WhaleyBridge.Com

Aim

Our group was formed to improve the condition of the field at Yeardsley Lane and provide a much needed recreational and sporting facility that can be used all year round.

The local community was engaged in a consultation process in 2010, the results of which were published in a Report and delivered at an Open Meeting.  The vision for the field was then incorporated into plans and a 3-D model was made to show how it might look in reality.   These have been exhibited at subsequent Open Meetings and Field Days and have met with the approval of local people.

Progress

This last year has seen some real progress towards our goals, including:-

• Removal of Planning Restrictions – We were successful in negotiating the removal of planning restrictions which were hampering our efforts.   Whilst these restrictions were in force we were unable to seek any substantial funding.   It was a complicated process but we were delighted that we eventually managed to reach agreement with the parties involved to move our project forward.

• Negotiating a Lease – Many funders will only consider a grant to organisations which own or lease their own land.  We therefore entered into discussions with High Peak Borough Council to take on a 99 year lease on the field.  We have agreed the heads of terms of the lease and have a letter of intent from the Council.  We are currently awaiting the draft lease for our approval.

• QE2 Dedication – This is something which we have campaigned for on behalf of our field since the initiative was first announced to mark the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.  We are therefore thrilled that we have now been assured by the Leader of HPBC and the Senior Horticultural Officer that this process is now firmly underway.  When the Deed of Dedication is complete our field will be protected forever for the use of recreational and sporting activities.

Funding

The aspirations for the field are very ambitious and require a great deal of fundraising.  The first phase of development, levelling and drainage, will also be the most costly.  However to date we have raised or been promised funding amounting to approximately £20,000.  This includes £5,000 from DCC’s Community Leadership Fund, £2850 HPBC’s Councillors Initiative Fund and £1250 from Fields in Trust.  We have also submitted a major funding application to Sport England and are currently awaiting the result.

It’s your field!

 We have a very hardworking and dedicated committee but we would welcome any offers of help or involvement in the project.  We especially need people with fundraising ideas and the time to put them into practice; and those with professional skills, such as legal expertise.   If you can help in any way with this worthwhile cause, please contact us at furnessvale@gmail.com

Julia Alsop and Sarah Lionheart ,with Jean Ayre (seated), alongside the silk quilt cover

Macclesfield silk history came to Whaley Bridge, when a 19^th century patchwork quilt cover, made from hundreds of small patches of silk, went on display at the Festival of Stitches in Holy Trinity Church.

Members of Trinity Patchwork and Quilting group were delighted with the large number of visitors, Continue Reading »

Roly the Clown: Party date in Whaley Bridge

WHITSUNTIDE – once famous in Manchester and the region for Whit Walks -  was also school holidays, new clothes and maybe the first summer weather.  Whitsun – or more accurately Pentecost – is going to have a big impact in Whaley Bridge this year.

Churches Together, chaired by the Rev Michael Peat, is organising a Pentecost Party to celebrate the worldwide church’s birthday in the Uniting Church on Saturday 18 May.  It runs from 3pm-5.30pm.  All are welcome, young and old, for a party which will recall the Jubilee family celebration ‘do’ in Taxal and Fernilee School hall last year.

Highlight will be Roly Bain the Clown -  he calls himself  the Holy Fool. Last year he had the congregation in St John’s, Furness Vale, rocking with laughter during his appearance as part of the church’s centenary.  But behind Roly’s  slapstick, there were serious  messages for the family congregation. Roly is an ordained Anglican priest as well as a professional clown.

The Pentecost Party will include  a bouncy castle indoors, face painting, music and children’s games, cakes and sandwiches and a special Pentecost birthday cake.

Michael Peat says: “Roly’s clown act is widely renowned for sharing the Gospel message in a hugely entertaining way. Churches Together in Whaley Bridge hope that people of all ages will take this opportunity simply to join the celebration: the invitation is to everyone!”

Donations of food or help with costs will be welcome.  Further information about the Pentecost Party from Stella Whitehurst (01663 732 132) or Michael Peat (01663 732610).

Anne Winter hands Martin the chain of office as council chair

Cllr Martin Thomas took over as Whaley Bridge’s new civic leader on Thursday, 9 May.  Outgoing chair Cllr Anne Winter handed him the chain of office and the all important gavil as he became chair of Whaley Bridge Town Council.

Order, order: don’t forget the chair’s gavil!

Like other members of the town council, Martin is non-political in this role.   But earlier, he was one of three town councillors fighting to become a County Councillor.  Martin, as a Labour candidate in the county council elections earlier this month, nearly doubled the party’s vote from four years ago.

The Field Day on May 18^th event promises to be bigger and better than ever, no matter what the weather.  We have the Bands of course: Atlas Inferno, Air Lock, Illegal Regals and Sidewinderz.  Local celebrity Zoppi will be on the field with his Bouncy castle and children’s entertainment. There will be face painting and activities for all ages including a ‘therapy’ tent thanks to the Alternative Health Clinic New Mills. There will be loads of stalls crafts, table tops, charity information and a chance again to ‘win a mini’. There will be a BBQ (beef burgers supplied by Lomas foods Buxton from locally sourced beef) a beer tent and a tea tent with cakes. New this year we have a ‘Fun Dog Show’.

The Committee are grateful for the support of many local traders and organisations for their participation in producing the colourful programme which also acts as poster to pin up displaying the contact details of local facilities from the nursery to the funeral director and the carpet fitter to the chimney sweep, pubs, shops, restaurants and tradesmen to mention but a few.

Finally there will be a tremendous raffle, tickets only available on the field from the Information tent.  Fabulous prizes have been promised including tickets for ‘Alice’ at the Buxton Opera House; tickets for the Chestnut Centre, Ice Age 4 DVD donated by Tesco, bottle of Pink Champagne donated by Whaley Cooperative store, voucher from Lomas Foods (Buxton), vouchers for the Solder Dick, The Crossings and the Imperial Palace, vouchers from Cheshire Weddings and The Lavender Room and a garden tub from Secret Garden and others provided by friends and Committee members.  The Committee are overwhelmed by the support this year – do come along and join in the fun!

On May 18th from 12 noon, Furness Field is the place to visit!

Directions: opposite school, past bowling green cross Charlesworth Rd entrance by COGS notice board, or from Park Avenue.

Archive photo from the 2012 Welldressing

Whaley Bridge Well Dressing begins on  Saturday,  22^nd June 2013 and culminates in the Blessing of the Well on Sunday, 30th June at 2.30.p.m.The first weekend, Saturday, 22^nd and  Sunday, 23^rd June, mini boards, will be available  once again, for children who must be accompanied by an adult.  The cost will be £2 per board.

Monday ,24^th June –Saturday, 29^th June is ‘Well Dressing in the Making’ and visitors will be very welcome to come and watch and have a go if they wish. Both the children’s activities and the making of the mural will take place in the marquee adjacent to the canal. Sunday’s Blessing is an open air event at Tom Brad’s Croft, close to Drinkwater’s Builders Merchants.

*Please note that Saturday, 29^th June is also the village Rose Queen event and Whaley Bridge Art Group’s Annual Exhibition at the Uniting Church.

Results for each party 2009 and 2013

Whaley Bridge County Council election result, as posted on the Derbyshire CC website  and ‘subject to verification’:

 Lib Dem majority 117

Result last time:  Lib Dem 1808, Conservative 1377. Labour 438. UKIP 396

The county council website shows Labour regaining  control with 43 seats, Conservatives on 18 and Lib Dems on 3

The Whaley Bridge division includes Furness Vale, Buxworth, Chinley and Combs.

Youth club members Alisha and Leah with youth worker and pharmacy staff celebrate win

Whaley Bridge youth club, based in Footsteps, has won a £250 grant from the Co-operative Community Fund, based on the ‘postal votes’ of  local people.  A bright yellow postbox, placed inside the Co-op pharmacy, was used in this pilot project for the Co-op.  Customers were given yellow discs (a bit like tiddlywinks) which could be posted into one of two slots:  one for the youth club, the other for the Water Weekend.

Rebecca Harman, leader at the club, said:  “We were pleasantly surprised about how much support we had from the public.”  How will the money be spent?  “Possibly on Play Station 3.”

Two youth club members – Alisha Vernon and Leah Woodhall – joined youth club worker Karen Spencer and staff from the pharmacy at a photocall.

Pharmacy manager Raj Modi said:  “We were amazed how many discs were ‘posted’ by customers, over 1,600.”

The youth club, which is run by Derbyshire county council, meets in Footsteps drop-in centre on Market Street on Tuesdays, 6pm-9pm and on Fridays, 7pm-10pm.