Tour of the borough

Saturday saw a group of local councillors take part in a tour of part of the High Peak looking into a number of regeneration issues across the area.

Our tour started in Whaley Bridge looking at concerns over the canal transfer shed and Bingswood Industrial Estate along with the long running issues around getting a second bridge across the Goyt River to improve access to the Bingswood Industrial Estate.

New Mills was next with a look at the Torr Vale Mill and the many issues and concerns around what will happen to it and how the council can influence this to both recognise the heritage of the Mill whilst at the same realising that an alternative use needs to found for it, before it falls into a state of complete disrepair.

Glossop was next, with a spot of lunch in Glossop Town, whilst considering what the future holds for that building, which officers are now looking at in a more complete manor, by taking into consideration what options there are for redevelopment of the whole site including the Market Hall and Municipal Building’s rather than the Town Hall on its own.

The streets of Glossop were next with a quick tour round the recent paving works along with other scheme been done to offer a range of different types of workspace within Glossop, finishing off with a quick look at the works on the stairway up to the station and the progress of the works at Howard Town Mill.

Off to Edale next, via a quick look at the Woods Mill site and officers hope for the regeneration of this area along with the proposed Riverside Walk which will one day link Manor Park to Wren Nest Mill via Woods Mill, Howard Town Mill and Harehills Park.

The photo above shows our final point of call on the Tour which was to have a quick look at the Moorlands Visitor Centre in Edale. The Centre which was opened in August 2006, is both a visitors centre and the UK’s first Moorland Research Centre, investigation issues around regeneration of the moors.

The building for the Centre aside from been in a very nice location (as long as the weather is good !) incorporates a number of Green Features including a green roof, a ‘ground source’ heat system, and the waterfall system, which aside from providing a nice focal point as can be seen from the picture also works to keep the building cool.

All in all, a interesting days tour, giving us a useful opportunity to see some of the sites that the council and it’s partners are working on to improve for the benefit of local residents, and in the case of schemes such as the Moorlands Visitor Centre for visitors from across the world.

Further information on the Moorlands Visitor Centre is available from www.peakdistrict.gov.uk and www.moorsforthefuture.org.uk