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Here are few key points that were raised at the Safer Neighbourhood Meeting held in Tissington in July.

1.  The Matron at Whitworth Hospital, Darley Dale has asked that the services of this hospital’s minor A&E department be publicised as an alternative to the DRI as an advantage to our communities for it’s shorter waiting times.  Leaflets about their services are available and as soon as we have more details we will publish them on this website.

2. Concern was expressed about the visibility on roads, particularly on sections of the A515 due to overhanging trees and uncut verges.

3. Problem of HGV’s tailgating at 50-55mph and speeding motorbikes.  Also concern that lorries are using mobile phones illegally whilst driving through Ashbourne.

It was recommended that these meetings be held every 3 months in a different village hall each time.

For full minutes of the meeting….

Tissington Village Hall, on Wednesday 16th July 2008.

Persons Present (20): PC Ian COOPER (Tissington SNT), Sgt Steve EDWARDS (Ashbourne SNT Supervision), Sgt Dave PARKER (Derbys Dales Partnership Sgt), Malcolm HUTCHINSON (Mobile Police Stn Enquiry Officer), Robert HILL (Derby & Derbyshire Road Safety Partnership), Steve RUMBELLOW (Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service), Janet CARRINGTON (Tissington NHW), George MAXWELL (Tissington Parish Council), Adele & Darren BONSHOR (Tissington NHW), Kathy WINKLEY (Tissington), Simon PENFOLD (Tissington), Chris CARR (Tissington Parish Council / Peak Park), John BAILEY (Thorpe), John & Mary WILFORD (Thorpe NHW), Eileen & Peter WOODROFFE (Fenny Bentley), John BRADBURY MBE (Kniveton Parish Council), Steve FARREN (Alsop / Trail Warden).

Apologies (11) ; Karen COOPER (Derbys Dales District Council Anti Social Behaviour Officer), Sir Richard FITZHERBERT (Tissington Estate), John & Helena NAYLOR (Tissington NHW), Andrew WAGER (Thorpe Parish Council), Paul WOODROFFE (Fenny Bentley Parish Council), Mr DAWSON (Fenny Bentley), Richard RAPER (Mappleton Parish Council), Susan BRIGHOUSE (Bradbourne & Ballidon Parish Clerk), Rev Christopher HARRISON (Parwich), Linda ROSE (Ashbourne Churches Youth Worker).

Item 1. Welcome

PC COOPER welcomed all to the meeting. He explained the purpose of the meeting – to get local residents and their representatives together to discuss concerns, and then by working together with other agencies to deal with any issues. He explained how the meetings develop into a Governance group, by overseeing issues raised through Priority Profiles.

Sgt EDWARDS proposed that PC COOPER chaired the meeting, and this was seconded by John BAILEY and others.

Item 2. Apologies

Apologies, as listed above, had been made prior to the meeting by people who were interested in the idea, but unable to attend.

Item 3. Safer Neighbourhood Teams (SNT) – Background and Roles

Sgt EDWARDS gave a Power Point presentation about SNT, their purpose and aims. He gave examples of how Anti Social Behaviour in Ashbourne had been, and was being dealt with by Priority Profiles / Operations. He explained how other agencies, Emergency Services, Councils, Voluntary groups can work together. Statistics were given that show there is a low level of Anti Social Behaviour across the Tissington SNT area. This is also reflected in Crime statistics. In a table of 104 SNT areas across Derbyshire, Tissington SNT was 103, having almost the lowest level of incidents, crime, and anti social behaviour across the County. Its neighbouring SNT areas of Hulland and Marston, were just above, making these 3 areas a very pleasant and desirable place to live, not just in the County but nationally.

Sgt EDWARDS explained that there would still be concerns from people though, and that SNT partners want to know of these.

Sgt EDWARDS provided a leaflet about the Whitworth Hospital, Darley Dale, explaining how this has a Minor A & E dept, and can be used as an alternative to going to Derby or Chesterfield Hospitals, who tend to have much longer waiting times. The Matron had asked that their services be publicised as it could benefit our residents.

PC COOPER introduced Sgt Dave PARKER, Derbys Dales Partnership Sgt, who explained his role in helping agencies to work together, especially in relation to Anti Social Behaviour.

PC COOPER introduced Malcolm HUTCHINSON, and explained the role of the Mobile Police Station, and how it is used to provide a presence and point of contact by making scheduled stops in rural villages. At the moment it does not stop in Tissington SNT area, but plans are for it to start stopping in Tissington. Once the arrangements have been finalised they will be published. As anticipated all would appreciate a stop in their village.

Item 4. Derby & Derbys Road Safety Partnership Presentation

PC COOPER explained how one common concern across the area was Road Safety, the speeds of vehicles and the manner of driving. He introduced Robert HILL who gave a power point presentation on the development of the current Road Safety Partnership and the partners involved. He explained the targets for reducing casualties on our roads, and how we currently stood in relation to those targets. He explained how they tried to identify problems, this being evidence led, and how they then tried to deal with those problems, by engineering, education and enforcement. Across our area Motorcyclists have been shown to be a problem.

John BAILEY expressed concern about motorcyclists and questioned how effective Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) was with motor cycles speeding, how many tickets were issued to them, he suspected few. Robert HILL explained that ANPR was used for speed detection, but may become part of it in the future. The number of tickets issued specifically to motor cyclist was not known. The use of the unmarked van, the marked vans and teams of Roads Policing Officers to target areas for enforcement was explained. Also efforts to improve awareness and education through additional signs and leaflets was being used.

George MAXWELL expressed concern about the number of LGVs ’tailgating’ at 50-55mph, intimidating other drivers, North of Tissington on the A515. He felt it was a regular problem. (PC COOPER to bring to attn of Roads Policing, ANPR/ARV units)

Chris CARR commented on the annual problem of poor visibility along the A515 due to long grass on the verges, and trees/bushes that could be cut back. He stated the verges were better this year as they had been cut earlier, but felt that improvements could still be made by cutting back some trees/bushes. George MAXWELL felt that looking left out of Tissington Gates was restricted by trees at the side. John BAILEY stated that he used Spend Lane to return to Thorpe in his horsebox and felt strongly that he was always in fear of being involved in a collision because of the overgrown trees. He had been trying to get DCC to do something and after 3 months that had just cut backs 50ms of trees. He didn’t feel this was enough and disputed that they ’cared’. He was concerned that they left the timing of cutting back to suit nesting birds rather than the safety of road users.

John BRADBURY spoke of the Kniveton road having long grass on the verges, obscuring signs. This had been raised at the recent Parish Co meeting and Police had requested DCC to clear the signs the day prior to the meeting.

Robert HILL explained that cutting back was a regular request to the Council, and it was not always easy. There may be problems with property owners, Peak Park issues, and other issues. He will raise these concerns.

Janet CARRINGTON explained how she can sit at her Farm / B & B in Tissington, with guests and hear the sound of bikes on the A515. She stated that you could anticipate when Emergency Services would be going out, and shortly afterwards would hear the Sirens, see the Air Ambulance. She asked whether these people have to pay for this. Robert HILL explained that ultimately they may pay with injuries or their lifes, and the impact on their families. Janet pointed out the impact on local communities, residents, who hear and see this, and the upset it causes them.

PC COOPER sympathised completely, as a resident, living relatively near the A515 and hearing what she described. He felt though that from his experience of Policing the area, the situation was better, in that the fatal / serious motorcycle accidents are not as regular as they were years ago. We still need to continue to try and improve it.

Steve RUMBELLOW pointed out that between 8 – 9.30am, many of the LGV drivers coming down Ashbourne Market Place, are using mobile phones. This was reiterated by John BAILEY. Robert HILL explained that at the moment Cameras are not used for this, but they are looking at ways of may be doing so because the use of mobile phones is a general problem. Sgt EDWARDS explained that Operation TRAVOLTA currently running in Ashbourne covers the Anti Social use of Motor Vehicles and this can be dealt with as part of that. (PC COOPER to bring to attn of Ashbourne SNT and all officers).

Item 5. Priority Profiles

PC COOPER explained about Priority Profiles. How a longer term problem may be identified, that agencies, communities would work together to deal with it, and a Priority Profile would run, overseen by the SNT Governance meetings. At the moment Tissington SNT has no Priority Profiles.

Item 6. Comments from the floor

Adele BONSHOR asked why when vehicle numbers have been noted and passed to Police, during spates of burglaries, are arrests not made and people dealt with. PC COOPER explained the level of proof needed, that is had to be beyond reasonable doubt. This being different to Civil courts where decisions can be split 60 / 40, 70 / 30, etc. He explained that the calls are still useful, for gathering intelligence, but often abit more evidence is needed to take it further.

John BAILEY brought up the Horsebox stolen from Fenny Bentley and recovered by Police. PC COOPER explained that this was an example of where the Horsebox was recovered from someones drive way, but it was still felt a case could not be proven at Court against that person. He stressed though that the recovery was down to a phone call, from a resident, reporting a suspicious vehicle. He asked that people keep ringing in to report things but bear in mind we will try to attend, but may be some distance away, or tied up with other urgent details.

Adele BONSHOR suggested having contact details for bordering NHW areas, so they could pass details on to each other as well as Police. This was welcomed by Mary WILFORD as a good idea. (PC COOPER to look at passing details on and arranging this).

Mary WILFORD stated she was not always made aware of local crimes in her village quick enough. PC COOPER stated officers where encouraged to use NHW when doing Crime enqs, and would remind local officers to liase with NHW coordinators early on.

Janet CARRINGTON felt the Road Safety Presentation, with statistics, would benefit young people from the area. It was noted none were present, and felt their attendance may benefit all. Sgt EDWARDS explained how they were involved in meetings within Ashbourne, where Anti Social behaviour by youngsters was more of a problem. He explained how it can make them think of others.

John BAILEY asked if we found that the low crime and few problems meant people were apathetic, both public and agencies, hence a low turn out. PC COOPER explained he had tried to ensure all Parish Councillors had received invites, also NHW Coordinators, KINS (Key Individual Network Members), people he felt would be interested. A notice had been on nearly all the Village Notice Boards, It had also been featured in the Parish Magazines, and Newsletters. He appreciated that some people already had commitments for the night, or generally were already involved in a lot.

Sgt EDWARDS explained the problems of getting the timing right for the meeting. Elsewhere they had tried afternoon meetings and found agencies would attend because at work, but the public struggled. In the evenings the public would come, but not all agencies. Adele BONSHOR suggested having a reminder sent out on Ringmaster the week before, maybe using Ashbourne Radio.

Chris CARR supported Sgt EDWARDS earlier comments about the Whitworth Hospital being an alternative to Derby or Chesterfield. His family had used it and found it very good. Mary WILFORD suggested putting some information into Village Notice Boards to publicise this facility. PC COOPER to mention it in the next Newsletters, and see if the Ashbourne News Telegraph could cover it.

Item 7. Future Meetings

PC COOPER explained that meetings were required every 3 months. He felt it best to move around the area, using different village halls each time. It was felt that the Governance may be tagged on to a Parish Council meeting. It could be publicised as taking place prior to the Parish Council meeting. No future date has been set.

It was explained that minutes would be prepared and sent out to all present and all other people who may be interested.

PC COOPER pointed out the request for feedback on the end of the Agendas on each seat. He asked for people to be honest, and put down any comments be them good or bad. The comments can be anonymous, though he appreciated this may be hard as he knew all present, though not everyones handwriting.

Meeting closed at 9pm.

No feedback sheets received.