Action taken after major road into Chesterfield left an 'unsightly mess'

Civic leaders and businesses on Chatsworth Road demanded action from local authorities amid claims the street is providing a ‘very poor’ first impression of the town to visitors.

Chesterfield Borough Council says work has now taken place on Chatsworth Road to clear the weeds and tidy up the area.

Philip Riden, chairman of Chesterfield and District Civic Society, said in a letter to County Hall last week that an ‘excessive growth of weeds around the kerbs and pavements’ included buddleia ‘18 inches or more high’.

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The letter adds: “We feel this gives a very poor impression of the town to visitors arriving at Chesterfield on the main road from the west, and is particularly regrettable in view of the significant expenditure of taxpayers' money by the county council in recent years on improving parking and street furniture on Chatsworth Road.

"We appreciate that weed growth on highways is a recurrent problem every summer but we would be grateful if, as and when you have the resources available, you could give instructions to your staff or contractors to clear what is at present an unsightly mess on Chatsworth Road.”

Trevor Marples, owner of the Spotted Frog pub, on Chatsworth Road, said some parts of the area were ‘untidy’ and needed cleaning up to benefit local businesses.

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"The tidier it is the better for the businesses on Chatsworth Road,” Mr Marples said. “There are several boarded up premises, quite apart from the weeds, and they don’t help with the appearance of the road. It would be great to see it smartened up.”

A spokesperson for Derbyshire County Council said: “Street cleansing is the responsibility of Chesterfield Borough Council which also takes care of weeds on pavements in the area on our behalf.

“We checked with our borough colleagues and they have now cleared the Chatsworth Road area as requested.”

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