifiable and "no one's privacy is compromised". The official guidance recommends use must be "proportionate", "limited" and with consideration given for potential voyeurism. The district council says the cameras were placed there in 2022 in response to vandalism concerns. It is understood there are currently three officers with access to the CCTV system, and a log is kept on who has accessed the footage and when. Recordings are kept for 31 days, in line with the ICO guidance. An email distributed to councillors seen by the BBC states that the cameras only cover "communal areas". However, the BBC found part of the inside of the front cubicle of the facility is visible on the CCTV. Footage of a reporter visit requested via a Data Subject Access Request showed visibility in the cubicle from the waist upwards. Susan Hobson, leader of the Conservative group at Derbyshire Dales District Council, said the footage "certainly does raise some concerns". "I feel very uncomfortable as a woman that my personal space could be violated by CCTV in public toilets, and I'm sure most other females would feel the same," she said. "I would welcome an independent review by Derbyshire Dales District ensure any safety measures respect personal boundaries. "You can actually see in the toilet door. I think that makes me feel a bit uncomfortable. "Let's just look at this in an objective way without being dramatic, just get to the bottom of it so everybody is reassured." A spokesperson for Derbyshire Dales District Council said: "No-one's privacy is compromised by the CCTV cameras, which were originally sited at the Ashbourne public loos on police advice to combat an increasing amount of vandalism. "The good news is that there has been a marked reduction in damage at that site. "We welcome Councillor Hobson sharing her specific concerns with us, but would point out that all of our CCTV cameras are already independently audited as a matter of course. The next audit happens in May." An ICO spokesperson said: "It's unlikely anybody would expect this use of CCTV in public toilet cubicles, where people have a much greater expectation of privacy. "Our guidance is clear that CCTV can be intrusive if not used fairly or proportionately. "It is only in exceptional circumstances that CCTV should be installed anywhere in toilets and organisations must be able to justify that its use in private areas is absolutely necessary." Follow BBC Derby on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@ or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210. C CTV brought in to tackle toilet vandals Derbyshire Dales District Council
BBC News
13-03-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Privacy concerns over CCTV in Ashbourne female toilets
There are calls for a Derbyshire council to carry out a review of a CCTV camera in a female public toilet facility after the BBC found the inside of a cubicle is partially were raised by local residents on social media about the public toilets in Ashbourne after women complained the cameras made them feel "violated".While no laws prohibit the use of CCTV in public toilets, guidance from the Information Commissioner's Office (IOC) says their use must be in line with the Data Protection Dales District Council says data protection laws can only be breached where an individual is identifiable and "no one's privacy is compromised". The official guidance recommends use must be "proportionate", "limited" and with consideration given for potential voyeurism. The district council says the cameras were placed there in 2022 in response to vandalism is understood there are currently three officers with access to the CCTV system, and a log is kept on who has accessed the footage and when. Recordings are kept for 31 days, in line with the IOC email distributed to councillors seen by the BBC states that the cameras only cover "communal areas".However, the BBC found part of the inside of the front cubicle of the facility is visible on the CCTV. Footage of a reporter visit requested via a Data Subject Access Request showed visibility in the cubicle from the waist upwards. Susan Hobson, leader of the Conservative group at Derbyshire Dales District Council, said the footage "certainly does raise some concerns"."I feel very uncomfortable as a woman that my personal space could be violated by CCTV in public toilets, and I'm sure most other females would feel the same," she said."I would welcome an independent review by Derbyshire Dales District ensure any safety measures respect personal boundaries."You can actually see in the toilet door. I think that makes me feel a bit uncomfortable. "Let's just look at this in an objective way without being dramatic, just get to the bottom of it so everybody is reassured." A spokesperson for Derbyshire Dales District Council said: "No-one's privacy is compromised by the CCTV cameras, which were originally sited at the Ashbourne public loos on police advice to combat an increasing amount of vandalism."The good news is that there has been a marked reduction in damage at that site."We welcome Councillor Hobson sharing her specific concerns with us, but would point out that all of our CCTV cameras are already independently audited as a matter of course. The next audit happens in May."
