Mark Cocker will talk to Buxton Field Club on 15th November at 7.30pm about Re-wilding

A date for your diary: Friday 15th November MARK COCKER is talking about Re-Wilding at Buxton Field Club. Mark is an author, naturalist and environmental tutor, who writes and broadcasts on nature and wildlife in a variety of national media. In 2018 he released a new book Our Place (Cape), on the fate of British nature in the twentieth century, and completed 30 years as a Guardian country diarist.

His 11 other books include works of biography, history, literary criticism and memoir. They include Claxton: Field Notes from a Small Planet (2014) and Birds and People (2013). The latter was published to international acclaim and was a collaboration with the photographer David Tipling.

Time: 7.30-9.30pm
Place: Buxton Methodist Church Hall, Chapel St, Buxton
Free to members, 18-25s, accompanied minors. £3 all others. Everyone is really welcome.

7.00 pm Tuesday 10th December 2019 at Poole's Cavern Visitor Centre

Everywhere nature is under pressure, and Buxton is no different from the rest of the country. As the pressure for more housing and roads increases the landscape becomes more and more fractured making it harder for flora and fauna to thrive and survive.
We need to take action to reverse this decline and it falls within the remit of BCA to take the lead on this. We have demonstrated our stewardship of the beautiful woodlands that we own but we need to look outside our own estate and bring together all the wonderful, dedicated hardworking groups in the town that care for and look after nature.
There is a need for a dedicated grouping to bring these concerned individuals and groups together and to attempt to address these important issues in the town. We have had informal liaison with the Buxton Field Club (a group of naturalists concerned with the study of natural history in and around Buxton) and several BCA members who share this concern. They agree that it would be helpful and valuable for BCA to create a group to fulfil this role.

Some of the immediate issues of concern are;
• the future management of the Nestle landholding at Lightwood
• the management of Fernydale Local Nature Reserve (adjacent to our Sherbrook Wood)
• the County Council land at Solomon’s Temple
• the management of wildflower areas at the Serpentine
• conservation of the important, highly threatened breeding population of Curlew and Lapwing in the immediate vicinity of Buxton
• the management of Cowdale Quarry
• the management of road verges
• spread of tree diseases in the town
• the conservation of breeding populations of swifts, martins, swallows and bats that use buildings in the town
• the conservation of wildlife on brownfield sites in the town

Many of these issues involve liaison, potentially lobbying and, hopefully, partnership working with other organisations (e.g. Nestle, High Peak Borough Council, Derbyshire County Council, Derbyshire Wildlife Trust and RSPB).
If you are interested in being part of the Biodiversity Group email us at;
We are holding an inaugural meeting at Poole’s Cavern on Tuesday 10th December 2019 at 7.00pm.
If you are interested in coming along it would be helpful if you could let us know at communications@buxtoncivicassociation.org.uk

Steve Orridge's end of term report and review of Butterfly surveys in Grin Woods, Lightwood and Cunningdale

Excellent report from Steve outlining the fantastic work that he and his surveyors do. If you want to join Steve's group of surveyors let us know at communications@buxtoncivicassociation.org.uk

Buxton Butterfly Surveys 2015-2019

Lyn Noble and Kathyrn Howson report on a very successful first En Plein Air competition

They knew that it would happen come rain or shine, and it did. Add to that a blustery wind and the stage was set for a challenging art competition in the “plein air” (remember your school French?).

On 28th September artists from as far afield as Plymouth and Whaley Bridge descended on the Pump Room to sign in for a five hour battle with the elements and produce a work of art that would be exhibited and judged in the Old Clubhouse at the end of the day.

More than 40 artists braved the elements and most people found a moderately sheltered location; two brave attempts to paint in the open were sadly washed away by the rain but the artists started again under cover. Despite, or perhaps because of the weather, everyone rose to the challenge and clearly enjoyed the day.

The judging panel was led by The Buxton Spa Prize 2019 winner, Simon Roderick. Also judging were Sarah Males, director of Buxton Civic Association and Kate Dickson, member of BCA and director of Creative Heritage (a Buxton Spa Prize sponsor). The Bingham Trust was represented by trustee Christine McMullan. Jonathan Dawson, Managing Director of Buxton Crescent Heritage Trust & Thermal Spa also joined the panel.

The prize winners were chosen as Kieran Ingram – First Prize, winning £500, David Lowther – Second Prize and Conan McPhee – Third Prize.

The event was sponsored by Buxton Civic Association, The Bingham Trust, Buxton Crescent Thermal
Spa and The Buxton Spa Company.

Organisers Neil Scowcroft and Kathryn Howson of The Buxton Spa Prize Team, are delighted with the success of the very first Come Rain or Shine! event and are already planning for next year . . .

Lyn Noble took his camera out and about to photograph some of the artists at work

Dr Catherine Parker Heath on Discovering Heritage in the South West Peak

Thursday 19th September at 7.30 pm, Poole's Cavern Visitor Centre, free to Members.

Buxton Spa Prize have organised an 'en plein air' competition for artists of all ages using any medium apart from photography.

Buxton Civic Association are sponsoring the first prize of £500.

HOW TO ENTER?

To Register come along to The Pump Room, Buxton Crescent to register on Saturday 28th September 2019 between 9.30am and 11.30am.

Then go and create your work of art by anywhere in and around the town.

Return with your finished piece to the Old Clubhouse by 3pm.

Exhibition Preview & Prize Giving from 5pm.

Artists are invited to exhibit and sell their work the next day.

1 Day Exhibition - Sunday 29th September 2019 - Noon to 6pm.

HOW BCA MEMBERS CAN GET INVOLVED?

Enter the competition and produce a work of art, see details above

Volunteer to help out on the day with registration and helping with the exhibition, contact Simon Fussell at

communications@buxtoncivicassociation.org.uk

Anna 13 and Izzy 10 raise £50 to help Friends of the Earth Save the Bees Campaign selling delicious homemade cup cakes at Poole's Cavern Visitor Centre

Buxton Civic Association are sponsoring a talk at the festival 'Mark Cocker and friends'. The talk is on 6th July at 10.30 am in the Pavilion Arts Centre.

Mark Cocker is one of Britain’s foremost natural history writers whose books include Our Place: Can We Save British Nature Before It’s Too Late? and Claxton: Further Field Notes From A Small Planet. BIF has invited Mark to ‘guest edit’ this event, and he has chosen two authors whose work he admires. Jean McNeil, author of The Ice Diaries and Tessa Boase, author of Mrs Pankhurst’s Purple Feather join Mark for an informal and lively debate about diversity in our countryside, climate change and the writer’s art.

Buy tickets for Mark Cocker

Background

Buxton Civic Association (BCA) is a registered charity established to preserve Buxton’s natural and formal landscape. The Association has a large active membership from the local community. BCA is commenting on the planning application for outline planning permission for the demolition of existing buildings and construction of new dwellings on the former market place – High Peak Town Yard, Market Street.

Comment

BCA supports the aim of redeveloping a brownfield site located in the centre of Buxton and the potential positive impact it could bring to local businesses through the provision of more local central dwellings enabling residents to walk to local facilities and businesses and help reduce car usage and climate change impacts.

BCA notes the objections primarily relating to the significant loss of car parking spaces and the negative impact this could have on local businesses, there is also objection to the proposed demolition of the existing properties and suitability of the planned development.

It is noted that there is a need to redevelop this part of town but with something that can be supported by local businesses and residents.

BCA has the following comments on the proposal:

1. The outline planning application significantly reduces the number of parking spaces available to residents and visitors from around 90 spaces to 50 – a 55% reduction. This is at a time when Buxton is expanding with a number of housing developments currently underway. Without significant improvements in sustainable public transport a large reduction in the number of spaces has the potential to negatively impact local businesses and so could lead to further business closures which the town can ill afford to lose. There is a need for the development to include for considerably more parking spaces than being proposed and the provision of electric car charging points.
2. The proposal to demolish the existing buildings is not accompanied by any supporting evidence to clearly demonstrate there is a structural need for this rather than refurbishment to high environmental standards. Any refurbishment would need to achieve high standards of energy efficiency. These buildings add to the character of Market St and are distinctive. They appear to be sound and may merit renovation and modernisation for residential purposes. However there is a need for an evaluation and structural survey to be undertaken to assess whether they can be redeveloped to high environmental standards before planning approval can be granted for demolition for some or all of these properties.
3. The building of new residential property, especially flats and apartments in the centre of Buxton could bring potential benefits to the area, however it is important they fit in with the surrounding central location and are built to achieve very high standards of energy efficiency to minimise climate impacts. There are some good redevelopments in the centre of Buxton that blend in notably the development of the former Otter Controls site nearby. The outline plans do not show that this development blends in and provides the type of suitable accommodation such as flats and town houses that are needed. There is a need to reconsider the plans for this site to ensure they fit in with the area, achieve high environmental standards (e.g. zero carbon homes), benefit wildlife (e.g. provision of bird boxes for swifts etc.) and provide the type of dwellings needed.
4. The archaeology report indicates the need for an investigation to be undertaken. This should be carried out prior to any outline planning being granted.

Planning Application - HPK 2019/0088 White Knowle Road

Buxton Civic Association (BCA) is a registered charity established to preserve Buxton’s natural and formal landscape. The Association has a large active membership from the local community. BCA is commenting on the planning application for outline planning permission for land adjacent to White Knowle Road HPK 2019/0088.

Comments

BCA notes that the site has a long history of planning applications and outline applications being made, all of which have been refused. The most recent application, which was refused by HPBC, was appealed. The appeal was refused by the Planning Inspector who upheld the decision by HPBC to refuse the planning application.

Applications for the site have been made in the following years:
1982, 1983, 1990, 1993, 2007, 2014 & 2015.

HPBC refused the most recent planning application (HPK 2015/0260) dated 29/6/2015 for the following reasons:

1. The development proposed would be detrimental to the character and appearance of London Road and the visual qualities of the adjoining open countryside to the detriment of the visual characteristics of the wider landscape and contrary to Policies OC1 and GD4 of the High Peak Saved Local Plan 2008; Policy EQ5 of the High Peak Local Plan (Submission Version) 2014; and Para 17 and Section 11 of the National Planning Policy Framework.

2. The layout and form of the development proposed, including plot ratios and footprint of the dwellings is out of character with the neighbouring properties and does not contribute to local distinctiveness. This results in an incongruous form of development which will be detrimental to the visual qualities of the locality and views from the wider countryside to the south and west. The development is thus contrary to Policies OC4, GD4 and H11 of the High Peak Saved Local Plan 2008 and Policies EQ2 and EQ5 of the High Peak Local Plan (Submission Version) 2014 as well as Section 7 of the National Planning Policy Framework.

The Planning Inspector dismissed the appeal for the application made in 2015 (HPK 2015/0260). In summary the Planning Inspector stated that the proposed development harmed the street scene of London Road and the character and appearance of the countryside significantly outweighing any benefits of the scheme.

BCA objects to this application taking into account the decision of HPBC in relation to the previous refusal and the decision of the Planning Inspector for the following reasons:

1. The outline planning application harms the street scene of London Road. It also significantly damages the character and appearance of the countryside. This outweighs any potential benefits the scheme may make.
2. The proposal does not comply with the policies of the High Peak Local Plan and the National Planning Policy Framework as stated in the refusal/determination by HPBC and Planning Inspector on the previous application.
3. A number of residents on White Knowle Road object to this application and have submitted their detailed objections. It is noted that the proposed development is fundamentally at odds with the existing character of the area. The outline proposal relates poorly to the distinctive residences along White Knowle Road and does not conform to the Local Plan which HPBC has adopted.