This is what councillors said about ambitious regeneration plans for Chesterfield

Members of Chesterfield Borough Council’s cabinet approved the HS2 Station Master Plan during a meeting on Tuesday.

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The document will now be subject to a four-week public consultation.

According to the borough council, key proposals under the plan include:

- Creating development sites between the town centre and Chesterfield train station to ‘accommodate a mix of uses’ – possibly generating around 850 jobs

- A new public ‘boulevard’ for pedestrians and cyclists – including segregated cycle lanes – leading from the station to Corporation Street

- A new station link road between Brimington Road and Hollis Lane with improved public transport access

During the meeting, Alan Morey, major sites officer at the borough council, gave a presentation about the plans, which aim to create a ‘positive first impression of Chesterfield’.

Councillor Tricia Gilby, leader of the authority, described the proposals as ‘really exciting’.

Coun Paul Holmes, leader of the Liberal Democrats on the borough council, said the plans were a ‘really good vision’ for Chesterfield.

He added that the ‘boulevard’ would be a ‘fantastic improvement’.

Coun Holmes previously told the Derbyshire Times: “At cabinet and at full council I have made the point that we need proposals which are not dependent upon the uncertain Government plans to go ahead with (the eastern leg of) HS2.

“Even calling it the HS2 Station Master Plan is in danger of creating a false sense of failure should the Government scrap their plans for the eastern leg of HS2.”

Coun Dean Collins, cabinet member for economic growth, said: “If HS2 doesn’t come off then the Station Master Plan will become its own masterplan.”

He urged members of the public to have their say on the proposals in a consultation which will start on Monday and end on March 8. Find out more at www.chesterfield.gov.uk/HS2-station-master-plan.

Funding for planned regeneration between Chesterfield town centre and the train station has been obtained by the borough council and Derbyshire County Council through both the Sheffield City Region and East Midlands local enterprise partnerships.

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