Derbyshire Dales District Council are inviting everyone to have their say on six possible temporary traveller sites in the Derbyshire Dales.

Station Coach and Car Park in Matlock Bath has been a temporary site for two years with many other travellers joining them. The coach park has been out of use during this time so coaches have not been able to bring visitors to Matlock Bath thus having an adverse effect on businesses and trade. The travellers have been abusive to visitors wishing to park as well as putting barriers across the car park to prevent anyone parking there.

Although the authority does have a duty to provide a ‘home’ for the family, who have declared themselves homeless, Matlock Bath residents and businesses want to see the family moved to another tolerated site in order for our village to try and recover from the effect until a permanent site is found. The family themselves need to have somewhere more permanent.

A meeting of the District Council’s Community and Environment Committee was held on 22nd July 2024 where 6 sites were agreed to take forward for consultation. Matlock Bath needs its village back!

Derbyshire Dales District Council has arranged for Public meetings as part of the traveller site consultation, to be held in September. The meeting for Matlock Bath will be held on Monday 16th September at 6.00pm-8.00pm. The meeting will be held in the Pump Room of the Mining Museum (Pavilion). We would urge residents and businesses to attend this meeting to give their views and also to ask questions they may have.

The online survey will run until 22nd September 2024. You can log on to www.derbyshiredales.gov.uk/Traveller-sites-survey or go to the Derbyshire Dales District Council website – www.derbyshiredales.gov.uk where more information about the sites and the survey can be found.

You can also send your comments in via e-mail – travellers@derbyshiredales.gov.uk if you would prefer to. All representations will be accepted.

Hard copies of the survey are available at reception at Matlock Town Hall with a dedicated ‘postbox’ on reception for their return.

There will be feedback/public meetings in September. See poster above for dates & times.

The Parish Council has also raised a petition for the District Council to reinstate the Coach and Car Park to its proper use and to prevent any illegal encampments from the Coach and Car Park. Copies of the petition can be found in some of our businesses including Riverside Kiosk, 198 Coffee Lounge, Restoration Cafe and Peak District Mining Museum. You can also send your comments to the Parish Council – clerk@matlockbathparishcouncil.gov.uk

We would urge everyone who lives, visits or works in Matlock Bath to complete the survey and/or send in comments. Any queries you can contact Derbyshire Dales Direct at travellers@derbyshiredales.gov.uk who can answer specific queries or contact the Parish Council Clerk – clerk@matlockbathparishcouncil.gov.uk