Key Issues

As well as the day to day issues that are dealt with by parish councils up and down the country, the Parish of Elvaston is confronted by several very long running issues which impact on the lives of residents of both the rural and Boulton Moor wards . A brief summary of each of these issues is given below. More detail covering the latest developments with each will be found within the Minutes of the Parish Council meetings. Major developments will be flagged up in the 'News' area of this website.

Elvaston Castle

Elvaston Castle stands to one side of the parish of Elvaston. Designed by James Wyatt for the 3rd Earl of Harrington in the 1800's. It incorporates part of the original house built in 1633. The date plaque can still be seen on that part of the house. The house and estate was in the hands of the Stanhope family until 1968 when it was sold to Derbyshire County Council. Since taking over the Council have run the estate as a Country Park. There are various facilities on site making it an excellent venue for families to enjoy a wonderful day out. Running the Country Park is expensive even before taking measures to prevent the house itself from deteriorating. To bring the house and estate back to its former state involves more money than DCC is prepared to pay.

Some years ago DCC decided that leasing the castle was the way forward in trying to preserve the building and grounds as part of a revenue earning scheme. Highgate Sanctuary were named as the preferred bidder and have proposed a 'Conference Style' Country House Hotel. The DCC have stated that any such plans must preserve public access to the 'core' gardens. However several years have elapsed since this decision was made and comprehensive plans are yet to be submitted.

As of now the restoration of the Moorish Temple, Golden Gates and associated pillars and walls has mostly been completed, along with the Ha-Ha wall and one of the walls which forms part of the walled garden.

Boulton Moor – Planning Update

An outline planning application to build up to 1058 houses, together with a primary school, retail provision, children’s play areas and sports provision, was submitted by the developer in 2005 and planning approval was given by South Derbyshire District Council.

The application was never developed into a detailed plan, presumably because the prevailing economic conditions were not favourable. However, the developer has applied for a time extension on the 2005 outline application and this has yet to be approved by the planning authority, South Derbyshire District Council.

Sand and Gravel Extraction

AND

Flooding

Introduction.

Elvaston Parish encloses the larger part of the Lower Derwent Flood Plain located downstream of B5010 Borrowash Bridge. This naturally created flood plain is the last such on the Derwent just before its confluence with the River Trent at Wilne. Being the last flood plain, it becomes host to all the precipitation upsteam over the Derwent catchment area, and is sometimes further adversely influenced by high water levels on the River Trent.

The flood plain was created by glacial action when the continual grinding action produced the sand and gravel deposits that underlay the topsoil on this flood plain. This topsoil/silt has been deposited by the regular inundation of this plain over many years. It is something of a paradox that the actual quality grade of this soil is officially reduced by DEFRA, due to the fact that the land is subjected to periodic flooding, on average 2.4 times per year.

Sand & Gravel Extraction.

Sand and Gravel aggregate was first extracted from this Elvaston flood plain in the late nineteen sixties by Hoveringham Gravels Ltd who had purchased the Elvaston Estate from the Earl of Harrington. Prior to moving into the parish, Hoveringham had been engaged to extract the aggregate from that area of land in Sawley during the proposed construction of the 2 reservoirs that were to provide some of the drinking water supply for the City of Nottingham. It so transpired that only one of the reservoirs was constructed. Hoveringham having constructed the aggregate processing plant on Wilne lane Sawley to meet the original proposal demands, felt aggrieved at this reduced potential, they then sought planning permission to extend the quarry to extract aggregate from that land across the river in Elvaston Parish. This permission for the First Extension was granted and the minerals were extracted and transported back across the river via a Box Bailey bridge, to the processing plant at Sawley which, with remarkable foresight, was named Elvaston Quarry.

Shortly before the permitted site was worked out, an application was made to extend the quarry again onto the Elvaston side of the river, together with the “relocation of the existing processing plant” from Sawley, to its current location. Despite the combined objections of 2 District Councils, 6 Parish Councils, ALDAG and numerous individuals, This Second Extension was granted, however, inter alia, a Conditional 106 type agreement was imposed which obliged Hoveringham to construct a flood bank around Ambaston. During the progress of this second extension Hoveringham Gravel Ltd was purchased by Tarmac Ltd.

Again towards the end of the productive life of this Second Extension, Tarmac made a planning application to extend the quarry for the Third time, into that land to the north of the Ambaston to Thulston Lane and East of the B5010 up to Borrowash Bridge. This Third extension was again robustly opposed locally. Since this large area of land was not included in the then current Minerals Allocation Areas section of the Derbyshire County Council Structure Plan. However D.C.C. planners were already engaged in compiling the revised/ updated Minerals Allocation Areas plan, which would include that large area of land in question, which would then be sent for approval to central government. This new Minerals Allocation Areas plan subjected to local consultation where, following strong local objection, to a Public Inquiry and a Minister’s Inspector was appointed. Tarmac was advised to withdraw their planning application on the grounds that, should the D.C.C. Minerals Allocation Plan fail at the public inquiry, then perhaps their Planning application would be deemed to have failed as well. The Tarmac planning application was withdrawn.

Elvaston Parish Council formed a subcommittee to contest the D.C.C. Minerals Allocation Area Plan and to present its own evidence at the Public Inquiry. After considerable continuous effort over many months, the Elvaston case was finalised and the various proofs of evidence were presented and argued at the public inquiry. The Minister’s Inspector in his report stated that Derbyshire County Council case was not proven, and suggested that” they think again “and halved the size of the allocation area they had applied for. He also stated that he wished to see Derbyshire County Council “be more robust” in its attitude to local flooding issues. Production at the Elvaston Bellington Hill Quarry ceased in 1998 and this is where this matter has stood now for approximately the last 9 years. Tarmac submitted a new application, which to all intents and purposes is the same as that which was previously withdrawn. This application was recently approved by D.C.C. planners. Tarmac Ltd has stated that it does not intend to commence this extraction within the next 3years.

Sand & gravel is a non sustainable resource. Very little recycling of the end product is undertaken, due to its limited suitability and high energy costs. Of all the Sand and Gravel sites identified in the current D.C.C. allocation area plan, Elvaston is, in potential yield per acre terms, the most expensive. The intention is that having once removed the minerals, most of the resulting pits will be left in water. This valuable and sustainable agricultural food producing land will be lost.