Over 200 local residents in Wingerworth turned out for a meeting this evening at the Parish Rooms to discuss the multitude of planning applications that have been submitted in or around the village in recent months.
Organised by the local Parish Council, residents had the opportunity to find out more about all of the applications, to ask questions and raise concerns. Cllr Diana Ruff, the Chair of Wingerworth Parish Council, opened the meeting and took questions from the floor, including highlighting the importance of getting involved in the planning process for each of the applications and how vital it was that local residents voiced their comments on each. Lee also spoke at the meeting to highlight his concerns about the local District Council's failure to put in place a development plan to protect the village and, echoing Cllr Ruff's comments, how important it was that all residents got involved to make their voices heard on the applications that were underway or about to start. District Councillor for Wingerworth Pat Antcliff and local District and County Councillor Barry Lewis were also in attendance and spoke to local residents.
"Wingerworth is currently seeing a large number of planning applications," said Lee. "The leadership of North East Derbyshire District Council has done a terrible job of protecting areas like Wingerworth, Ashover, Old Tupton and elsewhere and so developers are seeing opportunities to get approval for planning applications where otherwise they wouldn't be able to do. Local residents should make their voices heard loud and clear through the planning process and make sure the leadership at the District Council is aware of the strength of feeling. I'll continue to work with the Parish Council and your local District Councillors Lewis, Ellis and Antcliff to represent you and to encourage all residents to have their say on these important planning applications for Wingerworth."
The Parish Council has produced a number of guides for local residents on the planning process and recent applications in Wingerworth. They can be downloaded below.
You can find out more from the Parish Council here: www.wingerworth.org.uk.