Traveller Site Planning Application – LEVEL

We wanted to let you all know that Derbyshire Dales District Council have submitted a planning application for the Old Station Close Car Park in consideration as a temporary tolerated traveller site. This planning application follows a decision made by Derbyshire Dales District Council full council meeting on 9 December 2024 when 4 sites were proposed. We now need your help to raise objections. 

The Council is proposing dual use of the car park and reducing the number of available bays to just 20 parking spaces. This reduction will not be adequate to meet the needs of our charity and businesses of Old Station Close. There is no other public parking available in Rowsley. 

We have a few weeks to object to this planning application and need your help. Here is the public notice: https://planning.derbyshiredales.gov.uk/online-applications/centralDistribution.do?caseType=Application&keyVal=SSOLRYFUK9U00

Some points to consider:
– Parking is limited at LEVEL Centre to three bays, only two if which are disabled bays.
– Inability to park could mean we can no longer attend or visit LEVEL Centre.
– There are no other public car parks in Rowsley.
– The A6 is a dangerous road to cross, particularly for vulnerable people.
– The original consultation didn’t include specific questions relating to equality impact.

This car park provides essential safe car parking facilities for our staff, participants, workshop leaders, parents, carers and visitors, many of whom are vulnerable or have additional mobility needs. It’s also our emergency evacuation point. We only have three parking bays at LEVEL Centre, two of which are disabled bays.

Please can you email planning@derbyshiredales.gov.uk with your objections to a reduction in car parking at Old Station Close by 17 April 2025. 

Best wishes
From all the team at LEVEL.