Village Life February

The Conservation area of Bolsterstone was created in 1977 by Sheffield City Council to preserve and enhance the special architectural and historical features that define the unique character of the village.  In 1994, the Peak Park designated the old school and school house and the old vicarage on Head’s Lane, an extension to the existing Conservation Area, which enabled local people fighting for the right to retain the school building for public use, to draw down grants to develop the school building as a village hall.  All this is water under the bridge, of course, but every Authority has a duty to produce, from time to time, an Appraisal of its Conservation Areas and the Peak Park has just published one on their bit of Bolsterstone.  It reminds we privileged few, who live in the village, of our responsibilities where the care and conservation of our properties and surroundings are concerned and that we should make no inappropriate change that would destroy or undermine the character of the village and surrounding area.   It is our responsibility to be aware of the legislative controls that have been placed upon us.  Permission is required to carry out all sorts of work which most people would never consider running past planners!  Demolishing a wall, lopping trees and installing a satellite dish being some of the less obvious ones while, extensions, porches and conservatories are likely to be more strictly controlled than usual.   U-pvc replacement doors and windows are considered inappropriate if they “detract from the property’s historic character and integrity”.  The good news is that grants are available to replace any “inappropriate” alterations or even to re-build stone walls. The greatest problem that arises for any community living in a conservation area in Sheffield is the lack of monitoring and planning enforcement by the local authority.  It would seem to us that the whole system of keeping the laws regulating Conservation Areas rests upon one neighbour reporting another.  This inevitably results in bad feelings and certainly does nothing to foster good community relations.   Privilege always goes hand in hand with responsibility and for anyone interested in finding out more about the Bolsterstone Conservation Area and its Extension the Appraisal document, recently produced by the Peak Park, makes interesting reading.  It can be found at www.peakdistrict.gov.uk

The recently initiated repair of Morehall Lane where, as regular readers and all local drivers know, a land slip sent the road sliding into the valley more than a year ago will, no doubt, have been delayed further by the recent weather.  Concerns were expressed at the last Northern Area Panel meeting about improvements to the road, when they are eventually completed, encouraging speeding and dangerous driving.  A request has been made by local representatives that a speed limit and a weight restriction are both placed upon the road.  We also requested that the 30 speed limit leading into the village along Stone Moor Road is extended to at least coincide with the Conservation Area Boundary Stone or beyond towards the head of Coal Pit Lane.  All these recommendations featured in our action plan when it was first published in 2004 and, as far as we know, has been in the hands of the council, who helped finance it, ever since.

Snow still lies in 5 feet drifts on Head’s Lane where Street Force ploughed a way through twice last week.  It can’t last much longer though and our thoughts are already turning to ways of improving the village’s spring and summer planting, to our first village work morning on the 21st March – all help welcome -  and what to grow in the community garden.  Spring is only just round the corner and summer beckons.

Free membership of Bolsterstone Community Group is open to anyone who supports our aim.   For further information please contact Group Chairperson, Frances Tivey on 01142 883390 or email bcg@bolsterstonevillage.fsnet.uk