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Messages - osbrook

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The Planning meeting is set for Monday 10th Dec.   However the planners have recommended the proposal is approved.  This will ruin the Inspire Community Garden for anyone other than the very able bodied.   Not what the Garden was created for.

Even then the able will need to learn how to carry bags of compost and sacks of potatoes in and out of the site along a path from Chester Street/Monkey Park.

By the way Potato Day 2019 is Jan 26th in Lower Pavements.

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Thanks.  would be a shame to loose ICG

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Chesterfield Discussion / Inspire Community Garden - Council to close it.
« on: October 19, 2018, 02:58:40 PM »

Planning Application: CHE/18/00605/FUL  - Ashgate Car Park

I have raised my objections to some of the plan submitted to redevelop 6 Ashgate Road.  I do not object to most of the plan, however I would like to see a minor adjustment to the boundary wall at the south west corner.

I have worked with Inspire Community Gardens (ICG) who have always had Vehicle access off the car park.  Knowing the car park was for sale ICG worked with one of the previous interested parties and found that they would accommodate access along the northern boundary of the ICG and Fair Play land.  When this fell through ICG were informed that the sales literature had been amended to include the right of access.   This appears to have been removed at the time of the contract creation.   The entrance of the Car Park to ICG has allowed for direct access by people attending the Garden.  Some of these people have had mental and physical health problems and the way the garden has helped them is unbelievable (I was very sceptical of this sort of thing).  For background see their personal report of progress through the ICG.  Pauline Blob!  I also know one couple in their 80’s that make a 70mile round trip to visit ICG which will be prevented for them if access at the top is removed.

 I also work with Young people including Brownies, Beavers, Cubs and Scouts.  These groups visit the Garden to learn about growing, and food production along with community service, outdoor crafts etc. Last visit was on the 19th September 2018

ICG provides advice, information, practical help and guidance towards healthy eating and involves other organic groups, as it is known that CBC has 3 initiatives that these fit into. Additionally, ICG provides a Green gym. to combat obesity and improve health.

As it is now ICG that runs the very popular Potato day, bringing a lot of people to Chesterfield.  This will be put at risk as the stock of potatoes and seeds are stored at ICG.  This would not be possible without Vehicle access.

The loss of vehicle access or any safe access to the Inspire garden will stop all these visits and will be a huge resource loss to Chesterfield.  The Inspire Garden layout was designed for disabled access from the Top (Ramps and slopes).  Mobility vehicles that currently access the ICG will be denied access due to this plan in it’s current form.  It will be dangerous to try to walk in from a meeting point away from the Inspire Garden with 20-30 young children (aged 6-10 years).  Where could the group be safely assembled?  Then they would access ICG via the only foot access along a footpath/cycle path, where drug needles have been seen.

Safety also comes in to play by removing Vehicle access to the site as no Ambulances or Fire Engine could get close.  Delaying any response.  Creating a land locked site isn’t good for anybody, including the borough council if the current lease is not extended.

What I propose is that the South West corner of the new Mental health unit boundary be adjusted to retain access to ICG, to assist with this perhaps Inspire Garden members could move the current entrance West by 3m.    The area created could then be incorporated into a turning circle for a cul-de-sac if the rest of the car park is developed into residential properties.  An additional benefit is that by adding in additional breaks in the retaining wall will strengthen it with the returns.  As has been experienced on Spital Lane, Chesterfield, the building on raised land has come into problems with land slippage.

All new developments of this size need to give back to the community and it is noted that on the Council web site that this can be in the form of land and not money.   I believe that moving the Goldwell Arch to be visible has been suggested but this is seen not so much as a benefit to the community but a very nice prestige symbol for the builder to have on their development and would/should be done regardless.

I also feel that Inspire Garden is a benefit and bonus to both the new Mental Health unit and any future residential build.  ICG working with the new unit could potentially provide an idea environment for recovery.  Either as a quiet space or as a place to work at gaining self-confidence and skills.  If the only entrance is moved half a mile away this would not be as effective for the new unit.

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Chesterfield Discussion / Re: Solar farms in Derbyshire
« on: March 05, 2015, 04:07:06 PM »
Sorry for the tardy time it took for me to reply.

6% depends on your standpoint.   Currently a lot better than ISA's and safer then most things as it is government backed - at least the feed in part.   You could also look at it from a "I want want to feel good and do my bit for the environment" point of view.   Not all people can have Solar panels, wind turbines and drive electric cars, but want to do something.

No the concept was not that your money would be tied in, rather you could trade with other members of the group 'your' panels.
I still see it as a long term as it may take a while to get your money out.

Currently Chesterfield is a way behind other parts of the country and that has a lot to do with the traditional industries around here.   Coal mining.   Those days are gone at least for the next few decades.   The future is in renewables (at least until they run out  :-?   sorry bad joke).  There is no reason why Chesterfield cannot set an example of how far things can be switched.

The other thing Chesterfield is behind on, and this affects tourism rather then just being for locals is Electric car charging points.    There are now a large enough volume of Electric cars for it to worth installing charge points around the town.   Currently people by-pass Chesterfield as there are available charge points on the Motorway, Sheffield and Derby.  this is silly when Chesterfield has two main dealers of electric cars and one of them is 1 of only 134 in the UK.  We also have one of the UK's leading suppliers of charge points and cables.   Looking at any charge map will show a big hole around Chesterfield.

All these charge points could be powered by these Solar and wind farms.   Clean energy and transport.
Note JUST to process/refine 1 gallon of petrol (not transport) takes 4.5KH of electricity or 20 Electric car miles.



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Chesterfield Discussion / Re: Solar farms in Derbyshire
« on: February 24, 2015, 12:16:34 PM »
Sounds good but who is funding this and who gets the benefits?

I think these could be built as energy co-operatives.   The panels are bought by the public as an investment, where they get a percentage of the FIT back in interest and can trade the panels owned back to the owner.

So Say I want to get in to Solar and don't have a suitable roof,  I could spend my £4k on ground based panels in one of these fields and I get the FIT all but the running costs.   In future I could but more or sell some of the panels.  I feel good because I'm being green and I still get a guaranteed income for 20 years. ie. length of the FIT.

Investing £4k  and allowing 20% maintenance/running costs would return me £240 pa for twenty years or 6% interest.   Running cost at 20% sounds a bit high but it serves as an example.

It's an option that saves the council paying for them.

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