This section 3 covers Information & Communication, Local Government, Tourism, Dove Holes Economy, 'And Finally', Comments and Your Priorities also Action Points, Action Plan and Acknowledgements.

Information and Communication

When asked how they rated the information available within the village, the residents of Dove Holes rated it either as reasonable or poor.  Throughout the consultation exercise, communication has come through continually as being an important factor which can affect the success or failure of many things.  Communication is the key.

At the moment there is a Parish Council notice board near the entrance to the Community Centre.  However, this is in a poor state of repair and is not really suitable for notices any longer.  The Methodist church has a notice board for their own use and St Paul’s have plans to purchase one for their church notices.  A Parish newsletter is currently produced and circulated with the free newspaper which is delivered.  A village newsletter has recently been started and is distributed in the same way.  The other main methods of communication are posters in shops and articles and adverts in the Buxton Advertiser.

When people were asked what would be the best way for them to find out what was happening in Dove Holes, their main suggestions were:

·        Regular newsletter

·        Calendar of events and notices on the notice board, which needs to be regularly updated

·        Pamphlets and leaflets through the door

·        Village website/internet

·        Leaflets and flyers

·        Notices in shop windows

·        More notices in the Post Office

·        New, larger notice boards at each end of the village

Information and communication was certainly seen to be a priority.

Action Points

• Provide more noticeboards
• Introduce a regular village newsletter
• Set up a village website

Local Government

Dove Holes lies within the parish of Chapel-en-le-Frith and, as such, is under the administration of Chapel-en-le-Frith Parish Council.  It also is governed by High Peak Borough Council and Derbyshire County Council.  Despite several boundary changes, this is the same as it has been for many years.

The main comment which came forward from this section of the questionnaire was the lack of information and the feeling that people would like to know more about what the respective Councils are doing and what their money is being spent on.

Would you like more information about the activities of:

Chapel Parish Council

Yes:             211                        No:              175

High Peak Borough Council

Yes:             244                       No:              128

Derbyshire County Council

Yes:             189                       No:              139

The main comments are that people would like to know what each of the Councils do with the money collected from the residents and businesses of Dove Holes and how much is actually spent in Dove Holes.  People would like to know what the proposals are for each of the Councils and what they all do locally and for Dove Holes specifically and who is responsible for what.  The lack of information is a big issue and people feel that they are not being informed by the Councils about issues which affect them, for example planning decisions.  A lot of residents felt that a newsletter would be helpful, even if it was just a quarterly update.  Meetings should be both notified and reported on the village notice board and on a village website to allow people the chance to participate.  There was a definite feeling that Dove Holes gets ignored by all the Councils until they hold an election or want more council tax from them.  Council representatives are not widely known and people felt they should hold surgeries within the village. 

There were several comments made about why Chapel Parish Council holds the purse strings for Dove Holes and what does the Parish Council do for Dove Holes.  In the questionnaire people were asked whether they thought Dove Holes should have its own Parish Council.  The response was:

Do you think Dove Holes should have its own Parish Council?

Yes:             221                       No:              115

Action Points

• Ask councils to provide more information
• Research possibility of having own parish council

Tourism

When people were asked the question as to whether they would like to see more or less visitors to Dove Holes, there was a mixed reaction to the question.  Most people wanted to see either the same amount or more visitors, while others seemed surprised that Dove Holes had any tourists!

In general, people felt that increasing the number of people who visited the village would help the local people as well.   More tourists could mean better and more facilities for locals and one way of perhaps improving things in general.  More tourists mean more jobs and more money in the village to boost the local economy and would help to keep local shops and businesses open.

Another viewpoint which came forward very strongly was that Dove Holes has a lot going for it and more should be done to promote the village.  There is nothing to say what significance the Bull Ring is and this certainly needs to be promoted more, as do the beautiful walks around the area and the lime caves.  People would like to see even more visitors come to the Beer and Jazz Festival because they feel that this event has done more for local tourism than anything else has.

However, people were also concerned that there were insufficient parking facilities and not enough accommodation for any more tourists.  People felt the village would be too overcrowded if there were more tourists and the footpaths and roads will not cater for more visitors.  They did not want to lose the feeling of village life.

Overall, the general opinion was that it would be good for the community and would put Dove Holes on the map for being an interesting place to visit instead of having the reputation of being an eyesore.

Action Points

• Promote archaeological attractions, especially the Bull Ring and lime caves

• Promote cultural attractions such as the Beer and Jazz Festival and sporting events
• Promote the walks around the village
• Improve facilities to cope with increased tourism

The Dove Holes Economy

Dove Holes has many existing businesses, a lot of which are tucked away down side roads and are not immediately visible to people driving through the village.  These include two pubs, a village store, a Post Office and shop, a car sales garage, a catering supplies business, a body repair workshop, a taxi firm, a quarry and a scrap yard.

On the questionnaire, the people of Dove Holes were asked what can be done to support existing businesses.  There were plenty of suggestions and these included comments that local people should support their businesses to prevent them from closing.  Car parking was seen as an important factor to encourage people to stop and use the shops.  Better signposting was also seen as very important by both residents and businesses who feel their businesses could be promoted better.  An increase in tourism was also seen as a way to help existing businesses to survive by catering for visitors and selling promotional material such as postcards, leaflets of walks around the area and guide books about the bull ring, etc.

The businesses are seen as part of the community and people would like to see the businesses taking a greater role in community life, for example they could sponsor events or provide more community events.    In order to help promote the businesses and to encourage more people to use them, it was suggested that a directory of local businesses and what they have to offer should be compiled and distributed around the village and surrounding area.

The questionnaire also asked people what they thought could be done to develop more employment opportunities in Dove Holes.  There were several suggestions of new businesses which people would like to see within the village, for example a hot food takeaway, a mini supermarket, a craft centre, a restaurant, a hardware store and light industry.  It was felt that if more businesses opened within the village, there would be more employment opportunities for local people. 

There were also suggestions as to how new businesses could be encouraged to locate within Dove Holes.  These included reducing the amount of vandalism taking place within the village, improving the road

structure, obtaining grants to encourage new businesses, lower business rates and promoting the village to attract more businesses.

There was a strong feeling amongst the residents that they would like to see local job opportunities advertised within the village on the notice boards and in the shops.

Community work was also seen as a way of providing employment.  This included building a new sports hall and having local people to run it, doing village maintenance work such as rebuilding the walls, picking up litter, mowing grass and sweeping pavements and introducing trainee schemes that has projects within the village, for example gardening an landscaping.

Action Points  

• Give publicity to the fact that local businesses are in great danger of closure from lack of support – ‘use it, don’t lose it’ but they need to provide a decent service
• Encourage tourism
• Compile a directory of local businesses and what they have to offer
• Encourage businesses to participate in local events and provide sponsorship, etc
• Welcome more local businesses, perhaps with lower rates, as it would bring more employment for local people
• Promote the bull ring and sell postcards/history booklets with extracts from book by the local lady author
• Promotion/advertise businesses more
• Better off road parking for shops (with car park signs)
• Involve businesses in the village website either through adverts or links to their own websites
• Signposts to show where the businesses are
• Encourage specialist markets eg craft, farmers, European to bring visitors in to the village
• Build more affordable housing – more kids for school, more business for shops, garages, churches, etc
• Discourage vandalism
• Have a jobs section on website to inform people of opportunities
• Obtain grants to encourage new business
• Employ a road/handy man to sweep roads and weed paths
• Advertise jobs in local shops before putting in the papers

• Open more eating places
• Advertise jobs on the notice board near community hall
• Encourage trainee schemes with village projects eg. gardening, landscaping
• Promote the village to bring in more trade

'And Finally'

At the end of the questionnaire, the residents were asked what they liked about living in Dove Holes.  The list was very long and varied but the one overwhelming thing which people liked was the friendly people in Dove Holes.  111 people commented upon the friendliness of the residents and neighbours as being the thing they liked the most.  The factor which scored the next highest was the sense of community spirit within the village.  The other things which people liked about living in Dove Holes was the surrounding countryside and views, the peace and quiet of the area and the amount of good walks around the village.  The location of Dove Holes with its easy access to roads and public transport to get to the surrounding towns, whilst still retaining a distinct sense of village life was also rated highly.  This rural location and sense of community creates a good atmosphere and people feel safe in the village.  The presence of a good school and lack of crime within the village also add to people’s enjoyment of life in Dove Holes, many of which have never lived anywhere else.

However, when asked what they did not like about living in Dove Holes, the residents came up with an equally long and varied list.  The main thing which people did not like was the A6 which runs through the centre of the village.  99 people disliked the busy main road and many others did not like the amount and speed of traffic and lorries passing through the village or the dust and pollution caused by the quarry and its traffic and the dirty footpaths, roads and houses they created.  The noise of the traffic was also a factor for some people.  Apart from the road and traffic, the other areas of dislike were the amount of vandalism taking place within the village, the lack of activities for teenagers and children and the lack of equipment in the playground.  The one other area of concern was the amount of dog fouling around the village and annoyance with owners who let their pets make the mess.  Many people, in response to this question, said that the only thing they did not like was the unjustified reputation that Dove Holes had got, whilst others commented that there wasn’t anything about the village that they did not like.

Comments

• A mini-bus would be welcome for residents who live a distance away from the bus stop, possibly hourly/2 hourly, with 2 pick-up stops
• Fish and chip shop instead of mobile one
• Outdoor market once a week
• Gift shop
• Cash machine on wall of Post Office
• More jobs for the villagers
• Questionnaire is all well and good but everything the village has obtained has been done by the hard work of the residents – we have never received the assistance we should have
• We should make a bigger effort to stamp out the vandal element
• We should target the dog fouling element with more gusto
• It would be nice to see hanging baskets or tubs along main road and side roads
• Very well thought out questionnaire
• I am a member of a very longstanding family within the village.  Recently someone asked me whether I would mind leaving to live elsewhere.  I thought for a moment and surprised myself by my answer – I answered NO.  The village has been slowly destroyed by over the hill, racist, sexist, single-minded idiots with nothing better to do than plan stuff that will never happen, a group of people who think they know what’s best.  Well all I can say is move over, let the young fresh blood and new ideas in and let’s see some ACTION.

• Vandals causing damage to people and property
• Bottle banks not being emptied
• Present amenities would not support additional housing growth beyond present levels
• A by-pass would be great
• In winter side roads need to be cleaned and not left
• About 14 years ago I had chance to build my own house, the ground to build on, the material to build with but the council objected saying it would be building in the green belt.  I had to move away to buy somewhere to live.  Next thing they are moaning about people leaving the village.  So I don’t hold much praise for the council – they make one rule for one and another for others.
• Is there to be any more housing development?
• Although no person in the household is affected, starter homes for the next generation would be helpful
• Village should come together to organise and restart the carnival
• Youth club open more than one night a week
• Strongly believe police should be on foot around the village
• Parking for school/parents dropping off, etc
• Safety of children playing
• Children and parents too scared to walk round back of bus depot after reports of knives and violence towards children – need CCTV
• Why doesn’t Dove Holes have a festival so we can have competitions like ‘Best decorated house’, ‘Best garden’, etc.  We could have banners across the A6, make people who drive through take interest for at least two weeks of the year.  Or Christmas trees at Christmas like Castleton.  Raise funds through raffles, competitions, car boots, discos or just house to house collections
• It would be in the interest of all the village if the community spirit could unite all the people on both sides of the railway line
• We already have facilities for 0-11 years, albeit they are poor.  We also have the over 60s club house.  But alas, if you are between 11-60 the only place to go is the pub or out of the village, and occasionally the community hall
• Another bus stop outside the village store, in between the two bus stops

• There are too many cats
• Better recycling facilities – cans, plastics, cardboard, clothes, shoes, books, tapes, green waste for compost
• Having only lived in the village for a short while I don’t feel in a position to answer any of the questionnaire but I have tried to do so as best I can.  I realise that many things could be done but then Dove Holes would become a town and not a village
• Access to new housing estate is inadequate.  They should not be allowed to build any more houses until this is rectified
• Walls on the A6 need rebuilding, some have been falling down for years.  Let’s have pride in the appearance of our village
• For many years we have been the refuse tip for the whole area.  Now we don’t have any disposal or amenity site.  We do not necessarily want one on our doorstep but access to something local would be very welcome
• Dove Holes is a nice village to live in.  It needs a bypass.  I don’t think we will ever get one, not in the near future, so I think we ought to make the facilities that we have better.  As you can read in this questionnaire, the important things for the village are to look after the children and road safety for them.  There are some great assets in the village but just need improving, footpaths, streetlights, dog fouling, etc.  People need to be aware of what we have got and need to look after it better
• Alcohol and cigarettes are being sold to youngsters
• More police presence is needed in the evening to reduce the number of incidents by youths.  A community bobby is all good and well but I am unable to see any benefit of him walking through the village a few hours each month in the middle of the afternoon as this is not the time for problems to occur
• The vandalism and damage caused – more CCTV

• CCTV by play area/mountain rescue and/or community centre
• I think we should all do our bit and pull together as a community to keep our lovely village clean, tidy, well policed and an enviable place to live
• More focus should be directed in making the village a pleasure to journey through.  This would enhance the village and take away the stigma of the ‘ugliest village in the country’.  Visitors to the Peak District should be encouraged to visit the village on their journeys.  Dove Holes needs a village committee with vision for the 21^st century not a vision for the 19^th century
• It has been suggested that a skate park is built for the children.  I would suggest that this is built away from the rear of houses on Dale Road as we already have enough trouble from children using the play area
• If by-pass unsuitable, sets of traffic lights at the Wheatsheaf junction and possibly Halsteads/Meadows, where the junction needs widening currently, to improve road traffic safety as raised by our MP in the nineties in the House of Commons
• This is a village that would greatly benefit from having a by-pass.  Instead it is spoiled by heavy traffic cutting the whole place in half and causing both dirt and danger
• Ideally the Dove Holes people need to become a community and so fetes or a local show may encourage this even if it is only by joining or a group of people to form a committee to arrange such events
• Alexander Road is a disgrace and a danger to elderly residents

• whilst most people living there would contribute to resurfacing, elderly residents cannot afford to
• Forgotten village by parish council and local councils
• More police protection on roads and by-roads and houses, shops, etc
• Dove Holes has a lot of potential – the new housing is well thought out – shows that with sensitive development it could become a really nice village
• Since moving to Dove Holes three years ago I have developed asthma.  I am convinced that this is due to the heavy traffic flow on the A6.  It would be interesting to know how many adults and children in the village are asthmatic
• Would like more support and money for the brass band to buy new instruments
• Both brick bus shelters are constantly used as toilets inside and outside.  They need replacing with glass shelters.  Toilet facilities should also help
• More quality housing and especially bungalows
• I think that Dove Holes will become a very desirable place to live in.  It is up to the powers that be to get their fingers out and put Dove Holes on the map.  It can be done, if only everyone opens their eyes and sees what can be done.  Dove Holes’ name is a stigma – let’s change it
• Would feel happier if a locking gate was installed at the entrance to the community centre car park for security reasons
• Would like the road entrance into the Meadows development from the A6 widened so two cars can easily pass each other, it is too narrow at present
• Install security/CCTV cameras around the community/cricket club/car park areas to deter vandalism and nuisance behaviour
• The work that was done on the railway line affected a lot of people off Meadow Lane.  We were told not asked.  It caused a lot of people much inconvenience.  There should be some form of questionnaire or even compensation.  I would love a response from our so-called councillor.  Let’s see if I get one. Did they suffer the noise, muck and pollution.  I feel very strongly about this issue.

Your Priorities

• Relief road/by-pass (101)
• Improve children’s playground/park (45)
• Speed reduction on A6 (39)
• Transport and Highways (26)
• Police (improved patrols/more visible, surveillance & detection rates) (24)
• Local countryside and environment (23)
• Dog fouling/bins/prevention (23)
• A6 (22)
• Road maintenance/cleaning (22)
• Cleanliness/appearance of village (21)
• Traffic noise/speed/amount (19)
• Pedestrian safety/welfare (19)
• Pavement maintenance/cleanliness (16)
• Traffic calming (16)
• Road safety (16)
• More activities /interests for teenagers/children (15)
• Social activities/entertainment (14)
• Another/more crossings (14)
• Provide more car parking (12)
• Doctor (10)
• Health and social services (9)
• Environment and other services (9)
• Combat vandalism (8)
• Speed cameras (8)
• Recycling facilities (7)
• All trains to stop at Dove Holes/better rail service (6)
• Skate park (6)
• Busy roads (6)
• Activities/sports (5)
• Improving image (5)
• Housing (5)
• Develop/keep a community spirit (5)
• Sports facilities (5)
• Keeping crime rate low (5)
• Chemist (4)

• Emergency services (4)
• Street lighting (4)
• Road bumps/traffic calming on Meadow Lane/Station Road (4)
• Improve local health facilities (4)
• Untidiness with litter (3)
• Football pitch (3)
• Fish and chip shop (decent) (3)
• Crossing opposite play area/second crossing (3)
• Giving Dove Holes a high profile (3)
• Tourism (3)
• Pedestrian crossing (Buxton road area) (3)
• Footpaths/signs/publicity and countryside for leisure/walking (3)
• Information/communication (3)
• Bullring (2)
• General maintenance (2)
• Getting villagers involved (2)
• Teenagers (2)
• Buses (2)
• Own parish council (2)
• Maintaining good standard of education (2)
• After school club (2)
• School  (new teachers and staff from ground level) (2)
• Stop vehicle damage to verges and footpaths (2)
• Parking on footpaths near entrance to Trent bus area (2)
• Pedestrian crossing on Halsteads (2)
• More shops (2)
• Youth club (2)
• Support existing activities (2)
• Supporting our local Post Office (2)
• Better lighting round community area (2)
• Speed ramps (2)
• Supporting our local Post Office (2)
• Better lighting round community area (2)
• Speed ramps (2)
• Pedestrian safety barriers (2)
• Divert heavy traffic (2)
• Litter bins (2)
• Childcare (2)
• Resurfacing of Alexander Road (2)
• Build more houses – keep families in the village (2)
• Sports barn (2)
• To keep the community centre a viable concern (2)
• Verge maintenance needs to be improved (2)
• Sports grounds (2)

Appendix One

Action Points

Housing

• Provide more starter homes
• Provide more affordable housing
• Build more houses to keep families in the village
• Provide more rented accommodation
• Complete the Meadows development and have the roads adopted
• Improve the access to the Meadows
• Ask the council not to place any more undesirables in the maisonettes

Education

• Provide playgroup provision five mornings per week
• Provide more adult education and evening classes within the village
• Improve the communication about what classes and groups are held in the village
• Continuity of teachers at the school

Countryside and Environment

·        Improve signposting of footpaths around the village

·        Provide a map or leaflet of walks around the village

·        Reduce vehicle damage to verges and footpaths

·        Improve Green Lane

·        Provide dog fouling bins around the village

·        Keep roadside verges mown and tidy

·        Provide signposts for local amenities and areas of interest

·        Put up signs to encourage dog owners to take their dog muck home with them

·        Plant grass verges with bulbs and flowers

·        Provide flower beds and hanging baskets throughout village

·        Plant more trees

·        Plant trees to screen lime tips from football field

·        Plant trees to screen scrap yard from station

·        Tidy up War Memorial

·        Landscape spoil heaps on Dale Road

·        Tidy up the park

·        Keep entrance to Over 60s tidy

·        Landscape and plant island at Barmoor Clough

·        Clear litter around the community centre, paint and plant flowers

·        Enter in Britain in Bloom competition

·        Provide more litter bins

·        Educate people to use litter and dog bins

·        Tidy up area around maisonettes

·        Public footpath down to the ‘Blacks’ and the entrance from the football field is steep, muddy, rocky and dangerous – it needs steps and handrails

·        Rebuild fallen down walls

Churches

·        Resurface the drive and car park at the Methodist Chapel to allow pushchair and wheelchair access

·        New notice board at St Paul’s and at the Methodist Chapel

·        Encourage more joint working between the two churches

·        Widen the access to St Paul’s to allow easier access into the churchyard and stop cars parking on the road during funerals and weddings

·        Access Grant Aid for the upkeep of both buildings

·        Update toilet facilities at both churches to conform to the new government regulations due to be introduced  

·        Provide a leaflet which gives details of services, Sunday School and events

·        Provide kitchen facilities at St Paul’s

·        Access Grant Aid to re-paint the interior of the Methodist Chapel

•      Improve attendance

·        Open the churches up to the young, the infirm and the wider community

·        Provide better maintenance for St Paul’s

·        Provide a water tap in the churchyard at St Paul’s for people putting flowers on graves

·        Provide a decent path up the side of St Paul’s to the churchyard

·        Tidy up the churchyard

Health and Social Services

·        Provide a doctor’s surgery within the village

·        Provide a chemist within the village

Environment and Other Services

• Get bottle banks emptied more frequently

• Provide better recycling facilities – cans, plastics, cardboard, clothes, shoes, books, tapes, green waste for compost
• Provide skip or amenity site for the village

• Provide more litter bins
• Improve road maintenance/cleaning
• Improve pavement maintenance/cleanliness
• Improve cleanliness/appearance of village
• Stop vehicle damage to verges and footpaths
• Provide better lighting round community area
• Educate people to pick up litter and dog waste
• Resurface Alexander Road
• Improve verge maintenance

Emergency Services

• Set up a Neighbourhood Watch group
• Try to get foot patrol police officers for the village
• Install CCTV around the Community Centre
• Develop a better relationship with the Police
• Lobby for more ambulances within the area
• Reduce vandalism within the village

Indoor and Outdoor Sports Facilities

• Refurbish children’s playground
• Provide more benches in the playground
• Improve existing sports facilities
• Improve spectator facilities
• Provide new sports facilities
• Encourage the use of the existing facilities

Social Activities

·        Organise more village social events for all age groups

·        Encourage more people to attend events

Transport and Highways

• Provide more off-road parking
• Have speed cameras installed
• Sleeping policeman on Meadow Lane
• Improve the upkeep of bus shelters
• Extra crossing on road
• Better parking and access to church yards to allow easier access into churchyard and stop cars parking on road during funerals and weddings
• Prevent cars parking on footpaths
• Provide bus service round Station Road and Meadow Lane
• More regular bus/train service to Buxton at night
• A walk-thru bus shelter on the Buxton/chapel route opposite the bus garage to prevent being sprayed by vehicles
• Parking/pull-in for the Post Office
• Better off road parking for shops (with car park signs)

• Traffic calming to prevent people speeding along the back road to Chapel to miss the traffic
• Get all trains to stop at the station
• Enforce speed limits
• Traffic calming along A6
• Relief road/by-pass 
• Provide flashing speed restriction signs
• Later bus from Buxton
• Install pedestrian safety barriers near school and crossing
• Road bumps/traffic calming on Meadow Lane/Station Road
• One way system round Station Road
   

Information and Communication

• Provide more notice boards
• Introduce a regular village newsletter
• Set up a village website
   

Local Government

• Ask councils to provide more information
• Research possibility of having own parish council
   

Tourism

• Promote archaeological attractions, especially the Bull Ring and lime caves
• Promote cultural attractions such as the Beer and Jazz Festival and sporting events
• Promote the walks around the village
• Improve facilities to cope with increased tourism
   

Dove Holes Economy

·        Give publicity to the fact that local businesses are in great danger of closure from lack of support – ‘use it, don’t lose it’ but they need to provide a decent service

·        Encourage tourism

·        Compile a directory of local businesses and what they have to offer

·        Encourage businesses to participate in local events and provide sponsorship, etc

·        Welcome more local businesses, perhaps with lower rates, as it would bring more employment for local people

·        Promote the bull ring and sell postcards/history booklets with extracts from book by the local lady author

·        Promotion/advertise businesses more

·        Better off road parking for shops (with car park signs)

·        Involve businesses in the village website either through adverts or links to their own websites

·        Signposts to show where the businesses are

·        Encourage specialist markets eg craft, farmers, European to bring visitors in to the village

·        Build more affordable housing – more kids for school, more business for shops, garages, churches, etc

• Discourage vandalism
• Have a jobs section on website to inform people of opportunities
• Obtain grants to encourage new business
• Employ a road/handy man to sweep roads and weed paths
• Advertise jobs in local shops before putting in the papers
• Open more eating places
• Advertise jobs on the notice board near community hall
• Encourage trainee schemes with village projects eg. gardening, landscaping
• Promote the village to bring in more trade

Dove Holes Village Action Plan  - this Action Plan will be updated and issues added when others have been completed.                                                  14/12/03