Hartington Town Quarter Parish Council
A meeting of Hartington Town Quarter Parish Council was held on Wednesday, 4th March 2026 at 7.30pm in the Bakehouse.
Present: A Grindey, R Sherratt, S Bruce and the clerk, S Hampson. There were no members of the public in attendance.
Part 1 Non-confidential information
26.3.1 Apologies and attendance register
The members present completed the attendance register. Apologies had been received in advance of the meeting from Mr D Annat, Mr S Wager and Ms S Spencer.
26.3.2 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 but noting that Mr Wager was not in fact present at the previous meeting. The minutes were duly signed by the Chairman, Mr Grindey.
26.3.3 Public speaking
There were no members of the public present; however, there had been contact via the website’s contact forms from one resident and one non-resident. A resident from Peakland Grange raised an issue regarding a lack of a waste bin near the public toilets/footpath, dog fouling and a suggestion to consider relocating a waste bin from the green. Mr Grindey confirmed that there was no bin sited near the public toilets. The waste bins present on the green are frequently full to over flowing, particularly during the high tourist season and cannot be relocated elsewhere. The resident had also expressed concerns about flood measures at Peakland Grange.
A second enquiry, via the website from a resident of the neighbouring parish with a request to site a memorial bench near the pond. From the seating policy which has been in place for some time, unfortunately, this request cannot be granted.
A complaint was raised regarding flashlights being used by the volunteers on ‘toad migration patrol’ dazzling motorists. This is of more concern in the vicinity of Heathcote Mere.
Resolved: The clerk to advise the committee concerned with the toad migration patrol of the comment received.
26.3.4 Update from District Councillor and possible grant update
The District Councillor was not in attendance. It was noted that a number of headstones have been laid down in the churchyard, in a hap-hazard manner. This process has not been undertaken well. The parish council had not received any information regarding this; however, the parish council has no jurisdiction in this area. It was thought this process may have been undertaken either by Derbyshire Dales District Council (DDDC) or contractors on their behalf.
Resolved: the clerk to contact the District Councillor regarding the grave stones and the quality of this task.
26.3.5 Neighbourhood Plan and referendum
The clerk had written to Peak District National Park Authority (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. A response had been received from the Head of Planning with details of the rationale behind the need to repeat the process.
PDNPA has been slow to act on actioning the repeat referendum, claiming matters remain with their legal department.
The parish council is very disappointed and frustrated by this as the parish council and steering group had delivered everything expected to bring the matter to a conclusion but PDNPA has failed, when errors were recognised in January 2026. By the date of the parish council meeting, there appeared to be no urgency by PDNPA to conclude matters nor a clear timeline for a repeat referendum.
Resolved: to contact PDNPA again to express the disappointment and request that matters be expedited as a matter of extreme urgency.
26.3.6 Former cheese factory site, flood attenuation measures
Following the February meeting, the clerk had requested a further update on the above. PDNPA is awaiting responses from Derbyshire County Council (DCC) as the flood authority before PDNPA can proceed regarding implementation of flood measure at the site.
The parish council finds this very unsatisfactory and would like to know what pressure is going to be applied to resolve this matter which has been going on for a number of years.
26.3.7 Grit bin monitoring and snow warden scheme
There does not appear to be anyone to take up the position of snow warden. Mr Grindey believed the grit bins at Reynards Lane have now been refilled.
26.3.8 Items of account, salaries, clerk’s pay award, HMRC, general administration, mowing contractor, bus shelter maintenance, on line banking
Cq 1876 S Hampson March internet provision £17.00
Cq 1877 S Hampson March clerk’s salary £455.41
Cq 1878 HMRC Quarter 4 income tax £341.60
Cq 1879 S Hampson Reimbursement of expenses £13.30
Cq 1880 Shelter Maintenance Bus shelter cleaning service £13.62 (VAT £2.27)
26.3.9 Planning applications, planning sub-committee and appeals, enforcement
NP/DDD/0226/0166 Thatcher’s Cottage. Use of existing annexe for ancillary residential purposes and holiday accommodation use Class C3. It was reported that for approximately 50 years, the annex was used for residential purposes by previous owners. This is not a new conversion.
Resolved: In view of the above information, the parish council supports this application.
26.3.10 Highway issues, yellow lines, pot holes, street lighting, No though road sign at Reynards Lane
Pot holes on Mill Lane and below Harding Gap had been fixed. There was no update on other reported potholes. Vegetation at the Old Chapel had been addressed. There was still no update on the No through road sign at the bottom of Reynards Lane. DCC reported no issues with signage regarding weight limits on the approaches to Hyde Lane. Members were disappointed by this response. The clerk had liaised with the PCSO regarding traffic issues between Reynards Lane and the Whim. He had requested evidence, from as many sources as possible, regarding these incidents. The clerk had contacted the County Councillor regarding attendance at a future meeting and the length of time being taken to attend to highway cases and a complete lack of maintenance in some areas.
Resolved: to request an official weight limit for Hyde Lane, with official supporting signage.
26.3.11 Items for News and Views
There was no article for the edition at the March meeting.
26.3.12 Correspondence and communication
Correspondence had been forwarded to members in advance of the meeting and included: Public transport services transfer, invitation to launch parish Neighbourhood Watch, procurement advice, Peak Cluster newsletter, mobile library routes, invitation from John Whitby MP, planning training, Derbyshire local government reorganisation. Wakes will be Saturday, 12th September. The clerk has already requested Warslow Silver Band. Mr Grindey had found a possible source for new seats as used in Bakewell.
26.2.14 Items for the next agenda
Neighbourhood Plan and Referendum, former cheese factory site and flood measures, grit bin monitoring. seating. Additional items to be compiled by the clerk.
26.2.15 Date of next meeting:
Wednesday, 1st April 2026. The meeting was declared closed at 8.45 pm
Mrs S Hampson, Clerk, Hartington Town Quarter Parish Council,
10th March 2026
©Hartington Town Quarter Parish Council minutes remain draft until approved by the parish council at the next meeting