"Published on Wednesday 9 August 2006 16:01 THE DEVELOPERS of the former St Elphin's site in Darley Dale are "driving a coach and horses" through district council policy, according to angry residents. Audley Court wants to create a retirement village on the former school site along with car parking, a market garden and other facilities. However they may find themselves at loggerheads with the Derbyshire Dales Local Plan, as elements of their latest proposals are in conflict with the district council's agreed protection of green spaces along the A6. Grove Lane residents, whose properties are by fields at the rear of the site, claim they were misled over the developers' plans for the fields and are forming an action group in opposition to the plans. They say proposals to create 70 car parking spaces and assorted amenities on the fields go against the district's local plan policy NBE9, which pledges to protect open space along the A6 in Darley Dale. Grove Lane resident John Mordue said: "An appeal in 2004 said that the local authority should stick to its policies regarding the A6 green corridor policy. "The implications of driving a coach and horses through local plan policies mean that other vulnerable areas could be at risk." Another resident on Grove Lane, who has lived there for 42 years, attended a meeting with developers earlier this year. She said: "In the meeting we asked repeatedly about what would happen to the green space opposite Grove Lane and they assured us it would be left green, but now they want to put all this car parking on the field. "We all feel very let down by the developers and by the district council." District council case officer Jon Bradbury said that there did appear to be an element of conflict between the amended proposals and the local plan. He said: "It will be a relevant consideration when we consider the planning application. "We would need to assess what harm the plans may create but we will not come to a conclusion on whether it is acceptable or not until the consultation period is completed." The latest plans were submitted to the planning department on July 28 and the public consultation period ends on August 21. Benedict Krauze, a director from Audley Court said: "It would be an overflow car park that may or may not be used and would be made of a plastic eggshell type material that would not be visible. "As part of our obligation we have to keep the existing tennis courts in good condition and repair and hope to open them up to the local tennis club again. "This area may provide parking for people wishing to make use of the courts. "There will also be plots of land where residents can grow flowers for their homes, again these may or may not be used dependent on how active the residents are." Story by Colleen Marples
Reprinted by kind permission of Matlock Mercury |
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