Published quarterly Number 57 Autumn 2011 quarterly Number 57 Autumn 2011 Affiliated to the CTC and Cyclenation Printed on recycled paper For the latest news, photos and videos visit

Published quarterly

Number 57 Autumn 2011

Affiliated to the CTC and CyclenationPrinted on recycled paper

For the latest news, photos and videos visit the Campaign website

On 14th June, the Royal Hospital held another event to promote the Bike to Work Scheme, and the Campaign was present with a stall. It was relatively quiet, possibly due to the good weather drawing people out of doors, but there were a few enquiries particularly relating to general cycling and routes.

Hollingwood Hub, on the Chesterfield Canal, opened at the beginning of June. It provides offices for the Chesterfield Canal Trust, meeting rooms plus food and

refreshments from Nona's Coffee Shop.

Lidl have now replaced the cycle link from the Holmebrook Valley Trail, that was removed when they carried out refurbishment work. The link leads directly into a car parking space that ideally requires cross-hatching to prevent parked cars blocking access. We have contacted Chesterfield Borough Council regarding this but not received any reply. The Sheffield stands, which were supposed to replace the poorly

Link path from Holmebrook Valley Trail into Lidl car park

www.chesterfieldcc.org.uk

situated butterfly stands, have also not been installed yet.

We were due to hold a stall at a 'Healthy Living Day' scheduled to be held on 12th July at Chesterfield Royal Hospital. Unfortunately, due to the severe fire, this had to be cancelled.

There is still a very large boulder on the path at the back of the hospital. It was put there by the developers to deter cars, but is dangerous for cyclists. It is the council’s land, but they will not do anything about it.

The Monsal Trail was closed to pedestrians, cyclists and

horseriders during Bakewell Show on 3rd and 4th August between Hassop and Bakewell Stations. Buses ran along the trail to help drivers parking at Hassop Station avoid the traffic queues into Bakewell.

A pothole has developed in the newly-constructed Stonegravels Path (see page 11), towards the northern end behind the Chesterfield Borough Council depot. Further investigation has traced the problem to water discharging from the depot and undermining the foundations. Derbyshire County Council are currently in discussion with

Underground water has caused a pothole on the new Stonegravels Way


CBC regarding a solution to the problem. In the meantime, the path is still passable, but currently constricted by safety barriers.

On the Trans Pennine Trail at Staveley, some access controls (A-frames) have been removed at Lowgates making passage through that area a bit easier. Funds are also available to resurface the Chesterfield Canal towpath between Hollingwood and Mill Green; the detail is still being worked on so no dates are available yet.

The Campaign held a stall and Dr Bike at the Inkerman Picnic

in Inkerman Park, Ashgate on 24th July. There was lots of work for Dr Bike and one new member signed up to join the Campaign.

We were invited to hold a stall at the Hollingwood Hub Open Weekend on 13th and 14th August. Unfortunately, despite an appeal for volunteers to man the stall, we couldn't muster enough people to help out so had to make do with an unmanned table inside the Hub.

The Campaign will be holding a stall and Dr Bike at the Green Fair in Chesterfield Marketplace on Saturday 24th September.

New racks on South Street prove more popular


The former Chesterfield FC football ground gained outline planning permission for 68 dwellings on 31st May.The permission considered the principle of a residential development and its access arrangements with the specific details of the housing itself to be considered in a later 'reserved matters' application.

Despite its close proximity to the town centre the main focus has

been on motor vehicle access with scant consideration given to walking and cycling, a point that Chesterfield Cycle Campaign highlighted in its objections.

The plans show a shared foot- and cyclepath at the south-west corner of the site leading to the

Volunteers are needed to supervise the stall. If you can help out for an hour or two at some point during the day, please contact the Secretary.

If you encounter problems on any cycle route or bridleway, such as overgrown vegetation or unclear signage, please let us know and we'll pass on your report to the relevant authority.

Contact the Secretary at [email protected] with a description of the problem and its location.

We reported last issue that the cycle racks at the western end of Vicar Lane, outside Costa Coffee, had been moved due to

problems with market stalls making them inaccessible.

Their new location nearby, at the top of South Street, is turning out to be a good choice. The racks are very well used and illustrate clearly the importance of choosing a good location when siting them.

At the Campaign's request, a new cycle rack has been provided outside the Spar Shop and Post Ofiice on Whittington Moor. Previously, the only suitable object to lock a bicycle to was, rather ironically, the sign for free car parking. Further racks are due to be installed on Church Street, Staveley.


The Monsal Trail Tunnels are open, creating a continuous linear cycle route between Bakewell and Wye Dale that is now around 9 miles long. The Trail provides an extremely picturesque setting for cycling, with its green valleys and impressive rock faces and is highly recommended. Starting

from Bakewell there is a steady, but barely noticeable, climb of around 300 feet with an easy ride back if you're making a return jouney. Refreshments are

junction of Saltergate and Foljambe Road. What cyclists are expected to do when they reach the traffic lights is unclear. According to the DCC Highway Authority response, this junction is operating above its traffic capacity and has already been the scene of a number of injury accidents. It welcomes the site's pedestrian and cycle access without considering conditions on the adjoining roads.

It is also evident that existing plans for cycle infrastructure are not being taken into account when responding to planning consultations. DCC's Cycle Audit identified Cross Street as having the potential for a contra-flow cycle lane, and a project to upgrade the adjacent footpath to a cycle path between Cross

Street and Marsden Street already has funding for this financial year. The housing development now makes the implementation of this well needed cycle link much more difficult.

The original recommendation of CBC's planning officer was to refuse permission on the grounds of highway concerns. The developers made a late alteration to the access arrangements and the plans were subsequently passed.

Chesterfield Cycle Campaign was invited to comment on these revised highway plans on 1st June, the day after permission had already been granted.

Planning ref: CHE/11/00189/OUT


available at Wye Dale, Hassop Station and, of course, Bakewell.

Cycle Hire, including electric bicycles, is available at Hassop Station, just under 2 miles north of the Bakewell end of the trail. A map can be downloaded from the Peak District National Park Authority's web site.

A new booklet is also available containing 9 circular routes around the Peak District to encourage cycling in the area. It is available free from Tourist Information Centres or the individual routes can be downloaded from the Peak District web site.

Monsal Trail Map: www.peakdistrict.gov.uk/monsaltrailPeak District Cycle Routes: www.visitpeakdistrict.com/cycleroutesHassop Station: www.hassopstation.co.uk


Sewer construction works have been affecting part of the Holmebrook Valley Trail, between Chester Street and Chatsworth Road, for seven weeks from 27th June to 5th August.

As it turned out, the path was only closed intermittently and access was allowed at various times during the works, so the disruption was not as bad as anticipated.

However, the posted alternative route was badly thought out, requiring a diversion along Chester Street and onto Chatsworth Road at a point where two lanes of heavy traffic soon widen out into three on the approach to the roundabout. It's completely unsuitable for many of the cyclists who would normally use this path including children and those without the confidence or experience to

The application to demolish and redevelop the Focus DIY site on Markham Road, mentioned in last quarter's newsletter, has been approved.The development will create three new retail units in two buildings – two of the proposed tenants are identified as Asda Living and TK Maxx, with the third to be confirmed.

Cycle provision includes fifteen new Sheffield stands, eleven of which are situated directly outside the main entrances for customer use with a further four for staff at the rear. Two cycle-related conditions have been

imposed by CBC.

The first is to widen the footway to three metres on the eastern side of Park Road, so that cyclists can access the development from the nearby Hipper Valley Trail.

The second is a commuted sum towards improvement of the local cycle/pedestrian network; the amount is unknown.

Planning ref: CHE/11/00151/FUL


Campaign Secretary, Alastair Meikle, attended the first Cycle Chic Sundays ride held in Sheffield on 19th June.

“I joined the ride, as did most others, at Devonshire Green in the centre of Sheffield. There were around twenty-five riders and we proceeded in a bunch through the city centre and down the Moor ringing our bells and waving to all. After the

Moor we stopped for refreshment at the pub built on the site of Wards brewery. Suitably refreshed.

We then cycled up side roads parallel with Ecclesall Road, eventually cycling along the main road itself past the cafés and shops. We then turned into Endcliffe Park and gathered for a celebratory coffee and cake in the café there.”

negotiate this busy road. This section of Chatsworth Road is also one-way, so the diversion only works in one direction.

When we drew these problems to the attention of Derbyshire County Council, their response was disappointing. Their solutions were to use

Wheatbridge Road when travelling against the one-way section, or dismounting and walking along Chatsworth Road if cyclists are not confident to use the road. We feel that a better solution could have been devised if enough preparation time had been allowed.


We're disappointed to report that Derbyshire's Local Sustainable Transport Fund (LSTF) bid was rejected.This is a huge blow to the region's plans for improving cycle facilities as it would have contributed around £1 million over five years to local infrastructure projects.

Derbyshire County Council hopes to receive further information from the Department for Transport about the reasons why the bid was unsuccessful.

Projects identified by the Chesterfield Cycle Audit will still be pursued and bid for through the Local Transport Plan, although the pace of development will be determined by available money. This year's projects include:

• Off-road cycle route from the northern end of Brimington Road, alongside the A619 to a new toucan crossing close to Wikeley Way. This project is currently in the planning and design stages.

• Off-road cycle route from Eastside Road, along Brimington Road North, to the Whittington Moor roundabout.

• A cycle link along Church Lane, Packers Row and South Street through the pedestrian areas.

• Completion of the Stonegravels path between Hazlehurst Lane and Lockoford Lane.

The Campaign will be consulted on each project as it is progressed.

Stonegravels Path - North End


The new cycle path from Hazlehurst Lane to Lockoford Lane is finally open and has a lovely, smooth Tarmac surface.

The fences are up, lighting columns are in place and money has been allocated in this financial year to complete the lighting.

The path's completion has opened up a new 1.4 mile (2.3 Km) route from the town centre to the north of Chesterfield, currently reaching as far as the Chesterfield FC football ground. The Chesterfield Cycle Audit also established proposals to continue it further north in the future, as and when funding becomes available.

The Stonegravels Way takes its name from the area through which the recently-built path section passes. Substantial sections of it are off-road and elsewhere it follows quiet roads, offering a superior alternative to the parallel Sheffield Road cycle lanes.

More photographs are available on the Campaign website at www.chesterfieldcc.org.uk. Go to Image Galleries → Cycle Infrastructure → Path from Hazlehurst Lane to Lockoford Lane.


To kick off Bike Week, the Campaign had a stall at the Holmebrook Valley Park Country Fair on Saturday 18th June.

The uninspiring weather seemed to be discouraging visitors, but our stall was still reasonably busy. Many bikes benefited from the hand of Dr Bike, suffering the usual problems with gears, brakes and chains. A bent wheel was straightened and one bike, never unpacked, built and set up.

People looked with interest at the different bikes we had on display including a tandem,


Brompton folding bike and a Yuba Mundo cargo bike capable of carrying up to 200 Kg, as well as a pictorial display of other cargo bikes. They tried out the tandem and had rides on the Yuba.

It was interesting to hear from a man who had trouble walking, but was able to cycle and took particular interest in the Brompton. Another wanted to know more about the exact location of the new cycle path visible from the bypass. One new member signed up and many existing ones popped by to say hello.

Our annual Bike Week Pie and Pea Supper turned out to be popular, as usual, with twenty one people attending.Originally scheduled to take place at the Crispin in Ashgate, a last-minute problem meant that a new venue had to be re-arranged at short notice.

Instead, the pre-supper ride started out from the Town Hall as usual, followed the Hipper

Valley Trail to Somersall, then returned along Chatsworth Road, finishing at the Britannia in Brampton.

Thanks go to Barry Kay for stepping in to organise the revised location.


On the afternoon of Saturday 25th June, eighteen cyclists gathered at Tapton Lock for the Campaign's Bike Week Ride around the Trans Pennine Trail.

The route began by heading up through Tapton towards Tapton Grove, across Brimington Common and into West Wood. Joining the Trans Pennine Trail at Inkersall, it continued north towards Staveley, returned to the Chesterfield Canal at Mill Green and finished with a well-earned refreshment stop at Nona's café in Hollingwood Hub, the recently renovated Hollingwood Lock House.

Numbers were lower than usual for Bike Week rides, possibly due to the unpromising weather

on Saturday morning, but it remained warm and dry. Although these rides are usually slow-paced for newcomers and families, the group of eighteen more experienced riders managed to complete the route on schedule at 3 pm, despite a lengthy stop at Mill Green to admire the progress of the canal works.

Photographs from the ride are available in the Image Gallery on the Campaign's website at www.chesterfieldcc.org.uk.


The Archaeological Way was created in 1992 to enable communities in Derbyshire and North Nottinghamshire to explore their local landscapes using the railway cuttings which once provided transport routes for local coal and stone. There are now plans to redevelop this walking route between Pleasley Pit Country Park and Creswell Crags. The eventual aim is to create a 13.5 mile multi-user greenway 'spine' with further local routes in the area.

The first stage will see Bolsover Countryside Partnership upgrading 590 metres of existing paths to greenway standard at Poulter Country Park. The £52,000 cost is being met by 'Limestone Jouneys', a Heritage Lottery Funded project which was awarded £1.9 million in September 2010 to conserve the Derbyshire Magnesian Limestone landscape and enable greater access by local communities.

For more information visit www.creswell-crags.org.uk/limestonejourneys.

Right: The Archaeological Way between Whitwell and Pleasley Park


Campaign Member Peter Jones wrote in to tell us the remarkable tale of how a missing bike found its way back to him from someone with the same name!"In the autumn of 2010 I took my bike to Peak Bikes on Old Hall Road for a new chain to be fitted. My bike is an Ernie Clements’ Falcon which I have proudly owned since the age of 15. I am very fond of it in the way you would be of a classic MG sports car. When I tried to fit a new chain it seemed that the derailleur needed some attention. I am not a mechanic and that was a bit beyond me. I thought that I would give my business to a new local bike shop mentioned in the Cycle Campaign Newsletter.

During the autumn I contacted them a number of times and they said they were having difficulty getting parts. Then I found that the shop had closed but they still had a website and a Facebook page. That gave me some telephone numbers and I contacted them. I wasn’t in a hurry to have it returned but obviously wanted it fixing. I found out that all the bikes that had been left behind had been

taken up to Pete Curry's home on Loads Road Holymoorside (he lives with his parents). One weekend in February 2011 I went up to see what was happening. Pete Curry was away skiing, his father showed me the bike in the garage but the parts were missing so I said I would contact again later.

For one reason or another I didn’t get in touch. I knew he could contact me by e-mail or telephone and I had been away over Easter and was also very busy at work.

At the end of May I had a note put through my door: a printout of an e-mail from somebody called Peter Jones to Alastair Meikle, the Secretary of the Chesterfield Cycle Campaign. This Peter Jones had spotted a trailer obviously on its way to the tip with various metal items including two bikes. Peter Jones is a bit of a bike nut and enjoys renovating old bikes. He stopped the vehicle and


made a deal for the bikes on the back which he took home with him. One of them, it transpires was my Falcon. He commented "It must have been someone’s pride and joy once as it is a really nice bike." In the saddle bag there was the usual rubbish and a Cycle Campaign membership card in the name of Peter Jones. His friend who was with him was amazed: "Is that your bike then?” he asked.

I called the other Peter Jones whose phone number was on the e-mail. I explained when I had last seen my bike, and that I was expecting Pete Curry at some point to contact me. Peter Jones (the other Peter Jones) was very happy to return the bike to me

By the weekend I got my bike back. Not only that, but Peter had put a new chain on, replaced the derailleur (Pete Curry had lost the chain that I had bought and parts for the derailleur) and comprehensively refurbished the bike cleaning it, polishing it, and replacing worn and frayed parts from his extensive collection of second hand bits.

Peter Jones (not me, the other one) is an excellent chap. I am once again cycling on my bike which is in better condition than it's been for years. I am delighted to have it returned to me. I am really concerned as to how close I came to losing it and if it hadn’t been for a sequence of amazing coincidences I would have never seen it again.

A number of morals can be found in this story:

1. There are lots of decent people around and Peter Jones (the other one of course) is one of them.

2. Don’t leave things too long in the care of others if you want to see them again.

3. Maintain your current membership with the Chesterfield Cycle Campaign!"

Peter Jones(this one not the other one).


Work has progressed ahead of schedule at Staveley Town Basin, with new cycle stands and the slightly diverted Trans Pennine Trail path already in place by late July.

September 22nd is Car Free Day, a worldwide event which aims to encourage wider use of travel by walking, cycling and public transport.Chesterfield Borough Council has historically been very unreceptive to the idea of encouraging cycling as a way of making short journeys around our compact town.

At the beginning of the year, we thought we had finally made some progress by persuading the then Lib Dem Council to agree to holding a stall at the Town Hall on Car Free Day.

However, following the May election, our attempts to confirm this arrangement with the new Labour administration have failed to elicit any response.

If anyone would like to take on the challenge and organise a cycling event for this year, or help to plan something for next year, please let the Secretary know (contact details on page 22).


The clay liner is going in and water should be filling the Basin in October.

The TPT path closure order was due to expire on 21st August so should be officially open by now. However, it still isn't possible to use this as a through-route yet because of a separate ongoing path closure between Constitution Hill and Hall Lane. In this location, the wash wall is still being constructed with only 30 metres left to finish at the end of July. The Canal Trust is hoping to finish work here by the autumn but there is no official completion date yet.

In the meantime, cyclists are encouraged to use the diversion route between Mill Green and

Huntsman Road. Please do not cut through the barriers until the work is finished. Constitution Hill is also closed until 3rd December because there will be no bridge across the narrows until at least that date, and probably later.

There are plans to resurface paths on both sides of the canal between Mill Green and Constitution Hill, but there is no date for this yet either.

To keep up-to-date with changes in the area around Staveley, visit the Canal Trust's website at www.chesterfield-canal-trust.org.uk. For the latest photographs click on Gallery → Photos → Staveley Town Basin and Mill Green Link.


Chair: Joe ClarkVice Chair: Chris AllenSecretary: Alastair Meikle, 01246 520820 [email protected]: Phillip LeedhamCommittee Member: Barry Kay, 01246 555943

Membership: Pam Kay, 01246 555943Website: Robert Kirby [email protected]: Nicola Peck [email protected]: Simon Redding [email protected]

The Campaign desperately needs more volunteers to help out with the various events that we attend throughout the year.We have a number of stalwarts who devote a considerable amount of their free time, and who have been vital to the Campaign's success, but they can't manage everything and we are forced to turn down event invitations on a regular basis.

We mainly require people who can supervise our stall and chat to people about cycling. It doesn't usually take up the whole day because, with

enough people, we can split the day into two or three hour shifts. Most of the time we try to have at least two people present, so new helpers will always have the assistance of a more experienced member.

If you can offer a couple of hours of your time on an occasional basis, please contact the Secretary on 01246 520820, or email [email protected].


Sunday 11th September 2011 – Penny Farthing Racing, Hall Leys Park, Matlock. See http://penniesinthepark.co.uk/ for more information.

Thursday 22nd September 2011 – Car Free Day. No event arranged for Chesterfield this year. Please contact the Secretary if you would like to organise a ride or other activity.

Saturday 24th September 2011 – Green Fair and Harvest Swap, Chesterfield Market Square, 10 am to 4 pm

• Peter Jones, Brimington• Mia Smith, Tibshelf• David Hopkinson, Ashgate• Joanne Webster, Ashgate

Proposals to redesign Blackfriars Bridge in London have been met with fierce opposition from cyclists.

Cyclists already outnumber motor vehicles on the bridge and refurbishment of the adjacent railway station will also lead to a significant increase in pedestrians.

Despite this, Transport for London (TfL) have redesigned the road to increase the space for motorised traffic from two lanes to three, removed cycle lanes altogether at the most difficult part of the junction and want to

increase the speed limit from 20 mph to 30 mph.

At the end of July, just before TfL was due to start work, hundreds of cyclists turned up to protest at the action and created enough of a stir to feature on national news.

The protest is being seen as a sign of building support for more livable streets and, if successful in London, will hopefully eventually influence conditions in the rest of the UK.

Campaign Meetings are held on the second Tuesday of each month at 7.30pm in the Urban Studies Room at the Market Hall Chesterfield. The next meetings are on 13th September, 11th October, 8th November and 13th December.

Greendrinks is an informal gathering of 'green' minded people and takes place on the first Wednesday of each month from 7.00pm at various venues - see www.greendrinks.org/Derbyshire/Chesterfield.

Visit the forum on our website at www.chesterfieldcc.org.uk to contribute your ideas and opinions.

To report road faults, telephone Derbyshire County Council on 08456 058 058.

Full Name ............................................. Tel ....................................

Address ...............................................................................................

...............................................................................................................

Email ....................................................................................................

Membership Type (please tick)

Adult, £5 ........................[ ] Family, £10*....................[ ]Unwaged, £2.50.............[ ] Under 18, £1................... [ ]

Optional donations welcome.... [£ ]* Family membership includes 2 adults and all children under 18 living at the same address. Please give names and ages of all children below:

Please send this form, together with a cheque or P.O., payable to “Chesterfield Cycle Campaign” to: CCC Membership Secretary, 9 Ashgate Avenue, Chesterfield, S40 1JB.

NB. These details will be stored on computer.

Documents

Published quarterly Number 57 Autumn 2011 quarterly Number 57 Autumn 2011 Affiliated to the CTC and Cyclenation Printed on recycled paper For the latest news, photos and videos visit