Whaley Bridge Canal Group will be commencing a series of surveys that will help us gain an understanding of how many bats and of what type are using the Transhipment Warehouse.  

It is vitally important that we carry out this study.  As well as being of great interest, it will be instrumental in any and all works and alterations to the building; For one we don’t want to disturb the habitat of the creatures who have made it their home but any planning application will be subject to a complete bat survey being undertaken, whether it comes to something as essential as repairing the roof or fitting new windows.

They will be meeting at Pear Tree Cafe at 7pm (get there early as it has to start on time) on Wednesday 25th May.  Georgina has kindly agreed to open up and serve complimentary tea and coffee.  Glyn Stewart, the Canal and River Trust’s ecology expert in this area will give a talk on bats and what to look for, give training on how to use the equipment.  Volunteers will then split into pairs at around 8pm/8.30pm  and position themselves inside the shed and be let loose with the ray gun.

This needs to be done for about ninety minutes.  Please don’t take in too sharp an intake of breath 🙂  think of what will be be achieved by this.  At least ten people are required to make it work, as it’s such a large building and we have to cover all of it,  including the cracks that may not be immediately visible to the naked eye.  They may not enter by where we think is obvious and unless we eliminate the impossible, whatever remains remains, remains possible and we will be asked about it in any planning application.

Please let Nev Clarke know if you can attend on Wednesday as he needs to firm up numbers.  He can be contacted on 07920 253 075 / 01663 735 284 or at clarkenev@gmail.com

They’re planning one survey a month until the end of October, maybe more if people are willing.  The idea is to throw in a couple of dawn surveys as well, which Nev is assured are a magical experience.

Whaley Bridge Water Weekend takes place on Friday 10th, Saturday 11th and Sunday 12th June 2016

If you want to join the team you’d be most welcome! As little or as much time you can give would be appreciated.

Lots of opportunities to soak up the atmosphere and help-from stewarding, helping on the free boat rides,  hospitality to the performers, tent erectors, bringer downers and tidy uppers/recyclers.

Giving a lovely smile to the many who come to enjoy the  family fun free music event of the year is one of the most enjoyable parts of the event!

Led into Zeppelin is our headline act on Saturday night. Don’t miss it!

Remember everyone it’s a pirate theme this year. (Adults (please do!) and children alike)

Our catering team will be dolled up with their sea-legs on,  dishing out the famous Whaley burgers in ship-shape and Bristol fashion.

   The Transhipment warehouse will be open to the public with pirate themed decorations and a model of the railway and Transhipment.

Contact- Zara Clarke- Volunteers Co-ordinator- 07809867135

Clear skies and an enthusiastic crowd enjoyed the the Queen’s Birthday Beacon last Thursday.

Bus services

under threat

Local residents are being asked their views on proposals to stop paying for local bus services and community transport to help us deal with the biggest budget cuts in our history.

Take part in our transport consultation.

By 2020, the funding we get from central government is expected to be more than a third less than in 2010.

This means we need to review what we spend on paying for local bus services which don’t carry enough passengers to be run commercially (subsidised buses).

We’re also reviewing the amount of money we give to Derbyshire’s six community transport schemes to run Dial-a-Bus (DAB) ‘shopping buses’.

We’re already scaling back on our support for DAB services meaning that from this year we will fund one of these trips a week for every community, town or village, to a nearby town centre or supermarket. Some areas currently have several services a week.

But we are now putting forward further proposals to help save £4.4m on transport costs.

The new proposals are to:

• Withdraw all county council funding for subsidised buses from October 2017. This means that unless they can be run commercially they will stop.
• Withdraw all county council funding for DAB services from October 2017. This means that unless they can be funded from elsewhere they will stop.
• Provide some funding – £1.3m – for a new Demand Responsive Transport (DRT) service. This could be used by passengers currently using subsidised buses and those using DAB.
• Provide a new Door-to-Door Plus service for people who currently use DAB but would be unable to use the proposed DRT service.

DRT services would have to be booked. Passengers then turn up at a named location, on a specific day and at a given time. The drop off point is usually a nearby town.

Councillor Dean Collins, Cabinet Member for Highways, Transport and Infrastructure, said:

“We are facing unprecedented cuts and must review all our services, particularly those, like subsidised buses and community transport, that by law, we do not have to provide.

“We know from previous consultations that public and community transport is vital to helping people get out and about, enabling them to maintain their independence and wellbeing, but unfortunately, the fact is, we just don’t have the money to continue funding these services to the level we have previously, so we need to look at running things differently.”

Following previous consultation, from 1 April 2016, the Gold Card flat-rate return fare will increase from £2 to £3 after 67 per cent of Gold Card holders who responded to a proposal to raise the fare indicated they would be prepared to pay the higher price.

Originally it had also been proposed to withdraw funding for aCTive Travel journeys to healthcare services but these will now continue until 2020, using money from reserves.

Councillor Collins added:

“We do listen to residents’ feedback. This is why, although they could be run by a different operator, we are continuing with transport to healthcare for the most vulnerable, because it was clear from the original consultation that these were vital services for people who would have no other way of getting to essential appointments.

“No decisions have yet been made on these latest proposals and I would encourage people to take part in this new consultation so we are well aware of the public’s view of our plans.”

The consultation will run for eight weeks until Sunday 24 April 2016.

Take part in our transport consultation.

Printed copies will also be available from local libraries and community transport schemes.

STORE OPENING on Sundays from  20th March 10 a.m. to 12 noon. Wednesdays opening starts on 6th April 6 to 7 p.m.

Blessed gives his blessing to Walk in the Park

Actor and adventurer Brian Blessed is backing a pioneering family-friendly walk this summer to help care for the Peak District National Park’s traffic-free trails.​

‘Walk in the Park’ is the first major fundraising campaign in the UK’s first National Park. It aims to encourage people to enjoy the great outdoors and raise money to look after the trails at a time of reduced Government funding.

The event will take place on Saturday, August 20 along the Monsal Trail.

People who sign up to support the event can choose to walk 5, 8 or 16 miles and tickets and further information are available at www.peakwalkinthepark.com

Walkers will also be asked to raise a suggested minimum of £40 per person In sponsorship.

Family fundraising tickets include parking, two nights’ camping for up to 4 people and lots of activities cost £60, with similar camping tickets for individuals priced at £30. For those not camping, fundraising tickets are £30 for families and £15 for individuals, including parking.

Exclusive to pre-registered fundraisers, part of the fee will include two nights’ camping at the Bakewell Showground if required, or a smaller fee without camping. The cost will also cover a range of activities, including fly fishing, guided ranger activities, storytelling, a circus and circus skills school.

There are three different walk lengths to choose from and anyone can take part with family or friends, with the dog or on their own. No special training or equipment is needed. It’s all about having fun and raising funds for the trails through sponsorship.

All funds raised will be used to help meet the cost of maintaining the Peak District National Park’s 34 miles of traffic-free trails, including the Monsal, Tissington, High Peak and Thornhill trails, which are used by hundreds of walkers, cyclists and horse riders every day. The maintenance costs £5 per metre per year, not including the viaducts, bridges, tunnels and other manmade structures along the routes.

Flash Gordon star Blessed, who has made three attempts to climb Mount Everest and is the oldest man to reach the magnetic North Pole on foot, spent large parts of his childhood in the Peak District and retains a deep affection for the area.

He said: “I grew up discovering Mam Tor, Back Tor and Kinder Scout. I explored the whole Hope Valley – these hills and moors were my jungle! We have to remember that National Parks are not ours – they are ours to look after. We all have a responsibility to care for Britain’s Breathing Spaces. I think ‘Walk in the Park’ is a wonderful initiative and I for one will do whatever I can to support it.”

Further support comes from national retailer Go Outdoors, who will email more than 1 million customers, display posters and leaflets in 57 stores across the country and create a special discount for registered fundraisers.

Sarah Fowler, chief executive of the Peak District National Park, said: “We’re looking forward to welcoming as many people as possible for ‘Walk in the Park’. We are planning plenty of exciting activities so it’s going to be a great, fun-filled weekend and we want to make it an annual event.

“The idea is to help people get closer to nature and raise some money at the same time for the trails that everyone loves. It will be a good opportunity for local businesses too as it will bring people to the area – we hope they will get involved in any way they can.”

Your Library in Whaley Bridge (next to the Mechanics) is a Food donation point 
(organised by the Derbyshire County Council) for food banks in the 
Derbyshire area.

This is a shopping list of items most in demand at Derbyshire food banks:

Tinned meat and fish
Long life milk and fruit juice
Tinned puddings and custard
Pasta, rice and instant mash
Tinned tomatoes
Tinned vegetables
Soup
Pasta sauces
Tinned fruit
Tea bags and instant coffee
Cereals
Jam
Biscuits or snack bars
Sugar (500g)
Toilet rolls
Shower gel, shampoo and soap
Nappies