Bid to save treasured green space in Derbyshire with launch of new petition

Campaigners in Glapwell have been protesting about a plan to build 62 homes on land off Park Avenue, in addition to a further 65 properties nearby, since the spring of last year.

They say their amenities will be ‘stretched to breaking point’ and claim the amount of traffic created both during the building work and after will ruin their way of life.

A parcel of land off Park Avenue has been dubbed the ‘last piece in the jigsaw’ for development on the site.

Now villagers have launched a petition calling on Bolsover District Council (BDC) to stop the sale of this piece of land ‘until covenants can be added to the land to keep it as a green, open public space respecting its status as a Bolsover District community asset’.

Campaign spokesperson Sarah Bister said: “We hope this will get a motion raised at full council of BDC, so the more support we can get behind it, the better chance we have of succeeding.

"For this to make a difference we need 1,000 people to sign it who live in the district of Bolsover.”

MORE: Anger as Derbyshire council stands by 'undemocratic' decision to sell land for new homes

The campaign group, known as the Park Avenue Avengers, say the land is ‘one of the few areas of Glapwell that links the village back to its heritage and the old Glapwell Hall’.

The trees on the land are believed to be some of the oldest in the district and they are home to protected species such as bats.

Sarah says the Covid-19 pandemic and increasing number of people working from home means green spaces are more important than ever.

“We should be making the most of our natural spaces for our mental health and well-being,” she added.

"Nature is one of the best ways to relax and get back in touch with our inner self and make us more chilled about life.”

Businessman Stuart Hill has secured planning permission to build the 62 homes – but access to the site is dependent on sale of the strip of land.

Bolsover District Council declined to comment until it receives the petition.

The petition can be found here.

The Derbyshire Times has launched a new campaign to ensure our vital green spaces are protected.

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