Take part in a referendum on Wirksworth’s future

The future of a town lies in the hands of its residents as they are asked to decide whether to adopt a plan for its future.
Wirksworth marketplace revamp. Pictured l-r Mary Button, Julie Fajardo, Barry Joyce, Shirley Mann and Mike Ratcliffe all from New Opportunities Wirksworth.Wirksworth marketplace revamp. Pictured l-r Mary Button, Julie Fajardo, Barry Joyce, Shirley Mann and Mike Ratcliffe all from New Opportunities Wirksworth.
Wirksworth marketplace revamp. Pictured l-r Mary Button, Julie Fajardo, Barry Joyce, Shirley Mann and Mike Ratcliffe all from New Opportunities Wirksworth.

On same the day of the General Election - May 7 - Wirksworth residents will be asked to vote either for or against the town’s neighbourhood plan in a separate referendum.

The Wirksworth Neighbourhood Plan has been painstakingly put together by volunteers who, over the course of years, formed the Future Wirksworth group to and consulted with members of the community to set out a vision of how the town will grow over the next 13 years.

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A draft plan was submitted to Derbyshire Dales District Council last year and an examination was carried out by Dr Charles Mynors.

In summarising the plan, he commented: “It sets out a positive vision for the future of Wirksworth, and will provide a practical basis within which decisions on planning applications can be made with a high degree of predictability and efficiency.”

After some minor changes were made to the plan - suggested by the examiner - the people of Wirksworth will be asked to answer the following question:“Do you want Derbyshire Dales District Council to use the neighbourhood plan for Wirksworth to help it decide planning applications in the neighbourhood area?”

Key points of the neighbourhood plan include -

- Help retain important community facilities in the town centre, such as Post Office, pharmacy and library.

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- Improve the Tuesday market and move it to a new site - possibly the site currently used by the farmers’ market in St John’s Street.

- Improve an increase parking provision.

Strengthening tourism by granting planning permission for overnight accommodation and hotels, as well as tourism developments as long as the main purpose of the building is to inform and interpret the plan area and the Peak District; and the building would not have significant harmful impacts on the local community.

In order to take part in the referendum, residents will have to have registered to vote by April 20.

For more, visit www.derbyshiredales.gov.uk, call 01629 761 335 or email [email protected].

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The oldest market in Derbyshire Dales, the Wirksworth Tuesday market is about to get a boost as the town’s regeneration group re-launches it with new stall-holders and a more up to date look.

The market goes back to 1306 when traders and farmers would bring their wares by cart to the town.

New Opportunities Wirksworth (NOW) is aiming to re-launch the market on Easter Tuesday, April 7, with help from Wirksworth Town Council and funding from the Exton Trust.

Stall-holders who would like to book in for the re-launch should contact Nicola Wildgoose at Derbyshire Dales District Council- email:[email protected].