New Mills & District Access Group

We cover the area of New Mills, Hayfield, Chinley, Furness Vale, Whaley Bridge, Buxworth, Fernilee, Horwich End, Bridgemont, Newtown.

The group was formed in June 2004. Previously, other access groups covered the different districts (Whaley Bridge came under Buxton, Hayfield and New Mills under Glossop or Buxton).

We are based at the Volunteer Centre in New Mills
(33-35 Union Road, Tel 01663 744196).
Chair: Bill Allen
Vice–chair:
Secretary: -
Treasurer: -

Members are involved with other access groups in the High Peak area and further afield, and with voluntary groups such as Derbyshire Coalition for Inclusive Living, the CVS, and others. Most of the active members are disabled people.

A summary of work done in 2004/5 can be seen in the reports from the 2005 Annual General Meeting.

2007 AGM is at New Mills Volunteer Centre on Wed 7th Nov 5.30-7.30pm

Aims

To be an effective voice in working with statutory authorities and others.

To achieve a freely accessible environment for the whole community, both residents and visitors.

To improve access to shops, leisure and public areas, and services such as transport and health.

Barriers preventing access may often be physical, but can also be in the way services are provided. Disabled people, elderly, parents with pushchairs, carers, relatives and friends of all these groups, the whole community, are affected by access issues. Many of these groups of people overlap of course. Many are also socially excluded.

Achievements

Subgroup on the Town Partnership; active and continuing involvement in this at all stages.

Section 106 added to Sett Valley trail proposals and to Hyde Bank Mill planning application.

Six members of the group attended training in Disability Awareness and Access Audits with a view to the Disability Discrimination Act, carried out by the respected Centre for Accessible Environments.

Contact with Derbyshire Constabulary concerning footpath obstruction and usage.

Ongoing contact with HPBC on a range of issues including New Mills Leisure Centre.

Railway and Station access – contact firstly with FirstNorthwestern, then with Northern Rail, when the franchise changed. We hope to be visiting/assessing the stations in our area in the spring, in collaboration with other local groups.

Group members have performed Access Audits of Bridgemont Village Hall and New Mills Volunteer Centre. We now have our own set of access audit equipment and documentation.

Future objectives

We would like to see access issues as an integral part of any plan or initiative, not an added bonus or extra for which people should be grateful and be charged extra.

We would like clarification of various issues which are cited on the Town Plan. These include the development of the Sett Valley Trail for access to Health & Leisure Centres and Clinic, as well as to Torrs Riverside Park and the town itself, and also as a safe route to the schools.

Access to public transport in Whaley Bridge has been mentioned at council meetings and in local press as a problem due to obstruction by vehicles.

Canal paths are also blocked or disintegrating, affecting daily life and visitor access and enjoyment.