Kinder Scout trespass campaigner gets a plaque

He went down in history as the man who led the mass trespass at Kinder Scout, where hundreds of ramblers claimed their right to roam in the Peak District countryside.

But as a blue plaque was unveiled to honour Benny Rothman, he was also fondly remembered as a life-long campaigner, a rambler, a father and a friend.

Benny, who died in 2002, became famous in 1932 after he led 400 ramblers on to Kinder Scout in Derbyshire in protest against access laws. He was jailed for four months for his part in the mass trespass.

It was only in 2000 that the Countryside and Rights of Way Act finally enshrined in law the right to roam which Benny fought so hard for. The plaque in honour of Benny was unveiled at his home of 58 years on Crofton Avenue, Timperley, where he continued to campaign.

Chris Sabian is owner of http://www.thedoginn.biz a directory for Dog Friendly Accomodation, Pubs, Beaches & More. Browse the UK’s most popular directory of dog friendly accommodation, pubs, beaches and days out

Dronfield Station

WITH its bright, blooming flower beds, green grass and tidy platforms, Dronfield railway station looks good.

But it could have been a different story, were it not for a dedicated of a team of volunteers.

For years, Dronfield suffered from a skeleton train service and a dilapidated railway station.

However, in 2006, a group of villagers decided enough was enough and formed the Friends of Dronfield Station, with a mission to restore it.

Six years on, it has been transformed – and has just been crowned the Association of Community Rail Partnerships’ best station garden – the annual award aims to recognise the unsung heroes of the UK’s community rail world.

Green-fingered group members have installed a rustic bench, restored coal mining truck and created a patriotic floral display in red, white and blue colours.

A second area, the triangle, a section of Network Rail-controlled land, has also been cleared and planted to create a wild flower meadow.

Volunteers give up their spare time to keep the station looking good and their work, along with lobbying from Natascha Engel, Labour MP for North East Derbyshire, has helped ensure the new Nottingham to Leeds train service calls at Dronfield hourly.

Chris Sabian is owner of http://www.thedoginn.biz a directory for Dog Friendly Accomodation, Pubs, Beaches & More. Browse the UK’s most popular directory of dog friendly accommodation, pubs, beaches and days out

Police and crime commissioner hopefuls get a grilling – who cares?

MORE bobbies on the beat, funding and cyber crime were among the subjects on which the four candidates vying to become Derbyshire’s first Police and Crime Commissioner were grilled at a  hustings debate.

Rod Hutton, Simon Spencer, David Gale and Alan Charles locked horns for the first time in public as they answered questions for two hours in Normanton.

At the event, organised by Victim Support,  more than 50 voluntary-sector workers and representatives were able to hear their views on a variety of subjects.

More than 700,000 people in Derbyshire will be eligible to vote in the new commissioner on Thursday, November 15. Whoever wins the battle will replace the existing police authority and have the power to set the force budget and hire and fire the Chief Constable. All for £75,000 per annum.

Political interference and political dogma is inevitable with most of the candidates. Let’s face it who is funding their campaign and who is delivering their leaflets on their behalf? There is a bandwagon outside that says ‘independent’ on it that a lot of people will jump on but we all know that strings will be pulled from above.

I’d like to suggest a saving immediately in the force budget and get rid of this stupid position. Leave police work to people who know about policing not some political pawn.

Quite frankly I haven’t met anyone who gives a damm.

Chris Sabian is owner of http://www.thedoginn.biz a directory for Dog Friendly Accomodation, Pubs, Beaches & More
Browse the UK’s most popular directory of dog friendly accommodation, pubs, beaches and days out

Peak District launches £600,000 tourism marketing campaign

The Peak District has launched a £600,000 marketing campaign to grow tourism in the area.

Visit Peak District and Derbyshire, the area’s tourism bureau, received a share in a £19.8m pot of money from the Government’s Regional Growth Fund, which made the ‘Growing Tourism Locally’ project possible.

The cash will be spent over the next three financial years, including 2012-13, and will include match funding from private sector partners and other tourist board investment to ensure that the best possible value is achieved throughout the campaign.

VisitEngland estimates that, nationally, the ‘Growing Tourism Locally’ project will generate £365m in additional tourism spend and create around 9,100 jobs. Where do these figures come from? Plucked from thin air?

Chris Sabian is a portrait artist with http://www.kutefineart.com and owner of http://www.paragonprints.co.uk

Ramblers urged to step out National Trust walks

THIS AUTUMN, in partnership with PruHealth, the National Trust is launching the Great British Walk – a celebration of the beautiful British countryside

Read more: http://www.derbyshiretimes.co.uk/news/local/ramblers-urged-to-step-out-national-trust-walks-1-4898467

Chris Sabian is a portrait artist with http://www.kutefineart.com and owner of http://www.paragonprints.co.uk

Reservoir history walk

The Peak District National Park authority’s rangers are inviting people to put on their walking boots and accompany them on the Dam Builders and Dam Busters guided tour.

It will take place on Saturday September 23rd and will cover four miles around the Derwent Valley, taking in the remains of Tin Town and the Derwent Reservoir itself.

Those interested in going are advised to meet at the Fairholmes Visitor Centre in time for the walk to start at 10:30 BST and it will last until 16:30 BST. Booking is essential as it is likely that interest in this particular walk will be high.

A pay and display car park lies close to the visitor centre for those coming by car, while there are also links to local bus services for people using public transport.

Once the walk begins, participants will be able to discover the history of Tin Town or Birchinlee, which was a model village built especially for the workers who constructed the Derwent and Howden Dams between 1902 and 1916.

However, this is not Derwent’s only entry into the history books, as it also became vital in the Second World War when it was chosen as the site on which the RAF’s 617 Squadron would practise for Operation Chastise.

This would be the strategic bombing of three major dams on Germany’s Ruhr river and Derwent was deemed perfect because of its similarity to them.

Peak District visitors going on the guided walk will be able to learn more about the testing of the bouncing bomb and how the Dam Busters helped to change the course of the conflict.

Chris Sabian is a portrait artist with http://www.kutefineart.com and owner of http://www.paragonprints.co.uk

Meynell and Staffordshire hunt in National Trust ban

The National Trust has banned the Meynell and South Staffordshire Hunt from its land in Derbyshire following a fox-hunting court trial.

Hunt master John Greenall, 52, from Wootton, Derbyshire and Glenn Morris, 44, of Tutbury, Staffordshire were found guilty of fox hunting in August.

The National Trust confirmed it has refused to grant a licence for land at Kedleston, Calke Abbey and Ilam.

Campaigners set up a petition urging the National Trust to ban the hunt.

The trust, which grants licences to use its land on an annual basis, has decided not to allow the hunt to use the land for the 2012-13 season.

The campaigners who filmed the hunt had hidden in a wood in Sutton on the Hill, Derbyshire, in October.

Mr Greenall was fined £3,000 and Mr Morris was fined £250.

The footage obtained by the two campaigners was shown as evidence at Southern Derbyshire Magistrates’ Court during a two-day trial.

Chris Sabian is a portrait artist with http://www.kutefineart.com and owner of http://www.paragonprints.co.uk

Paraglider and cyclist injured in the Peak District

A paraglider and cyclist needed help from mountain rescue teams after they were injured in separate incidents on Saturday.

The Buxton and Edale Teams snatch squad was called to the Monsal Trail after a 53-year-old lady came off her bike and sustained a suspected ankle fracture. She was taken to the Chesterfield Royal Hospital.

Two hours later the Buxton Team was called to Mam Nick to assist a paraglider, a 59-year-old man from Sheffield, who had landed heavily also sustaining a suspected ankle fracture.

Chris Sabian is a portrait artist with http://www.kutefineart.com and owner of http://www.paragonprints.co.uk

VisitEngland encourages Britons to get cycling

VisitEngland is encouraging viewers inspired by Bradley Wiggins’ cycling heroics to get on their bikes and experience the Peak District National Park. If only Wiggins was a walker!

VisitEngland’s chairman and chief executive, among others, recently cycled through the Peak District to highlight the area’s recreational opportunities.

The group went cycling at Trentabank in Macclesfield Forest to showcase the 58 miles of off-road cycling routes and abundance of quiet lanes that the Peak District National Park has to offer.

The event was timed to coincide with National Parks’ Week, which the organisers hope will see more people get inspired to take part in recreational activity in a national park, whatever their age or ability.

I’ve nothing against cyclists apart from the fact that some are ignorant and most do not know the etiquette of the trails, let alone a sensible speed!

Chris Sabian is owner of http://www.thedoginn.biz a directory for Dog Friendly Accomodation, Pubs, Beaches & More Browse the UK’s most popular directory of dog friendly accommodation, pubs, beaches and days out

Bakewell Show a huge success

More than 65,000 visitors flocked to the popular Peak District event in two days to enjoy a mix of rural attractions and family-themed delights.

Many agricultural events – including the Great Yorkshire Show – have been called off as a result of the wet summer but not Bakewell Show.

Infact, the last time Bakewell Show had to be called off was during World War Two.

Chris Sabian is owner of http://www.thedoginn.biz a directory for Dog Friendly Accomodation, Pubs, Beaches & More. Browse the UK’s most popular directory of dog friendly accommodation, pubs, beaches and days out