Hartington Town Quarter Parish Council
A meeting of Hartington Town Quarter Parish Council was held on Wednesday, 4th February 2026 at 7.30pm in the Bakehouse.
Present: R Sherratt (Acting Chair until the arrival of A Grindey), D Annat, S Bruce, S Wager,
S Spencer and the clerk, S Hampson. There were 4 members of the public in attendance for part of the meeting.
Part 1 Non-confidential information
26.2.1 Apologies and attendance register
The members present completed the attendance register.
26.2.2 Minutes of the previous meeting
The minutes of the previous meeting had been forwarded to members, in advance of the meeting and posted on the parish council’s website and noticeboard.
Resolved: to accept the minutes as a true record. The minutes were duly signed by the Acting Chairman, Mr Sherratt.
26.2.3 Public speaking
The public speaking procedures document was available. A letter and an email had been received from members of the public, expressing concerns regarding traffic issues and pot holes between Reynards Lane and Whim Brewery. Two of the members of the public provided further details on this. In places, the lane is in such bad condition that pot holes are unavoidable. The National Trust has opened a permissive footpath at Wolfescote hill which has increased the number of tourists on a lane with no parking areas or very few passing place. People are also parking in the passing places which leads to serious problems with agricultural vehicles and trailers of livestock.
The parish council has repeatedly contacted Derbyshire County Council (DCC) regarding a ‘No through road’ sign at the bottom of Reynards Lane. DCC has promised the parish council that this will be installed yet the sign is still not in place, despite a works package being issued by DCC. DCC reported that winter maintenance is unfortunately, a higher priority yet grit refills which have been requested for Reynards Lane and other areas of the village have not yet been actioned by DCC. The parish council members are very disappointed with DCC as the authority is making the parish council appear inadequate; however, members of the public are also reporting issues to DCC and these too are being ignored/not actioned.
Resolved: to request a meeting with DCC regarding the lack of responses to members of the public and the parish council.
Resolved: to request that the approved sign at Reynards Lane now include No through road or opportunity for turning or parking and no vehicular access to Wolfescote Dale, Wolfescote Hill and Beresford Dale.
Resolved: to contact the PCSO regarding the traffic related issues in this area.
26.2.4 Village accessibility
The clerk had contacted both DCC and Derbyshire Dales District Council (DDDC) regarding the provision of disabled parking spaces in the village centre and the public car park. Unfortunately, both these authorities declined the requests of the parish council to provide these facilities.
DCC stated Blue Badge holders are already permitted to park on certain existing restrictions, in accordance with the national Blue Badge policy which provides flexibility without the need for formal bays. In view of this, DCC is reluctant to introduce designated disabled parking bays in the village centre, as these would require a formal Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) which is a lengthy process and involves installing associated upright signs. DCC is keen to avoid this in order to minimise additional street furniture and visual clutter. DCC further stated that advisory disabled bays cannot be enforced by the Civil Parking Enforcement Team. This often leads to reduced compliance and can undermine the effectiveness of advisory bays elsewhere.
DDDC’s opinion on the provision of disabled parking bays on the public car park on Mill Lane was that it is some distance from the centre of the village and there are a number of options for disabled badge holders to park closer and DDDC hasn’t ever designated specific disabled bays within the car park. DDDC advised that Blue Badge holders can park on single/double yellow lines for up to 3 hours when displaying their badge and time clock and in view of this, do not believe disabled spaces on the car park would be used.
Resolved: The parish council does not think a request for 2 designated disabled spaces within the parking spaces near the bus shelter is unreasonable and will ask for a traffic regulation order to meet this request.
26.2.5 Update from District Councillor and possible grant update
The District Councillor was not in attendance.
26.2.6 Neighbourhood Plan and referendum
A single individual had written to the Peak District National Park Authority (PDNPA) to complain about the publicising of the Neighbourhood Plan during the required period. It had been published on the parish council’s website and advertised by the PDNPA. However, under challenge, PDNPA believes the Section 16 has to be repeated for a further 6 weeks and a new referendum held. This repeat process could cost in excess of £5,000. The process will take another 6 weeks from a letter sent to all concerned.
There will be no alterations to the plan. The errors occurred in the process, including one document referring to Bradwell, not Hartington.
Resolved: To write to PDNPA to ask for a copy of the letter with the content which made PDNPA change their minds and to proceed with repeating the Section 16 process.
26.2.7 Former cheese factory site, flood attenuation measures
The developer has accepted that he has to put in flood measures. PDNPA is serving enforcement to make sure it happens.
Resolved: The clerk to request a further update on the above.
26.2.8 Grit bin monitoring and snow warden scheme
The clerk had contacted DCC to order further supplies of grit for Bankside and 2 bins on Reynards Lane; however, these grit bins remain empty. Despite efforts, there does not appear to be anyone to take up the position of snow warden.
26.2.9 Items of account, salaries, clerk’s pay award, HMRC, general administration, mowing contractor, bus shelter maintenance, on line banking
Cq 1873 S Hampson February Clerk’s salary £455.21
Cq 1874 S Hampson February internet provision £17.00
Cq 1875 S Hampson Reimbursement of February expenses £11.30
26.2.10 Planning applications, planning sub-committee and appeals, enforcement
NP/DDD/0126/0063 Brighton Farm
Members discussed the above proposal and considered this application to be an improvement to the property and to be a perfectly acceptable addition on a property that is not listed. Mr Annat commended the application.
Resolved: to unanimously support this application
NP/DDD/1225/1309 Bank House
The applicants were present at the meeting and provided some background information, including access details. Members had also been made aware of a submission by Hartington Village Hall Committee regarding this application. The councillors considered different aspects of this application which will result in significant changes to a former guest house and family home, which is also a grade 2 listed building, to form 3 holiday lets. One aspect involves access from Hyde Lane to a parking space for the holiday accommodation. Some concerns were expressed about this and considered that comments from DCC’s Highways Department would assist a decision. In addition, the proposed development does not appear to make a positive contribution to local character and distinctiveness; however, in external visual terms, the parish council accepted there will be minimal change from the existing elevations. The applicants informed members that the proposed internal design would allow for a single group letting with all nine bedrooms involved. This was of some concern to the parish council due to potential social disruption which is something the parish council would not welcome in the very heart of the village. The number of bedrooms available for visitors almost doubles from five to nine which is likely to increase vehicular use and put further pressure on highway parking in Hartington.
Resolved: Unfortunately, the parish council sees no specific benefit from the proposed development of this heritage asset which is not at risk but has concerns about rear access and the increase of visitor lets which could easily lead to social disruption and additional parking requirements on the highway. As such the parish council cannot support this application for three short term flats to let.
26.2.11 Highway issues, yellow lines, pot holes, street lighting, No though road sign at Reynards Lane
Some potholes previously reported to DCC had received attention and some had been assigned instructions to complete works. Others remain outstanding on Dig Street, Mill Lane and a new serious pothole near Harding Gap. Also see the public speaking section regarding the sign at Reynards Lane and road condition. Concerns were also expressed regarding obscured visibility at the corner of Hall Bank near the Old Chapel and large vehicles have been witnessed coming down Hyde Lane.
Resolved: The clerk to request 7.5 tonne weight limits at both access points to Hyde Lane and to report the pot holes again to DCC.
Resolved: The clerk to obtain a contact address for the Old Chapel regarding attention to garden vegetation.
26.2.12 Items for News and Views
Resolved: Mr Annat to place an article related to the Neighbourhood Plan and the new referendum.
26.2.13 Correspondence and communication
Correspondence had been forwarded to members in advance of the meeting and included: PCSO safer neighbourhood information, consultation on Derbyshire Fire Community Risk Management Plan and Budget, DALC newsletters, beaver reintroduction into Derbyshire, peak cluster phase 1 consultation, Peak Park foundation impact report, Peak Park 75th anniversary
26.2.14 Items for the next agenda
Neighbourhood Plan and Referendum, former cheese factory site and flood measures, grit bin monitoring. Additional items to be compiled by the clerk.
26.2.15 Date of next meeting:
Wednesday, 4th March 2026 and 1st April 2026.
Confidential Items
26.2.16 Mowing contract tenders for 2026, 2027
Tenders had been sought and received from 2 reputable contractors, using exactly the same criteria. One tender was approximately 3 times the other.
Resolved: to appoint the contractor who has previously provided excellent service during the previous years and also significantly less expensive than the other tender.
The meeting was declared closed at 9.30 pm
Mrs S Hampson
Clerk
Hartington Town Quarter Parish Council
10th February 2026
©Hartington Town Quarter Parish Council minutes remain draft until approved by the parish council at the next meeting