Petition to the District Council

1899

We the undersigned beg to Petition

the Rural District Council of the Parish

Of Chapel-en-le-Frith to cause a good

Public foot-path to be made along the

Road situate in Burrfields, extending from

The Church yard Gates, to the Hayfield Road

Opposite the Grapes Inn.

                       During wet weather, in all seasons, this road

             is in a most disgraceful state, & not only causes

             Great annoyance & inconvenience to the residents in

             Burrfields, but also to the numerous foot-passengers

   who make constant use of it, besides being a real source

  of danger to the school children who are obliged to use

  the road, & get their feet wet before school begins.

Names of  Petitioners

             Vernon I. Greenhough MB

Walter Storey

Thomas Binney Gibbs

Thos. Barham

Frank Bramwell       Chapel en le Frith

              William G. Smith       Ditto

William Walton

Joshua Woodcock    Chapel en le Frith

J.N. Cook     Chemist    Chapel en le Frith

Albert M Mellor     Higher Crossings     Chapel

A.C. Wetters          Bugsworth Hall

Alex. Young        Chapel en le Frith

John S. Simpson          - do –

J. Given, M.A., L.S.D.       Vicarage, Chapel-en-le-Frith

W. Stirling Anderson, M.D.    Cromwell House

W H White

James Goddard

Marie L. Spencer

Jane Spencer            Chinley

M. Mellor      Chapel Milton

Wm Waterhouse       Chinley

John Pratt       Chapel en le Frith

Richard Nall        Market St

Samuel Roper      Eccles Road

Edward Carrington        Town End      Chapel

James Thomason       Town End      Chapel en le Frith

Thomas W. Flanagan      Chapel en le Frith

John Willcock      Smithy Brook

Wm Fletcher          Burrfields

James Kinder          Chapel Milton

Thomas Nadin          Chapel Milton

John Dalton            Burr Fields

M A Longson         Burrfields

Mr Albert Nadin       Burrfield

Tom Pownall         Burrfields

J W Crossland       Burrfields

James Joul         Burrfields

Vernon Longden       his x mark     Burrfields

Jane Lomas             Burrfields

William Lomas       Burrfields

Samuel Marchington       Burrfields

Robert Statham     Hayfield Road

George Simpson     Hayfield Road

Eben Hyde       Market Place

S W Potts         Burrfields

W. Potter     Chapel en le Frith

Sarah Oxley       Town End

Joseph J Ford      Whitehough

William Ward        Town End

William Walton

Joseph Lomas        Cockyard

Joseph Hibberd       Hayfield

Thomas Darwent     Chapel Milton

A Walton     Church Brow

Moses Simpson        New Smithy

E Simpson          New Smithy

Samuel Harvey       New Smithy

Geo B Dunn      Bridgeholme  Chinley

J E Moore     The Manse  Chinley

W Lingard    Chapel Milton

G Wilks    Chapel Milton

S. Bramwell    Chapel Milton

W Simpson     Chapel Milton

Joseph Hallam     Chapel Milton

Septima Bennett       Stodhart

James Harrison     Grapes Inn     Chapel en le Frith

J O Haughton       Curate = Chapel en le Frith

James Bramwell  

Thomas Howarth     Burrfields

Daniel Middleton    Burrfields

William W. Kirk        Town End    Chapel en le Frith

Cornelius Simpson

James Hall

John I Kinder    Burfields

George Heathcott      Burfields

Charls Clayton                “

Joseph Ford                     “      

George H. Lomas           “

Mary Ann Simpson       “

Fred Yates                       “

D M C Watkinson         “

A Middleton                  “

John Barber                   “

Isabella Gosling 

M Mayer                        “

G Shepley

R.F. Slack

M. Carrington       Market Place

John Bennett, Solicitor, Chapel-en-le-Frith

F. C. Buckley      Chapel en le Frith

Geo. H. Lee, Market Street

Samuel Birks     Chapel-en-le-Frith

Thomas Smith               do

J.J. Collier         New Inn

Alfred Lloyd Lindsay     Pack Horse

H.B. Jackson

Gilbert Townson

Mary Hibbert

S. J. Bramwell    Chapel en le Frith

John Chalones      Town End    Chapel en le Frith

I,          James Worthington
    Soverign Mill

Sign     On my own behalf also

On behalf of my Employees numbering

About 50 which have to use this

Road 4 or 5 times Daily.

Local Government Act, 1929, Sec. 46.

Draft Proposal

FOR PURPOSES OF DISCUSSION
GROUPING DISTRICT AND PARISHES
IN AND AROUND WHALEY BRIDGE
AND DISLEY INTO ONE URBAN AREA
AND THE NECESSARY ALTERATION
OF BOUNDARIES

                                                          J. ERNEST GRIFFITHS
                                                                                    Clerk,
                                                                        YEARDSLEY-CUM-WHALEY U.D.C.

Council Offices:-

MECHANICS’ INSTITUTE,
     WHALEY BRIDGE,
          November, 1929.

2

Proposal for Extension of Boundaries and Amalgamation of Districts

    The following proposal is submitted for amalgamation of the Districts
and Parishes in and around Whaley Bridge and Disley into one Urban Area.  
 Many advantages are to be gained by the alteration of the boundaries of the two Counties of Cheshire and Derbyshire in order to amalgamate the under mentioned Parishes into one area, viz.:-

                                                                                    County                Union

The Urban District of Yeardsley-cum Whaley…        Chester…Macclesfield.
A small portion of the Parish of Chapel-en-le-Frith..   Derby.. Chapel-en-le-Frith
The Parish of Fernilee …   …   …   …   …   …   …    Derby.. Chapel-en-le-Frith
The Parish of Taxal     …   …   …   …   …   …   …    Chester…Macclesfield.
The whole or part of the Rural District of Disley …    Chester…Hayfield.
A small portion of the Urban District of New Mills .     Chester .. Hayfield.
The whole or part of the Parish of Kettleshulme …    Chester .. Macclesfield.
The whole or part of the Parish of Lyme Handley .     Chester .. Macclesfield.

            This would tend to promote a greater interest in the local government of the community, and would be more economical from every point of view both as regards the unity and administration of the Public Services.

            The district affected is eminently suitable to being amalgamated into one Administrative Area.

            The village known as Whaley Bridge is comprised in the following Parishes:

YEARDSLEY-CUM-WHALEY,
FERNILEE,
TAXAL,
CHAPEL-EN-LE-FRITH

3

The River Goyt runs in the centre of the village and is the dividing line between the Counties of Chester and Derby.

            The District suggested is one place lying in one valley with one common life, but owing to its present position falls to be administered by the following Authorities:-

               CHESHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL,

               DERBYSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL,

               YEARDSLEY-CUM WHALEY URBAN DISTRICT COUNCIL,

               DISLEY RURAL DISTRICT COUNCIL,

               CHAPEL-EN-LE-FRITH RURAL DISTRICT COUNCIL,

   MACCLESFIELD RURAL DISTRICT COUNCIL,
   CHAPEL-EN-LE-FRITH PARISH COUNCIL,
   FERNILEE PARISH COUNCIL,
   TAXAL PARISH COUNCIL,
   LYME HANDLEY PARISH COUNCIL,
   THE WHALEY BRIDGE JOINT SEWERAGE BOARD,
   THE WHALEY BRIDGE MEMORIAL PARK COMMITTEE,
   THE HIGH PEAK HOSPITAL COMMITTEE,
   THE WHALEY BRIDGE AND CHAPEL-EN-LE-FRITH GAS COMPANY,
   THE HIGH PEAK AND TRENT VALLEY ELECTRICITY CO., LTD.
 

The village of Whaley Bridge is under two licensing authorities and the Public Houses have different closing hours on each side of the River Goyt, and varying opening and closing hours on Sunday.
 

In the village are three Ecclesiastical Parishes, which are divided between the provinces of Canterbury and York in two Dioceses, two Archdeaconries, and two Rural Deaneries.

4

            Difficulties naturally arise at every turn, and it cannot be pretended that the present system is either efficient or economical, but rather chaotic and expensive.   Instances might be multiplied to any extent, but the following are sufficient to illustrate the position.

WATER.

            The water resources are many and varied, supplied on different levels, and administered by four different companies.   By using each level to supply appropriate houses throughout the whole area there would be a good and sufficient supply everywhere for a considerable time.   The chief service mains are already joined together.   If amalgamation had happened twenty years since thousands of pounds would have been saved under this head along.

SEWERAGE.

            There is a Joint Sewerage Board, comprised of the Urban District
Council of Yeardsley-cum-Whaley, and the Rural District Councils of
Chapel-en-le-Frith,  Disley, and Macclesfield, for the whole District, and each
Authority attends to the mains running through its own district, and also the
various constituent parts of its internal arrangements.

FIRE PROTECTION.

            For some years there has been no adequate protection.   About a year
ago the Yeardsley-cum-Whaley Urban District Council went into the matter
with the result that a brigade was formed which has done good service on a
small scale.   The surrounding Parishes have to depend on outside brigades if
and when necessity arises.   An amalgamated Authority would be able to
maintain an efficient brigade in the district.

SCAVENGING.

            The Urban Authority adopted public scavenging some years ago.  
The surrounding Parishes are still under the old system of contract.  
The disposal of refuse is also a matter which could be dealt with more economically by a larger Authority.

5

TOWN PLANNING.

            The Urban Authority are in affiliation with the East Cheshire Regional Town Planning Scheme, which comprises the area between Stockport and the county boundary at Whaley Bridge.   The adjoining Parishes on the south side of this line, both in Derbyshire and Cheshire, have not done anything up to the present in formulating a scheme for town planning.   The time is opportune for amalgamation.

HOSPITALS

            Patients are now sent according to the part of the district in which they live.   To Hyde (15 miles), Macclesfield (8 miles), or Chinley (3 miles).  
 The High Peak Hospital at Chinley would be more convenient for any part of the
district.

STREET LIGHTING.

            There is not much uniformity.   Each Parish or Council has its own scheme.   Some are lit by hand, some by automatic clocks.   Gas, Oil, and Electricity are used at intervals in the same district.   Each Parish has to provide its own servants.  
A uniform system would be much cheaper and more efficient.

EDUCATION.

            This is at present administered chiefly by the Derbyshire Committee, which receives contributions from Cheshire.   Cheshire pupils using Derbyshire Secondary Schools have to pay extra fees.   There is no Cheshire Secondary School in the immediate vicinity.

GENERAL UNION PURPOSES.

            Chapel-en-le-Frith is three miles away with a railway service.
Macclesfield is eight miles away by road and eighteen by train, with a time losing change on the way.

6

REGISTRATION OF BIRTHS AND DEATHS.

The Registrar of Births and Deaths for the Cheshire Parishes lives at
Bollington about nine miles away.   Great difficulty is experiences in travelling
between Whaley Bridge and Bollington (and vice versa).   There are no direct ’bus services, and to go by train means going round by Stockport.   This is a matter which has recently been before several of the Authorities with a view to getting better and easier facilities for registration.   Representatives from the different Parishes and organisations have already approached the Registrar-General to try and get the present condition altered.   The Derbyshire Parishes register at Chapel-en-le-Frith which is quite a reasonable distance away.

MAGISTERIAL.

            Chapel-en-le-Frith or Whaley Bridge would be more convenient than
Stockport.   The district is already in Buxton, Chapel-en-le-Frith, and New Mills County Court area.

RECREATION.

            About seven years ago a Recreation Ground and Public Park was given and formed by public subscription.   This was taken over and administered by another Joint Board under the name of the Whaley Bridge Joint Memorial Park Committee.   Representatives from the various Authorities are elected annually on the Committee.   The whole of the grounds would come under one body through amalgamation.

PUBLIC HEALTH.

            At present the Department is administered by six Medical Officers, four Sanitary Inspectors and six Surveyors.   Most of these are part time officials.

ELECTORAL PARTICULARS.

            Yeardsley-cum-Whaley is composed of 9 Councillors.
            There are no separate Wards.
            It is in the Macclesfield Parliamentary Division of the County of Chester.

8

            The proposal is that a new Urban District be formed under the name
of ………………………………………    The exact boundaries of this District are, of course, open to discussion, but the suggestion is that it should include the Yeardsley-cum-Whaley Urban District, a small portion of the Parish of Chapel-en-le-Frith, the whole (or part) of the Parish of Fernilee (both in Chapel-en-le-Frith Rural District), the whole (or part) of the Parishes of Kettleshulme, Lyme Handley, and Taxal, (the whole) or part of the Parish of Disley;  and a small portion of New Mills Urban District in the Cheshire area could also be taken in with advantage.   For some years local opinion as regards Whaley Bridge has been in favour of the proposal.

            An area comprising the whole or parts of the Districts and Parishes
enumerated would form a compact and workable Urban District, and the fore- going statements, it is submitted, constitute sufficient grounds to satisfy the County Councils of Cheshire and Derbyshire that a prima facie case is made out in favour of alteration of boundaries, and the amalgamation of the various Districts and Parishes into one Urban Area.

            The Schedule annexed contains particulars as to the Rateable Value and other financial statistics relating to each District and Parish.

This Meeting of Local Government Electors called to consider the Proposals by the Cheshire and Derbyshire Council Councils as to the alterations of the Boundaries of the Administrative Counties of Chester and Derby, so as to include a portion of the Urban District of Yeardsley-cum-Whaley, and the consequential alteration of the Parish of Chapel-en-le-Frith, strongly protests against the transfer of any part of the Parish of Chapel-en-le-Frith to the proposed Whaley Bridge Parish and Urban District, and hereby requests the Parish Council to Place such objections before the Minister of Health as the Council may consider necessary in support of this protest.

DERBYSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

______________

P R O G R A M M E   O F   I N Q U I R Y

Into the County Council’s proposals in connection with the Review of County Districts.

______________

THURSDAY, February 23^rd, at 11 a.m.   OPENING OF INQUIRY.

Glossop Borough Council, Glossop Dale Rural District Council
Hayfield Rural District Council and Chapel-en-le-Frith Rural District Council (so far as Glossop Dale and Hayfield are concerned).

FRIDAY, February 24^th – at 10 a.m.

            Buxton Borough Council, Chapel-en-le-Frith Rural District
            Council (except as regards Glossop Dale and Hayfield) and
            Bakewell Urban District Council, Baslow & Bubnell Urban
            District Council, and Bakewell Rural District Council.

MONDAY, February 27^th – at 10 a.m.

            Bonsall Urban District Council, The Matlocks Urban District
            Council, North Darley Urban District Council and South Darley
            Urban District Council.

TUESDAY, February 28^th – at 10 a.m.

            Wirksworth Urban District Council, Ashbourne Urban District
            Council, Ashbourne Rural District Council, Sudbury Rural
            District Council, Repton Rural District Council (so far as
            Sudbury is concerned).

WEDNESDAY, March 1^st – at 10 a.m.

            Burton-upon-Trent Borough Council, Swadlincote District Urban
            District Council, Hartshorne & Seals Rural District Council,
            and Repton Rural District Council.

THURSDAY, March 2^nd – at 10 a.m.

            Derby County Borough, Alvaston & Boulton Urban District
            Council, and Shardlow Rural District Council (so far as
            Alvaston & Boulton is concerned).

FRIDAY, March 3^rd – at 10 a.m.

            Long Eaton Urban District Council, Ilkeston Borough
            Council, Shardlow Rural District Council (except as
            regards Alvaston & Boulton), Belper Rural District
            Council (so far as Ilkeston and Shardlow are concerned)
            Basford Rural District Council (so far as Shipley Parish
            is concerned).

MONDAY, March 6^th – at 10 a.m.

            Heanor Urban District Council, Ripley Urban District
            Council, Alfreton Urban District Council, Belper Rural
            District Council (so far as Heanor is concerned) Basford
            Rural District Council (so far as Codnor Park Parish and
            Shipley Parish are concerned).

TUESDAY, March 7^th – at 10 a.m.

            Heage Urban District Council, Ripley Urban District
            Council and Belper Rural District Council (so far as Heage
            is concerned).

WEDNESDAY, March 8^th – at 10 a.m.

            Belper Urban District Council, Belper Rural District
            Council (so far as Belper Urban District is concerned).

_________________

Note 1.            On the day set apart for the hearing of the
representation or objection of a Rural District Council, the
representation or objection of any Parish Council therein or other
interested parties will be taken.

                                    Proceedings with regard to Consultations
Note 2.
                                    in connection with Representations under
                                    section 45 (5).

            Consultations with respect to Representations under
Section 46 (5) of the Local Government Act, 1929 will be dealt with, so far as possible, day by day, during the course of the Inquiry (although not as part of the Inquiry), and after the County Council’s case with objections have been dealt with;  e.g., the County Council’s review proposals in connection with Heanor Urban District Council are to be dealt with on Monday March 6^th; on the same day if there is still time there will follow a consultation arising out of Heanor Urban District Council’s
representation under Section 46 (5).

            All interested parties are invited to be present at the consultations.

            Witnesses will not be called at these consultations;  there will, therefore, be nothing in the way of examination in chief or cross examination.

            A consultation that cannot, owing to lack of time, take place on the same day as the Inquiry, will be held on another day as soon as possible after the adjournment of the Inquiry.

(Signed)    J.R.Taylor
            H.M. Inspector.   
        Ministry of Health.

8^th, February, 1933.

            “The destinies of Local Government and of some parishes are in the lap of the Gods.

            This matter arises under the Local Gov. Act 1929 which comes into
force on the 1^st April 1930, under which the formation of larger areas is to be
encouraged.

            Chapel T is developing and out-growing the restrictions imposed under
parish Council government (Act 1894 – 36 years), which limits the expenses
of a parish Council to 3d. in £ without the consent of the Ratepayers.   This has but been asked for on one occasion, when the Town Hall could not accommodate all Electors who wished to be present.   For many years the expenses were well within the limit and did not exceed £10.

            Some thought and consideration might be given to a centralised form of government for the parishes of Chapel, Chinley & Fernilee with the addition of Yeardsley-cum-Whaley.   The latter being desirous of retaining its urban powers, and extending its boundaries by the inclusion of a portion of Chapel en le F.

            Chapel R.D.C. with its 30 members is considered by some persons to be to unweildy to deal effectively with the acute problems that give evidence of rising in several directions, but wise guidance in matters of negotiation in the extension of areas is very necessary.

            The chief object should be Good Government with the financial strength to carry on such Government, always respecting the will of people.

            A parish Council district can be converted into an urban area, or parts of a rural district can be combined into an urban district, and there is much to be said in support of the District mentioned.

            It is very desirable to preserve the Rurality of the district, but under an urban authority they would have powers to compel the making up of private roads, whereas proceedings under The Private Street Works Act might be serious and expensive.   This might account why the R.D.C. has not put it into force.   (Burrfields & petition).

            Chapel, Chinley & Fernilee have many things in common.

            It might be truly said that they are one community of interest.

            One area for Rates.
                    “          Gas & Electricity.
                   “           Secondary Schools.
                   “           Chapel & Chinley water.
                   “           Sewerage & scavenging.

Chapel & Fernilee has joint water & sewerage and water is sent to Bugsworth in time of drought.

            One area     High Peak Hospital
                   “          Poor Law
           One area    County Council
                  “           Registration
                  “           Police
                  “           Market
                  “           Labour Exchange

No part of the four districts named is more than 4 miles from the centre of Chapel, which has its Town Hall, the property of the Ratepayers.

Area                            Chapel           Chinley          Fernilee         Whaley U

Population                 5,500              2,000              1600               1700
            Rateable Value
            Rates

All meetings could be held in the evenings which would give all classes of the community an opportunity of being represented on the governing council”

                                                            (Unknown)

"Meeting 4^th Feb 1920".

The will of the people must prevail (the popular political cry).
No. of Electors concerned number about 150.
         do            in Fernilee Div. Of Chapel 410

No. of houses in Parish over 1200 (today 1465).

Parish is 7 miles by 5 miles.

Part of parish sought after is 2000 ft. not much more than a third of a miles, at its widest point.

Thus it will be seen that the Amalgamationists propose to take the butter &
leave the crust or to give the adjacent district its proper name Crist, and Gnat Hole.

Total amount of Rate for Parish about £11,000.

Total for Whaley portion more than £900.

The Rates in Chapel are 8s.2d. in £. except outside the lighting area, that is
in the suburbs the rate is 7s.8d. in £.   That is the rates in Chapel portion of
Whaley Bridge are 7/8 in the £. in 1920 in 1914 they were 5/4 in £. but the
next house over the Bridge pays 9/3 in £.   (The water charges are in each case the same).

The question of Amalgamation concerns every elector, and should receive
proper consideration.  The first stone thrown into the pond does not also make the biggest ring on the surface of the water, the ring often gets bigger & bigger until it touches the sides of the pond.

If as it has been reported in the press that someone wishes to wear ermine &
the robes of office, why not let us have them in the Capital of the Peak, and
retain the services of our energetic & enthusiastic Chairman.

(Unknown)

Parish of Chapel-en-le-Frith

A PUBLIC MEETING
OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTORS
WILL BE HELD IN THE
C. of E. SCHOOLS (Girls'),
WEDNESDAY, 19th SEPT., 1934, at 8 p.m.
TO
PROTEST
Against the Proposals
by the Cheshire and Derbyshire County Councils to
the Minister of Health (under Section 140 of the Local
Government Act, 1933) as to the
ALTERATION
OF THE
Boundaries of the Administrative Counties of
Chester and Derby and the
CONSEQUENTIAL
ALTERATION
of the Parish of Chapel-en-le-Frith

PUBLIC MEETING OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTORS.
19th. September 1934.

Chairman or Clerk to explain the object of the Meeting.

Reasons

This Meeting of Local Government Electors called to consider the Proposals by the Cheshire and Derbyshire County Councils as to the alteration of the Boundaries of the Administrative Counties of Chester and Derby, so as to include a portion of the Urban District of Yeardsley-Cum-Whaley, and the consequential alteration of the Parish of Chapel-en-le-Frith, strongly protests against the transfer of any part of the Parish of Chapel-en-le-Frith to the proposed Whaley Bridge Parish and Urban District, and hereby requests the Parish Council to place such objections before the Minister of Health as the Council may consider necessary in support of this protest.

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