Residents object to plans to turn family centre into frozen food store in Chesterfield

Submitted by Heron Foods Limited, the application relates to the Holmebrook Valley Family Centre and Promises Day Nursery, in Wardgate Way, Holme Hall.

Proposals include the installation of a new shopfront, new external refrigeration plant, new double doors to replace the existing single door, internal alterations, and work to the existing car park.

The site is being sold by current owners Valley Cids, a Derbyshire-based Christian charity which says it is “committed to serving children, young people and families through out-reach work in schools and the wider community.”

But residents are unhappy that the family centre and nursery would be converted into a frozen food shop and say it would leave no provision for early years care education in the area.

Amy Greatorex said: “What was once the family centre which housed Promises Day Nursery and other community groups is now being sold by Valley Cids – a Christian charity which is supposed to be youth work and community spirited specialists – to Heron Foods.

"The area in which the family centre is already has a Co-op and a Farmfoods which is more than enough to serve the community, they really do not need another food shop! What they do need is a community building which is directed at education.

“When the building first received planning permission, the build was only allowed to go ahead if it helped address the need of the area which was a child care provider. This is still desperately needed in the area. The building was also funded by the community, many of the service users put their hands in their pockets to raise the money to build it.”

Promises Day Nursery closed in May 2020, although the reasoning for this is not known.

Other residents claim the conversion of the building into a food shop would increase traffic flow into the area and say the street is already very busy.

However it is noted that Nick Knowles, of the Economy, Transport and Communities department at Derbyshire County Council, has ‘no objection’ to the plans.

Planning officers are currently considering the application which can be viewed here.

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