Here’s this month’s newsletter. Electronic only, again, I’m afraid, so please share!

I couldn’t fit this in the newsletter this month (although perhaps sticking to two pages when it is not being printed isn’t really important!), so first, now the kids are properly off for the summer, here are some suggestions of things to do from the Chester Green Events Team:

School Out for Summer!!!
10 Things to do with the kids…

1. Have a go at the Chester Green Treasure Hunt https://tinyurl.com/CGTreasureHunt
2. Build a Scarecrow for the Scarecrow Festival (Aug 29th, 30th, 31st)
3. Have a Clear-Out and donate to the Community Swap Shop @24 St Paul’s Rd (or set up a stall outside your house)
4. Discover new paths around Darley Park (map – https://www.derbyconnected.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Darley-Park-Walk.pdf)
5. Take part in the Summer Reading Challenge https://summerreadingchallenge.org.uk/
6. Visit a Museum (https://www.derbymuseums.org/)
7. Visit the Quad (https://www.derbyquad.co.uk/)
8. Go Geocaching (https://www.geocaching.com/play)
9. Set up a Camp – in your garden/bedroom/house
10. Visit Elvaston Castle (https://www.derbyshire.gov.uk/leisure/countryside/countryside-sites/country-parks-and-visitor-centres/elvaston/elvaston-castle-country-park.aspx)

In this month’s newsletter, there are the latest updates on the Aida/Bliss Factory development and Chester Green’s Scarecrow Trail. Also, there’s a family bike ride planned for early September and sad news about the passing of Joan D’arcy, historian, friend, and fellow Residents’ Association board member since its inception.

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!

Please share far and wide!

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:

Comments can be made until 19-5-2020 by emailing licensing@derby.gov.uk and quoting ‘Unit C, 2 City Road’.

The unit will be a two storey development, and details on this can be found at:
https://eplanning.derby.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=externalDocuments&keyVal=ZZZZQRFSXE296

Plans can be found at:
https://docs.derby.gov.uk/padocumentserver/DownloadDocument.aspx?docid=136397668
and
https://docs.derby.gov.uk/padocumentserver/DownloadDocument.aspx?docid=135062029

Further details on all things licensing can be found at
https://www.derby.gov.uk/environmental-health-licensing-trading-standards/licensing/alcohol-licences/alcohol-entertainment/

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!

IMPORTANT : There’s now a Derby Covid Community Response Hub where volunteers, and those who need help can contact DerbyDirect on 01332 640000 The line will open between 9.30am and 4.00pm, Monday to Friday. There’s also a dedicated email address that can be contacted; covidsupport@communityactionderby.org.uk
More details can be found at https://news.derby.gov.uk/derby-covid-community-response-hub-launched/

Please stay safe, fellow Chester Greenies and do keep in touch with your neighbours and friends using all the remote methods available to you!

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 the October newsletter which you’ll either have, or will be getting in paper copy very soon!

Lots of announcements regarding speed calming, metal detecting and events!

This month is the popular Halloween Disco at the Community Centre, Chester Green. This is a always a great night, and spooky fun for all the family!

The Lampost Poppy Appeal is still running, so if you’d like to donate towards the poppies soon to be installed around Little Chester, do get in touch!

There are details on the newly formed Chester Green Wildlife Group, hoping to help promote biodiversity in our riverside and open spaces.

And there’s also details on how to get involved in this year’s XMas Window Trail!