Clay Cross Town Deal
I am working hard to ensure that the Clay Cross £25 million Town Deal is not wasted. We thought we were in a place where all parties agreed on the plans, however the Labour Party in Clay Cross have removed a key provision of the Town Deal plans. Namely, the parking provisions that would have provided better access off of the A61. Thankfully, following pressure from myself and Clay Cross Councillors, this plan was reversed and has since been submitted. All the parts of Clay Cross’ Town Deal are linked and removing one part jeopardises other elements like pedestrianizing Market Street. I will be keeping the pressure on and keep working hard to deliver the Town Deal that Clay Cross deserves.
Staveley Town Deal
After the brilliant news in October that a railway station will be opened in Barrow Hill / Staveley, the Town Deal is now working through how to align what it is spending with the re-opening of the station. We’ve always had some funds set aside in the Town Deal which would support the station if it was successful – and I’m very glad that we waited to see if we got the station, as we now have. Despite some rather random and odd grumbling from Chesterfield Labour (who appear to not like this project at all), it was confirmed that the money to support a better station could continue to be set aside until closer to the end of the Town Deal project (in / around 2026). That should mean that, instead of getting a basic station at Barrow Hill when the Department for Transport open it, there will be the opportunity to enhance it a little with Town Deal money. I’m also working hard to progress our projects on Miners Welfare and the Canal Trust as part of our Town Deal in Staveley.
£20m for Chesterfield
In 2023 we had the fantastic news that the government had committed £20 million to help regenerate Chesterfield Town Centre. This is another win for our area and demonstrates, again, the Government’s commitment to all of North Derbyshire for the long-term. In particular, it is trying to give us the tools and funding to enable Chesterfield to get ready for the future – and I know this will be another welcome boost for that. The specific details on this fund will be announced in the coming months but, broadly, the £20 million is a ten-year ‘endowment style’ fund. It will now be down to Chesterfield Borough Council to put together a plan and I will be pushing them hard to deliver this properly as I know how important Chesterfield Town Centre is for people in North East Derbyshire.
Eckington and Dronfield Town Centres
Plans have been drawn up for Dronfield and Eckington Town Centres. I'll work hard to push for funding - just like I did for Clay Cross and Staveley.