AFTER more than 100 years, cheese production at a Peak District creamery is set to come to an end – with the loss of 150 jobs.
A question mark had been hanging over the future of workers at Hartington Creamery following the acquisition last August of Dairy Crest's Stilton and speciality cheese business by Leicestershire-based Long Clawson Dairy Ltd.
But following a Competition Commission inquiry into the acquisition, the new owners have decided to close the Hartington site and switch cheese production to its other factories.
Chief Executive of Clawson, Martin Taylor, said: "All businesses remain under huge pressure and we must now progress our consolidation plans taking unnecessary cost out of our business to remain competitive.
"We will be working closely with employees, their representatives and local employment agencies to secure alternative employment for as many staff as possible."
In January, the Competition Commission announced the merger wouldn't result in a substantive lessening of competition, but added that the Hartington site could not be restructured successfully to make it viable.
Production at Hartington Creamery will wind down over the next five months.
Meanwhile, work is already underway to secure a new future for the site.
Long Clawson has appointed a consultant to work with local authorities and the Derby and Derbyshire Economic Partnership to look at possible uses.
Jim Dixon, Chief Executive of the Peak District National Park Authority, said: "We would like to secure the future of this site as quickly as possible given the current economic climate. The local community will be consulted as proposals are made.
"Our planning officers are already working with Derbyshire Dales District Council and the Peak District Rural Housing Association to look at a proposal for six affordable houses but this will be part of a larger master plan for the whole site."
lHartington Creamery, established since 1875 by the Duke of Devonshire, is one of only seven dairies licensed to produce Blue Stilton. It also makes Shropshire Blue and Dovedale.
Chris Sabian, Peak District View - 2009-03-24 07:41:56
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Highways Agency delay £315M Mottram bypass
The Highways Agency has delayed the construction of the controversial Mottram-Tintwistle bypass by up to four years - to 2016/17.
The double bypass scheme would improve journey times between Manchester and Sheffield, but carve a path through the revered Peak District.
A single Public Inquiry would have covered the bypasses of Mottram in Longdendale, Hollingworth and Tintwistle, but this has now been delayed by up to four years, putting the entire scheme back.
£15M has so far been spent on the scheme, including the original 15 days of Public Inquiry that was abandoned due to errors in the Agency’s original submissions. There is no firm start date in sight.
The Agency’s Major Projects Director, Nirmal Kotecha, said: “Draft proposals for the scheme were published in 2007. Since then a Public Inquiry has been started and adjourned and there have been changes to the traffic model and the environmental statement.”
The Campaign for Better Transport today welcomed the news, their Roads and climate campaigner Richard George said: “This is fantastic news for the hundreds of local people who have been fighting against this scheme, and a welcome dose of common sense from the Highways Agency. National Parks are places of exceptional natural beauty, not convenient places to put a mini-motorway.
“The Highways Agency has had 18 months to make the case for the road; that they have finally admitted defeat should send a clear signal that there is neither the need nor the political will for the scheme. Surely the only sensible solution would be to abandon it altogether and concentrate on tackling the very real problems of lorries by banning HGVs from the national park.”
Chris Sabian, Peak District View - 2009-03-25 07:33:55
The double bypass scheme would improve journey times between Manchester and Sheffield, but carve a path through the revered Peak District.
A single Public Inquiry would have covered the bypasses of Mottram in Longdendale, Hollingworth and Tintwistle, but this has now been delayed by up to four years, putting the entire scheme back.
£15M has so far been spent on the scheme, including the original 15 days of Public Inquiry that was abandoned due to errors in the Agency’s original submissions. There is no firm start date in sight.
The Agency’s Major Projects Director, Nirmal Kotecha, said: “Draft proposals for the scheme were published in 2007. Since then a Public Inquiry has been started and adjourned and there have been changes to the traffic model and the environmental statement.”
The Campaign for Better Transport today welcomed the news, their Roads and climate campaigner Richard George said: “This is fantastic news for the hundreds of local people who have been fighting against this scheme, and a welcome dose of common sense from the Highways Agency. National Parks are places of exceptional natural beauty, not convenient places to put a mini-motorway.
“The Highways Agency has had 18 months to make the case for the road; that they have finally admitted defeat should send a clear signal that there is neither the need nor the political will for the scheme. Surely the only sensible solution would be to abandon it altogether and concentrate on tackling the very real problems of lorries by banning HGVs from the national park.”
Chris Sabian, Peak District View - 2009-03-25 07:33:55
Environmental group's shock withdrawal from key city project
A QUESTION mark hangs over the future of a Derby environmental project after one of the partners dropped out, saying it could no longer work with the University of Derby.
The Friends of Markeaton Brook said it would be returning National Lottery cash because the university had left it in an "untenable" position over the Sturgess Fields project.
The plan was to create a nature trail, carry out vital tree work, install bird and bat boxes in trees and create a simple wooden bridge over part of the brook as part of the Big Lottery Fund Breathing Places programme.
The friends' group was to provide a warden to engage with the public.
After being approached by the university in December 2007, the group was given £9,600 of Lotto cash in June last year and the university matched that, providing about £20,000 in total for the project.
An environmental management plan was commissioned, site visits planned by schools and a design for a leaflet for visitors drawn up.
The university also provided notice boards and litter and dog waste bins.
But Friends of Markeaton Brook chairman Ken Clarke said that work on the trees had not been carried out so bird boxes could not be put up in time for spring.
He said: "We have also been told the leaflet will not be ready and new trees could not be planted.
"It became clear that we would not meet either the time scale or the values of the project.
"So we have informed Breathing Places that funds will be returned to them and that we feel we are in an untenable position."
The group has also been battling the university, which owns the site, off Kedleston Road, over a proposal to route a hopper bus across the land and a plan for temporary changing rooms for sports players.
Both plans were successfully opposed by the friends, the changing room scheme being rejected by Derby City Council just last week.
But the university says it wants to carry on the work on the environmental project.
It says it has bought bat and bird boxes, applied for planning permission for a bridge and cleaned up the brook.
University vice-chancellor Professor John Coyne said: "We acknowledge that there have been differences of opinion between us.
"But that did not change the university's commitment to working together to improve an important community space.
"We will need to review our management plan for Sturgess Fields but it is our intention to continue working to deliver the original objectives of our Breathing Places project."
Chris Sabian, Peak District View - 2009-03-26 08:33:08
The Friends of Markeaton Brook said it would be returning National Lottery cash because the university had left it in an "untenable" position over the Sturgess Fields project.
The plan was to create a nature trail, carry out vital tree work, install bird and bat boxes in trees and create a simple wooden bridge over part of the brook as part of the Big Lottery Fund Breathing Places programme.
The friends' group was to provide a warden to engage with the public.
After being approached by the university in December 2007, the group was given £9,600 of Lotto cash in June last year and the university matched that, providing about £20,000 in total for the project.
An environmental management plan was commissioned, site visits planned by schools and a design for a leaflet for visitors drawn up.
The university also provided notice boards and litter and dog waste bins.
But Friends of Markeaton Brook chairman Ken Clarke said that work on the trees had not been carried out so bird boxes could not be put up in time for spring.
He said: "We have also been told the leaflet will not be ready and new trees could not be planted.
"It became clear that we would not meet either the time scale or the values of the project.
"So we have informed Breathing Places that funds will be returned to them and that we feel we are in an untenable position."
The group has also been battling the university, which owns the site, off Kedleston Road, over a proposal to route a hopper bus across the land and a plan for temporary changing rooms for sports players.
Both plans were successfully opposed by the friends, the changing room scheme being rejected by Derby City Council just last week.
But the university says it wants to carry on the work on the environmental project.
It says it has bought bat and bird boxes, applied for planning permission for a bridge and cleaned up the brook.
University vice-chancellor Professor John Coyne said: "We acknowledge that there have been differences of opinion between us.
"But that did not change the university's commitment to working together to improve an important community space.
"We will need to review our management plan for Sturgess Fields but it is our intention to continue working to deliver the original objectives of our Breathing Places project."
Chris Sabian, Peak District View - 2009-03-26 08:33:08
Friday, March 06, 2009
Science meets the eye - vote for artworks at Edale
Visitors to the Moorland Centre at Edale can vote in a highly-unusual art competition - all the artworks have been produced by scientists.
The “Science Meets the Eye” exhibition (March 6-31) features images by researchers, ecologists and horticulturalists involved in the Moors for the Future Partnership’s restoration project.
Dan Boys, information officer for Moors for the Future, said:
“These stunning images bring home the array of top scientific research that is taking place in the Peak District, and the important role it plays in combating climate change, flooding and protecting wildlife.”
Funded by the Economic and Social Research Council, the exhibition is part of its Festival of Social Science (March 6-15).
People can vote for their favourite image during the festival, and one voter will win a mounted print of their selection. The four most popular artworks will be printed on postcards.
This is the second year the exhibition has been held, and entries include “Moss Monster” by Micropropagation Services,
“Helicopter and Moon” by ecology consultants Penny Anderson Associates, and “Going with the Flow,” by the University of Manchester.
An online version will be on www.moorsforthefuture.org.uk and the exhibition will be touring Peak District visitor centres during 2009.
Chris Sabian, Peak District View - 2009-03-04 15:56:39
The “Science Meets the Eye” exhibition (March 6-31) features images by researchers, ecologists and horticulturalists involved in the Moors for the Future Partnership’s restoration project.
Dan Boys, information officer for Moors for the Future, said:
“These stunning images bring home the array of top scientific research that is taking place in the Peak District, and the important role it plays in combating climate change, flooding and protecting wildlife.”
Funded by the Economic and Social Research Council, the exhibition is part of its Festival of Social Science (March 6-15).
People can vote for their favourite image during the festival, and one voter will win a mounted print of their selection. The four most popular artworks will be printed on postcards.
This is the second year the exhibition has been held, and entries include “Moss Monster” by Micropropagation Services,
“Helicopter and Moon” by ecology consultants Penny Anderson Associates, and “Going with the Flow,” by the University of Manchester.
An online version will be on www.moorsforthefuture.org.uk and the exhibition will be touring Peak District visitor centres during 2009.
Chris Sabian, Peak District View - 2009-03-04 15:56:39
Wednesday, March 04, 2009
Puzzling badgers
A WILDLIFE group has produced a quiz sheet to raise funds.
The Mid-Derbyshire Badger Group page features a mixture of puzzles with a black, white and grey theme.
To get hold of a copy, send a stamped addressed envelope and cheque for £1, made out to MDBG, to Quiz, 12 Chertsey Road, Mickleover, Derby, DE3 ORA.
The closing date for entries to the competition is April 23.
Chris Sabian, Peak District View - 2009-03-04 13:02:45
The Mid-Derbyshire Badger Group page features a mixture of puzzles with a black, white and grey theme.
To get hold of a copy, send a stamped addressed envelope and cheque for £1, made out to MDBG, to Quiz, 12 Chertsey Road, Mickleover, Derby, DE3 ORA.
The closing date for entries to the competition is April 23.
Chris Sabian, Peak District View - 2009-03-04 13:02:45
Severn Trent has 400 surplus sites
SEVERN Trent has yet to say which of its Derbyshire sites may be sold after a review of its property portfolio.
The water giant yesterday announced it was looking at selling more than 400 sites that were now "surplus to requirements".
All of them are worth between £25,000 and £50,000 each but the firm has not yet released any further details about them.
Severn Trent director of property Ted Pearce said: "This isn't about raising revenue, but is a prudent step for a corporate organisation to be taking."
Chris Sabian, Peak District View - 2009-03-04 12:56:18
The water giant yesterday announced it was looking at selling more than 400 sites that were now "surplus to requirements".
All of them are worth between £25,000 and £50,000 each but the firm has not yet released any further details about them.
Severn Trent director of property Ted Pearce said: "This isn't about raising revenue, but is a prudent step for a corporate organisation to be taking."
Chris Sabian, Peak District View - 2009-03-04 12:56:18
Hippo car park plans due to be submitted
PLANS to turn the former Hippodrome building into a multi-storey car park are expected to be submitted next week.
The grade II-listed building's owner, Christopher Anthony, has already given plans to Derby City Council as part of a pre-application consultation.
Comments both for and against the proposals have been received by the authority.
Mr Anthony wants to keep the Green Lane and Macklin Street facades of the building and create a car park with more than 300 spaces behind them. He would also build six bedsits along the Crompton Street side of the site.
Agents acting for Mr Anthony say a full planning application should be submitted in about 10 days.
The building was damaged in March last year when huge sections collapsed while Mr Anthony's men worked on it.
The council successfully sought an injunction to stop any more work. It also issued an enforcement notice to force Mr Anthony to repair the building but later withdrew it.
Chris Sabian, Peak District View - 2009-03-04 12:53:58
The grade II-listed building's owner, Christopher Anthony, has already given plans to Derby City Council as part of a pre-application consultation.
Comments both for and against the proposals have been received by the authority.
Mr Anthony wants to keep the Green Lane and Macklin Street facades of the building and create a car park with more than 300 spaces behind them. He would also build six bedsits along the Crompton Street side of the site.
Agents acting for Mr Anthony say a full planning application should be submitted in about 10 days.
The building was damaged in March last year when huge sections collapsed while Mr Anthony's men worked on it.
The council successfully sought an injunction to stop any more work. It also issued an enforcement notice to force Mr Anthony to repair the building but later withdrew it.
Chris Sabian, Peak District View - 2009-03-04 12:53:58
Derby County 2 v 2 Swansea
Football can sometimes be cruel and it was tough on Derby County last night.
They built a two-goal lead through Chris Porter, who looked like a hero with his head bandaged – he needed a couple of stitches in a cut above his left eyebrow – and played heroically in a battling display on his first home start.
They also struck the woodwork twice and had enough opportunities to win and would have done with better luck and better decisions from the match officials, who denied them what looked a penalty in the first half and a good goal from leading scorer Rob Hulse.
But Swansea hit back through second-half strikes from Angel Rangel and substitute Gorka Pintado to take a point in a 2-2 draw at Pride Park Stadium.
There will be disappointment at Derby’s failure to take full advantage of a winning situation following the defeat at Doncaster last Friday, when they were one up, but this was arguably the best performance of Nigel Clough’s two months in charge, given the standard of the opposition.
Swansea are recognised as one of the best footballing sides in the Championship.
They have proved you can play good football and prosper in this division and have their sights on the play-offs after promotion last season.
And yet Derby were left asking themselves how they did not take the three points.
There were more signs of progress in the way the team play but they could not find that crucial third goal that is so often significant in matches.
Derby were unchanged from the defeat at Doncaster, meaning Porter continued in the absence of the injured Kris Commons and the £400,000 signing from Motherwell rewarded the faith shown in him by manager Nigel Clough when he put the Rams ahead after 14 minutes with his first goal for the club.
Swansea started as expected, moving the ball confidently across the wet pitch, their midfield three of Leon Britton, Joe Allen and Jordi Gomez having plenty of touches, but Derby carried the greater threat going forward.
Steve Davies wasted a good chance when he cut inside and blasted his shot high and wide and then saw another effort blocked.
It was a surge from Davies that won a foul and free kick in the build-up to the opening goal.
Robbie Savage, who scored a stunning free kick at Doncaster, this time whipped his shot low round the wall. Dorus de Vries plunged to his left to parry and Porter pounced to turn the ball in from close range.
He reacted sharply to the situation and got his reward. It was a neat finish.
The rain made for a slick surface and Gomez used this to test Stephen Bywater with skidding shots from distance. Bywater held the first while the second, a free kick, was just wide.
But Derby were in the mood and went in search of a second goal.
They had a strong shout for a penalty when de Vries appeared to bring down Hulse but referee Phil Crossley waved away the appeals.
A minute later, Hulse lifted the ball into the net from a few yard after meeting Davies’ cross only to see the goal chalked off by a linesman’s flag.
“One of these days we are going to get a decision from the the referee,” said Clough, who rarely speaks about officials.
Crossley was not Mr Popular and the official from Kent has painful memories of Pride Park, having suffered a couple of broken ribs on his previous visit in May 2007 following an accidental collision with Seth Johnson.
Savage, with a taste for the free kicks, curled one narrowly wide with de Vries at full stretch and Porter continued to rampage willingly up front.
He almost put Hulse in when his pull back from the bye-line, after going wide of the keeper, was just too far ahead of his strike partner. Then Lewin Nyatanga’s drive stung the fingers of de Vries.
Derby closed Swansea down better than most teams have done this season.
Roberto Martinez’s side can play, certainly when allowed to, but they were given little time to settle into their usual smooth stride. Paul Green and Savage, full of desire and snap, were busy in central midfield, and Davies produced some good defending when asked to.
Martin Albrechtsen at times lacked composure on the ball and gave it away needlessly but he was keeping a close eye on Jason Scotland, one of the Championship’s top marksmen and a player who had hit 14 goals in his previous 16 outings.
But Porter, a player who has played north of the border, overshadowed Scotland and grabbed his second goal of the night three minutes after the break.
Ashley Williams misjudged Paul Connolly’s ball forward and Porter set off towards goal. Under pressure from chasing Swansea defender Alan Tate, Porter kept the ball under control and calmly tucked it wide of de Vries for another impressive finish.
One-on-ones are never as easy as they look but Porter made it look easy.
Derby appeared to have finish off the visitors and Hulse headed and shot wide within a minute when he should have hit the target but Swansea pulled a goal back after 55 minutes when Gomez’s ball into the box reached Rangel, whose volley found the net off a post.
Scotland suddenly came alive after doing little in the first half. Two low shots from the striker were stopped by Bywater and Swansea started to pop the ball about with renewed belief.
But this is a different Derby side to the one earlier in the season.
Rather than backing off nervously, they responded in a positive manner and asked more questions of Swansea’s less than convincing defence.
Teale’s shot from 20 yards beat de Vries and rebounded off the foot of a post before Hulse, with options, picked the wrong one and blazed a shot into the crowd. Davies was also denied by the woodwork, this time the ball thumping against the other post.
Lady luck was clearly smiling elsewhere and although Gomez, swamped by the excellent Savage and Green, went off 12 minutes from time, Swansea rescued a point when Scotland picked out Pintado and he side-footed his finish in off the bar.
Derby picked themselves up and went close to what would have been a deserved last-gasp winner when Green’s volley was tipped over by de Vries.
The gap between the Rams and the bottom three is down to five points after results elsewhere.
Norwich City, Southampton, Nottingham Forest and Plymouth all won in their bid for survival but Derby showed enough against Swansea to suggest that a few more performances like this one should bring them enough points between now and the end of the season.
Chris Sabian, Peak District View - 2009-03-04 07:48:22
They built a two-goal lead through Chris Porter, who looked like a hero with his head bandaged – he needed a couple of stitches in a cut above his left eyebrow – and played heroically in a battling display on his first home start.
They also struck the woodwork twice and had enough opportunities to win and would have done with better luck and better decisions from the match officials, who denied them what looked a penalty in the first half and a good goal from leading scorer Rob Hulse.
But Swansea hit back through second-half strikes from Angel Rangel and substitute Gorka Pintado to take a point in a 2-2 draw at Pride Park Stadium.
There will be disappointment at Derby’s failure to take full advantage of a winning situation following the defeat at Doncaster last Friday, when they were one up, but this was arguably the best performance of Nigel Clough’s two months in charge, given the standard of the opposition.
Swansea are recognised as one of the best footballing sides in the Championship.
They have proved you can play good football and prosper in this division and have their sights on the play-offs after promotion last season.
And yet Derby were left asking themselves how they did not take the three points.
There were more signs of progress in the way the team play but they could not find that crucial third goal that is so often significant in matches.
Derby were unchanged from the defeat at Doncaster, meaning Porter continued in the absence of the injured Kris Commons and the £400,000 signing from Motherwell rewarded the faith shown in him by manager Nigel Clough when he put the Rams ahead after 14 minutes with his first goal for the club.
Swansea started as expected, moving the ball confidently across the wet pitch, their midfield three of Leon Britton, Joe Allen and Jordi Gomez having plenty of touches, but Derby carried the greater threat going forward.
Steve Davies wasted a good chance when he cut inside and blasted his shot high and wide and then saw another effort blocked.
It was a surge from Davies that won a foul and free kick in the build-up to the opening goal.
Robbie Savage, who scored a stunning free kick at Doncaster, this time whipped his shot low round the wall. Dorus de Vries plunged to his left to parry and Porter pounced to turn the ball in from close range.
He reacted sharply to the situation and got his reward. It was a neat finish.
The rain made for a slick surface and Gomez used this to test Stephen Bywater with skidding shots from distance. Bywater held the first while the second, a free kick, was just wide.
But Derby were in the mood and went in search of a second goal.
They had a strong shout for a penalty when de Vries appeared to bring down Hulse but referee Phil Crossley waved away the appeals.
A minute later, Hulse lifted the ball into the net from a few yard after meeting Davies’ cross only to see the goal chalked off by a linesman’s flag.
“One of these days we are going to get a decision from the the referee,” said Clough, who rarely speaks about officials.
Crossley was not Mr Popular and the official from Kent has painful memories of Pride Park, having suffered a couple of broken ribs on his previous visit in May 2007 following an accidental collision with Seth Johnson.
Savage, with a taste for the free kicks, curled one narrowly wide with de Vries at full stretch and Porter continued to rampage willingly up front.
He almost put Hulse in when his pull back from the bye-line, after going wide of the keeper, was just too far ahead of his strike partner. Then Lewin Nyatanga’s drive stung the fingers of de Vries.
Derby closed Swansea down better than most teams have done this season.
Roberto Martinez’s side can play, certainly when allowed to, but they were given little time to settle into their usual smooth stride. Paul Green and Savage, full of desire and snap, were busy in central midfield, and Davies produced some good defending when asked to.
Martin Albrechtsen at times lacked composure on the ball and gave it away needlessly but he was keeping a close eye on Jason Scotland, one of the Championship’s top marksmen and a player who had hit 14 goals in his previous 16 outings.
But Porter, a player who has played north of the border, overshadowed Scotland and grabbed his second goal of the night three minutes after the break.
Ashley Williams misjudged Paul Connolly’s ball forward and Porter set off towards goal. Under pressure from chasing Swansea defender Alan Tate, Porter kept the ball under control and calmly tucked it wide of de Vries for another impressive finish.
One-on-ones are never as easy as they look but Porter made it look easy.
Derby appeared to have finish off the visitors and Hulse headed and shot wide within a minute when he should have hit the target but Swansea pulled a goal back after 55 minutes when Gomez’s ball into the box reached Rangel, whose volley found the net off a post.
Scotland suddenly came alive after doing little in the first half. Two low shots from the striker were stopped by Bywater and Swansea started to pop the ball about with renewed belief.
But this is a different Derby side to the one earlier in the season.
Rather than backing off nervously, they responded in a positive manner and asked more questions of Swansea’s less than convincing defence.
Teale’s shot from 20 yards beat de Vries and rebounded off the foot of a post before Hulse, with options, picked the wrong one and blazed a shot into the crowd. Davies was also denied by the woodwork, this time the ball thumping against the other post.
Lady luck was clearly smiling elsewhere and although Gomez, swamped by the excellent Savage and Green, went off 12 minutes from time, Swansea rescued a point when Scotland picked out Pintado and he side-footed his finish in off the bar.
Derby picked themselves up and went close to what would have been a deserved last-gasp winner when Green’s volley was tipped over by de Vries.
The gap between the Rams and the bottom three is down to five points after results elsewhere.
Norwich City, Southampton, Nottingham Forest and Plymouth all won in their bid for survival but Derby showed enough against Swansea to suggest that a few more performances like this one should bring them enough points between now and the end of the season.
Chris Sabian, Peak District View - 2009-03-04 07:48:22
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