The usual updates about the flood defence work, and Aida/Bliss redevelopment and a look at some of the lovely community events (socially distanced!) that have been going on in lock down. Sunday would have been the fifth ‘Picnic on the Green’ event, which actually started in 2016 to help celebrate the Queen’s 90th Birthday. It went so well, we’ve held it every year since…..we hope to bring this back again next year, but in the meantime, here’s a video documenting the 1st (by Lucia who lived on St. Paul’s Road at the time!)
Download this month’s newsletter below, and please share to anyone you know as still no printed copies this month!
Our third newsletter in lockdown, but hopefully the last one (possibly!) that is electronic only!
We’ve still got some good community initiatives in the area, like the Chester Green Treasure Hunt Quiz and the Little Chester Library and St. Paul’s Toy Swap Shop! There’s also updated details on the Aida Bliss Development and a request from our Local MP (Amanda Solloway) for local residents to ask questions via her Zoom surgeries!
Unit C, 2 City Road (next to the Fish and Chip Shop and Dessert Stop) are applying for a license for alcohol, live and recorded music. I know this unit has caused issues in the past (when it was a shisha bar), with noise problems and also other issues with the visitors to this particular establishment, so I’m bringing to everyone’s attention so they can comment if they wish.
Below is the notice on the council’s website, and I’ve attached the docs to this post too.
If you would like to submit any representations (comments!) they need to be made under the one or more of the licensing objectives:
the prevention of crime and disorder
public safety
the prevention of public nuisance
the protection of children from harm
Comments can be made until 19-5-2020 by emailing licensing@derby.gov.uk and quoting ‘Unit C, 2 City Road’.
Another electronic only newsletter, so please do share this with anyone who you think won’t see it otherwise.
We’re looking at some distanced VE day celebrations this month, and our annual well dressing on Friday 8th May.
There’s details on the lovely things Marcus Street residents are doing to keep people’s spirits up and details of how you can offer help (big or small!) at this time!
We hope everyone in Chester Green is well. and hopefully we’ll get to deliver these again soon, along with our more usual events!
In this month’s newsletter there are lots of positives to be aware of. We can’t print and deliver it, of course, so please share this with everyone you know via phones/whatsapp or any other messaging service you have your neighbours on! THE FLOOD DEFENCES ARE FINISHED…..hooray…..we’re watertight, and there are some lovely window display and other ideas for the area, along with a community VE day well dressing celebration in the pipeline, which should work even if we’re all still in lock down!
This month there’s new details on the Aida/Bliss redevelopment. There are still many challenges to overcome to enable residential development so close to the flood defences and incorporating the iconic factory building on what has always been an industrial site. The council have announced a website in order to keep us up to date with their proposed Aida/Bliss factory redevelopment. Details can be found at http://www.derby.gov.uk/aidabliss
Details on the final finishing off of the flood defences in Chester Green are also included (nearly finished….hooray!) and we’re keeping a close eye on these finishing touches!
Despite objections from local residents, Darley Ward Councillors, Emergency Planning officers and Council Drainage officers, the City Council’s Planning case officer recommended for approval the application by Honeypot Investments to convert the historic former Bridge Inn into four apartments plus ground floor offices. This was particularly worrying given the council’s own Highway’s Land Drainage officer who objected strongly: “…a building of this age in close proximity to the flood defences should not be used for residential use at all as we are still of the opinion that the development is inherently unsafe in flood risk terms. The building should only receive planning permission for less vulnerable uses.” The full planning committee report can be found here.
All this, and more can be found in the newsletter linked below:
Below is the February newsletter, which should be with you already. We have a community centre family disco on Saturday 8th February (6.30 – 9.30 ish…..) and all the usual news and information!
Attached is this month’s newsletter (which should be winging its way to you any day now!) . All the usual updates and news.
The Annual Picnic on the Green was a huge success, again, and planning for this free and fun event has already started for next year! Thank you Chester Green Entertainments Team!
The OCOR project are looking to spend around £120,000 refurbishing the cricket pavilion….hooray!
The council are beginning the demolishing of the former Tomlinson building (just the back, we think, but could be the whole thing!) and the units behind the Aida/Bliss factory in order to complete the flood defences.
New plans have gone in for the Waterside/Bridge Inn (although the council seem to be opposing this development on flood risk grounds again!)
There are still major concerns that the Council still aren’t taking into account the feelings of local residents regarding the redevelopment of the Aida/Bliss factory and still haven’t commented on the petition we submitted to the council.
The now rejected plans the Council drew up for the Aida/Prestige/Union Foundry (the set of four that all had residential on the ground floor) actually had a very nice summary of the area, which I’m reproducing here! These plans were rejected as they all had dwellings on the ground floor (and family houses didn’t have gardens either!), but it was actually a nicely put together document (the photos are mine, not taken from their document!)
CONSERVATION AREA APPRAISAL “Little Chester was designated a Conservation Area in September 1991 in recognition of its historic character and townscape value. The area was incorporated into the Borough of Derby in the 1550’s but has an even older history.
The origins of Little Chester can be traced back to the period of the Roman occupation, when a settlement called Derventio was established as early as AD69-76. Considerable remains from this period have been found in the area. The remains of stone walls can be seen amongst the modern houses off Marcus Street; these mark the location of the commercial and administrative core, but the settlement itself extended well beyond this.
In the Middle Ages, Little Chester was held by the Collegiate Church of All Saints, with the seven farms in the area providing income for the Dean and six Canons. Two of these farms are still visible on Old Chester Road: Derwent House and Stone House Prebend (School Farmhouse). Both are listed, although they have been altered over the centuries.
By the late 18th century, industry began to establish itself along the river bank. This was on a small scale until the Union Foundry was established by William Peach in the late 1840’s on City Road. This was taken over and expanded by Alfred Haslam in 1865 who also built the Workers’ Recreation Rooms on St Paul’s Road. The Great Northern Railway Line was built across the area in 1876- 77 bisecting the Roman Camp area from the southern development. The river was crossed by a bridge built by the eminent local firm of Handyside and Company and such is its quality that this structure is now Grade II listed. The remainder of the housing, to the north of Chester Green Road and the east of Mansfield Road, was built between 1886 and 1900. This created a pleasing open space in the middle of Little Chester, which was laid out as a park by the Borough Council who acquired the site in 1886.”
DERBY CITY COUNCIL’S LOCAL LIST In 1993, Derby City Council published a list of locally important buildings and assets in Derby. The Aida Bliss / Former Union Foundry was included in this list.
“CITY ROAD Haslam’s Works 1865 Factory with impressive red brick facade comprising a series of double storey multi-paned cast iron arch headed windows. Arches in blue brick with stone keyblocks and sills. Blue brick banding and plinth, dentil decoration to eaves. Formed part of the larger Union Works to the south. Formerly graced by a clock tower, which was demolished in the 1960’s for the current office block. Built for Sir Alfred Haslam, this was the site of the earliest refrigeration manufactory in Great Britain.”
However, the 1993 Local List was then replaced by a 2010 revision, and the Former Union Foundry was removed from the list. The revision explains why: “It does not include locally important buildings that are located within any of the 15 conservation areas in Derby, as these buildings are afforded greater protection through the planning control process.”
It is still clear that the building is of local historic importance, due to its industrial heritage, connection to the River Derwent and former Great Northern Railway, and its location within the Little Chester Conservation Area and Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site Buffer Zone.
AIDA BLISS FACTORY SITE TIMELINE
1822 – Union Iron Foundry established by Peach and Falconer 1844 – William Peach took over the Union Foundry 1858 – Fox brothers bought the site, for the manufacture of lace machinery 1865 – Site bought and expanded by Alfred Haslam for the manufacture of refrigeration equipment 1873 – Fire destroyed the foundry 1876 – Great Northern Railway Line built north of site 1877 – Iron Foundry built by Haslam on site of previous foundry, Haslam Foundry and Engineering Company ltd 1891 – Extension of foundry to north 1906 – Tin can manufacture 1939 – E.W.Bliss bought factory, hydraulic press manufacture 1996 – Site bought by Aida Bliss (Europe) Ltd for the manufacture of stamping machines for car body parts 2004 – Site closed, derelict 2004 – Miller homes applied for planning for 147 flats, 15 homes in factory, appeal 2005 – Aida Bliss became Aida Engineering Ltd 2008 – Aida Engineering applied for planning for 156 houses and flats, flood defence issues
