Councillor Ben Bellamy Belper North

Belper Independents The Local Voice For Belper Impolite posts removed, liars exposed

𝐋𝐀𝐁𝐎𝐔𝐑/𝐆𝐑𝐄𝐄𝐍 𝐂𝐎𝐀𝐋𝐈𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐕𝐎𝐓𝐄 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐂𝐀𝐑 𝐏𝐀𝐑𝐊 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐑𝐆𝐄 𝐓𝐀𝐋𝐊𝐒 𝐓𝐎 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐔𝐄

AS PROMISED during the recent election campaign, last night BELPER INDEPENDENTS councillors moved a motion to end all talks with Amber Valley Borough council on charging on Coppice Car park.

People have been telling us that they are really angry to find out that ALL Labour and ALL Green Party councillors voted AGAINST this motion last night, with some complaining that Labour canvassers fibbed to them in the election campaign that they would no longer be pursuing charging!

And even more shockingly, Deputy Leader of Amber Valley, Cllr Emma Monkman, Amber Valley Cabinet member for regeneration that includes Car parking - DID NOT DECLARE AN INTEREST and stayed and voted to continue discussions – essentially with the department that she leads!

We believe that Monkman should have declared an interest and reclused herself from the meeting. That she stayed in the meeting and voted to continue discussion is a disgrace and we believe an abuse of democracy. We are taking advice from the Borough Solicitor as to whether Cllr Monkman should have declared a pecuniary or other interest and whether it is a matter for the Police or for the Standards Board.

BELPER INDEPENDENTS have been clear – charging for Coppice is not the answer to mitigate climate change.

What it will do is:

👎 Cause havoc and gridlock on surrounding streets as people look for free on-street parking.

👎Damage the viability of local shops by removing the attraction of the option of free parking.

👎Effect a tax on town centre employees who do not have the option of using public transport.

👎Have zero effect on carbon emissions – unless like some extremist Belper Town councillors wish, there is a complete ban on cars.

👎Likely cost more money than it brings in, with a delighted Amber Valley rubbing their hands as more cars flock to the more conveniently located Field Lane and Green lane car parks.

𝐁𝐄𝐋𝐏𝐄𝐑 𝐈𝐍𝐃𝐄𝐏𝐄𝐍𝐃𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐒 𝐖𝐈𝐋𝐋 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐔𝐄 𝐓𝐎 𝐂𝐀𝐌𝐏𝐀𝐈𝐆𝐍 𝐀𝐆𝐀𝐈𝐍𝐒𝐓 𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐑𝐎𝐃𝐔𝐂𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐑𝐆𝐄𝐒 𝐈𝐍 𝐓𝐎𝐖𝐍 𝐂𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐂𝐈𝐋 𝐂𝐀𝐑 𝐏𝐀𝐑𝐊𝐒.

𝐖𝐄 𝐒𝐔𝐏𝐏𝐎𝐑𝐓 𝐋𝐎𝐂𝐀𝐋 𝐁𝐔𝐒𝐈𝐍𝐄𝐒𝐒𝐄𝐒 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐓𝐎𝐖𝐍 𝐂𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐑𝐄 𝐄𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐎𝐌𝐘 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐆𝐈𝐕𝐄 𝐍𝐎 𝐂𝐑𝐄𝐃𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐄 𝐓𝐎 𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐒𝐄 𝐄𝐗𝐓𝐑𝐄𝐌𝐈𝐒𝐓 𝐈𝐃𝐄𝐀𝐒 𝐅𝐑𝐎𝐌 𝐒𝐎𝐌𝐄 𝐎𝐅 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐋𝐀𝐁𝐎𝐔𝐑/𝐆𝐑𝐄𝐄𝐍 𝐂𝐎𝐀𝐋𝐈𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐎𝐅 𝐁𝐀𝐍𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐂𝐀𝐑𝐒 𝐅𝐑𝐎𝐌 𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐓𝐎𝐖𝐍.

COPPICE CAR PARK CHARGING

As promised in the recent election campaign, at next Tuesdays full council (St John’s Chapel, The Butts, Belper, DE56 1HX on Tuesday 13th June 2023 at 7.00pm.)

BELPER INDEPENDENTS will be moving the motion to stop discussions on car charging for car parking in any Town Council car park in Belper.

As people well know, charging will have the effect of pushing cars onto choked local streets, and have a hugely detrimental impact on struggling Town centre businesses. What it wouldn't do is have any impact on reducing car use (we of course need an integrated public transport system to do that..)

If the motion is to pass, it will require green councillors to vote for the motion.

Members of the public are encouraged to attend and speak at Town council meetings.

****If this is important to you, this is your last chance to stop charging on Coppice.****

***THE CLOCK TICKS ON****

Its now the 1st of June.

Having refused to allow a debate at Amber Valley following the march to Ripley, we call upon Belper Labour Councillors to complete on their election promise.

They criticised the Tories for refusing funding requests from the Leisure Centre and promised immediate action.

They refused to even debate the issue at Amber Valley council meeting after your march from Belper to Ripley a week ago today, and yet despite having two weeks before that to consider the motions and get legal advice that they claim they needed – and yet……..silence.

We want to have faith that there is a plan - but the 70 staff and the many clubs and thousands of users are being kept in the dark

We call on Belper Labour councillors – keep the promise that you made and insist that the leadership of Amber Valley immediately comes up with the funding that you criticised the Tories for not giving.

Its unconsionable to promise one thing the day before an election and then not follow though on that promise. Belper people expect their councillors to stick to their promises.

Since 2019 the Labour Council has had income of £2,134,786, and we have nothing to show for it.

Over TWO MILLION pounds.

They failed to deliver the new toilets that they promised. Nor the community Orchard of fruit trees promised at Snowberry Avenue.
Nor the new skatepark that they voted against, nor any place that our young people can call theirs.

Instead, on the way, is a clock for co-op supermarket that they contributed £8,000 towards of your money, and half a million in the bank.

4 years of working groups.
4 years of talking.
4 Mayor's swanning about for 4 years.
4 years of kicking things into the long grass.
4 years of tea and biscuits.
4 years of failure to deliver.
4 years of broken promises.

BELPER INDEPENDENTS will lead a council of action, not words.
Fewer meetings, more doing.

Let's start by getting the new Toilets and Skatepark done and scrapping the charges for Coppice car park. And if we can, we will scrap that daft clock.

Vote BELPER INDEPENDENTS

Politics comes with rough and tumble – and it is entirely legitimate to call out candidates voting records, failures to deliver or mistruths. But what is said must be true.

BELPER INDEPENDENTS will continue to highlight hypocrisy; publish the voting records of candidates who have said one thing and done another; highlight where candidates don’t live in the town – or in some cases even in the borough.

All we want is the best for Belper.

Someone I generally agreed very little with summed it up well:

“𝐈 𝐚𝐥𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐞𝐫 𝐮𝐩 𝐢𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐢𝐟 𝐚𝐧 𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐢𝐬 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐲 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐈 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤, 𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐥, 𝐢𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲, 𝐢𝐭 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐚 𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐞 𝐩𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐮𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐥𝐞𝐟𝐭.” 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐭 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐫.

We will not climb into the gutter with some elements of the local Labour and Conservative parties. We are from Belper, For Belper.

Councillor Ben Bellamy
BELPER INDEPENDENTS

Belper is a community of around 20,000 people who are proud to be from Belper.

So why has the Labour party had to parachute candidates in from Duffield for the local elections? They really couldn't find just 7 Belper people to represent us on the Borough Council?!?

𝐁𝐄𝐋𝐏𝐄𝐑 𝐈𝐍𝐃𝐄𝐏𝐄𝐍𝐃𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐒 𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐀𝐋𝐋 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐁𝐄𝐋𝐏𝐄𝐑 & 𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐝𝐠𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐎𝐍𝐋𝐘 𝐕𝐎𝐓𝐄 𝐈𝐍 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐁𝐄𝐒𝐓 𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐒 𝐎𝐅 𝐁𝐄𝐋𝐏𝐄𝐑

𝐆𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐬𝐲, 𝐓𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐟𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐲𝐜𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐛𝐢𝐧𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐁𝐞𝐥𝐩𝐞𝐫 - 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐬𝐚𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞: “𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮."

Being good sports, we liked the idea of this.

So we went out in our town and asked Belper residents just what they thought of the Tory promises. And here’s what the good people of Belper said:

The Tories claim they’ll: “Freeze Belper Town precept (tax).”

You replied: “𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐮𝐧𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐯𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐞𝐤 - 𝐓𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐫 𝐆𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐯𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐧 𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧-𝐛𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝟏𝟎 𝐩𝐞𝐫 𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐚𝐭 𝐚 𝐦𝐞𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐤𝐬 𝐚𝐠𝐨.”

The Tories claim they’ll: “Protect your green belt.”

You replied: “𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐦𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐛𝐞 𝐣𝐨𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠. 𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐝𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐟𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐁𝐞𝐥𝐩𝐞𝐫 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐓𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐆𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐝𝐢𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐟𝐢𝐞𝐥𝐝𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐁𝐞𝐥𝐩𝐞𝐫 𝐋𝐚𝐧𝐞. 𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐩𝐮𝐭 𝐚 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝, 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐋𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐫, 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐬𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐛𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐁𝐞𝐥𝐩𝐞𝐫! 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐬𝐚𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞.”

The Tories claim they'll: “Address anti-social behaviour.”

You replied: “𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲? 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐓𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐀𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝐕𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐲 𝐁𝐨𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐥 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐁𝐞𝐥𝐩𝐞𝐫 𝐓𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐥 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐚 𝐓𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐌𝐏 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐁𝐞𝐥𝐩𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝– 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐧𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦 𝐝𝐢𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐲𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐩 𝐢𝐭.”

The Tories say they want: “Free parking at the Coppice.”

You replied: “𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐲’𝐫𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐥𝐚𝐮𝐠𝐡! 𝐓𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐫 𝐆𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐯𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐫 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐭 𝐚 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐥 𝐦𝐞𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠. 𝐖𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐧’𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐨𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐧’𝐭.”

It’s clear that hard-working Belper families aren’t fooled by Tory glossy election leaflets!

BELPER INDEPENDENTS’ councillor Ben Bellamy concludes:
“𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐬 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐧 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐞 𝐨𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐞. 𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐰𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐯𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐝𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫. 𝐖𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐤𝐞𝐞𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐬.𝐖𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐁𝐞𝐥𝐩𝐞𝐫 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐬𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐲 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐁𝐞𝐥𝐩𝐞𝐫 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞.”

𝐒𝐨 𝐢𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮’𝐯𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐬𝐲 𝐓𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐟𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐬 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐮𝐬, 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐨𝐧 𝐓𝐡𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝟒 𝐌𝐚𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐯𝐨𝐭𝐞 𝐁𝐄𝐋𝐏𝐄𝐑 𝐈𝐍𝐃𝐄𝐏𝐄𝐍𝐃𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐒.

Few noises can beat the joyous sound of youngsters having fun in the sunshine.

Two years on after BELPER INDEPENDENTS councillor Fay Atkinsons hard work got the playground up and running for children to enjoy, it appears our Three Corner Rec is as popular as ever.

Hundreds of youngsters and their families still love to visit and play in the open green space.

Councillor Fay says: “Actions mean so much more than words. Hard work and dedication by your BELPER INDEPENDENTS councillors got our 3 corner rec up and running - and we’re proud of this achievement.”

But there’s so much more to do, so if you believe in improving more children’s play areas across the town, a skate park and improved sports fields, vote BELPER INDEPENDENTS on Thursday 4 May!

*** WHAT A CLOCK-UP ***

Decent Belper families are struggling.

Sky-rocketing rents and mortgages, rising fuel bills and high food prices are hurting our town’s residents, and the Labour led Town council, supported by Conservative and Green councillors just raised the Town Council tax by an eyewatering 10%.

So the last thing we needed was a gaggle of out-of-touch Labour councillors voting to waste over £8,000 of hard-working Belper taxpayers’ money on a pet-project to buy a wall-mounted clock to glorify the life of a Welsh man - who died nearly 200 years ago, and may have visited Belper just once.

The clock, which is proposed to be erected on the Co-op supermarket in Strutt street, is supposed to mark the life of Welsh social and poverty reformer Robert Owen.

According to Belper Town Council’s own recently disclosed internal figures, it is anticipated that with design, manufacturing and installation fees the total figure to produce the clock could rise to £12,000. And that doesn’t include VAT!

You can see visualisations of what the odd looking £12,000 clock will look like here:
https://www.belpertowncouncil.gov.uk/uploads/14-robert-owen-clock-appendix-1.pdf?v=1655806756

Belper Independents’ councillor Ben Bellamy says: “The Co-op has a proud history of helping local charities, but we believe that during at a time of food poverty it is completely wrong to waste money like this. If Owen was here today I expect he would have asked for the five-figure sum to be donated to a worthwhile community project or a local food bank.”

Ben concludes: “We hope that it is not too late to stop this folly, and call on the Co-op to have a rethink and ask instead that Belper Town Council use this money to support local people through these difficult times.”

With just two weeks until the town and borough elections local residents have been asking what we stand for and what we want to do to improve Belper.

So for the next 12 days we will share one of our positive policies with you - and hopefully as a result you’ll be inspired to vote for us on Thursday 4 May.

Today, we continue our clear and unequivocal commitment to KEEP COPPICE CAR PARK FREE, both for Belper residents and visitors. Free car parking in our town is crucial to keeping our shops, cafes and restaurants busy and thriving.

Only the BELPER INDEPENDENTS voted to keep Coppice free and we will keep doing so!

Furious motorists have called it “Belper’s Pothole Pandemic.”

Giant tarmac depressions have been opening up on roads throughout Belper on an almost daily basis. This photo of an enormous pothole, measuring almost 6-feet in length, was sent to us by a concerned local resident living on Chevin Road in Belper North.

Many locals on the road are now calling it: “The Grand Canyon of Belper.’ Residents on The Chevin say Tory Derbyshire County Councillors have been aware of the problem for years but have chosen to ignore it. Instead electing to opt for bodged repairs, the county has been 'dressing' road surfaces putting good over bad, and filling holes with temporary clods of tarmac which quickly become dislodged, making the problem worse.

Residents have told us that the road is getting worse by the year - and it is causing thousands of pounds worth of damage to hard-working families’ cars.

BELPER INDEPENDENTS are now urging local motorists to report potholes to Derbyshire County Council immediately.

Have you seen a pothole in Belper to rival the Chevin Grand Canyon? Post your pictures!

𝐀 𝐯𝐢𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐨 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐁𝐞𝐥𝐩𝐞𝐫.

We love to see residents and visitors shopping in the town. But it’s also never been a tougher time for the Great British High Street.

Rising energy prices, rocketing rents and the internet continue test our shopkeepers. We’ve been out chatting to shop workers and owners again and they’ve been telling us that to keep Belper booming and avoid the appearance of empty shops we need to keep the Coppice car park free!

Please support our campaign and vote Belper Independents in the upcoming Town and Borough elections.

Thank you.

SAVE BELPER SCHOOL

In a shock move announced yesterday, Belper School Governors are actively seeking an Multi Academy Trust (MAT) into which to sacrifice our Belper Schools independence. https://www.belperschool.co.uk/end-of-spring-term-newsletter/

LOWER STANDARDS

Academisation is driving down staff pay, terms and conditions, alienating communities and has caused the fragmentation of the education system. Its leaders cream eyewatering salaries from our schools, and standards often drop.

CAMPAIGN

BELPER INDEPENDENTS are leading a campaign to call on governors of Belper School to remain independent and to stop Academisation. It would be the end of our school as we know it, with expensive uniforms, poorer education and a loss of our Belper identity.

Showing huge integrity,
BELPER INDEPENDENTS Cllr Fay Atkinson has resigned as governor and said

“ We have a great school in Belper, it’s ethos has always been something for the town to be proud of. The students demonstrate these values and are led by amazing hard working staff and governors who are committed to ensuring the safety, happiness and development of these young people in more than just academic success.

Now only a handful of secondary schools in Derbyshire remain with the local authority, pushed towards joining Academy Trusts by central government. This is nothing short of privatisation of the education sector.

As a governor for a number of years I have always had an unwavering commitment to fight to retain public services and have felt conscience bound to step down from the board as it finds itself in this position.'

PLEASE SIGN OUR PETITION TO STAY IN TOUCH WITH THE CAMPAIGN

https://chng.it/jKzgtL7Dty

𝐘𝐎𝐔 𝐖𝐎𝐍'𝐓 𝐁𝐄𝐋𝐈𝐄𝐕𝐄 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐂𝐎𝐏𝐏𝐈𝐂𝐄 𝐂𝐀𝐑 𝐏𝐀𝐑𝐊 𝐒𝐔𝐑𝐕𝐄𝐘 𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐔𝐋𝐓𝐒!

We asked you what you thought about the Labour, Green and Tory plan to impose irresponsible charges on shoppers and workers who currently use the Coppice Car Park in our town. Councillor's from all 3 parties united to vote proposals through this month, all Belper Independents councillors voted against and are committed to reversing this appalling move.

𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 𝐓𝐚𝐱

We listened - and you overwhelmingly told as you were horrified.

• 95% of engaged Belper businesses said they feared the charges amounted to a stealth tax on local people - stating that they were significantly concerned that the plans would have a significant negative spending impact in shops, pubs and cafes in the town.

𝐔𝐧𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐞𝐝

• Over 87% of respondents said that they opposed levy - which could amount to almost £720 pounds per year for a daily Coppice Car Park user - was totally unjustified especially at a time when most families are struggling with the cost living crisis, raising rising energy bills and rocketing mortgage and rent payments.

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐨𝐬

• And 85% of local people believed the car parking charges would result in chaos and congestion in already crowded streets and roads near the centre of the town.

𝐒𝐨 𝐟𝐚𝐫 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝟐𝟎𝟎𝟎 𝐁𝐞𝐥𝐩𝐞𝐫 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐝𝐠𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐁𝐄𝐋𝐏𝐄𝐑 𝐈𝐍𝐃𝐄𝐏𝐄𝐍𝐃𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐒 𝐜𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐢𝐠𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐢𝐥𝐥-𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭-𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐋𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐫, 𝐆𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐓𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐧.

𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐧𝐮𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐬 𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐝𝐚𝐲.

Have your say here: https://forms.gle/udg5v8sZLmzVctyK9

BELPER INDEPENDENTS value integrity above all.

OPEN LIES

Councillors should honest. Yes cllr Spendlove was handing out leaflets this morning complaining about the Town council tax rise, and the Coppice car park charges- having voted FOR both, and Conservatives have hiked up council tax at Amber Valley!

INTEGRITY

Only Belper Independent's were the only group to have voted to AGAINST Coppice Charges and AGAINST the council tax rises.
That's on record, and councillors claiming to be against something and then voting for it, is exactly why we need Belper Independents- to bring some integrity back.

Cllr Ben Bellamy

𝐈𝐬 𝐀𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝐕𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐲 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐢𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐩𝐮𝐫𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐞?

Research by BELPER INDEPENDENTS has revealed unacceptable delays have built up under the Conservatives in the depleted Amber Valley Planning department. Have your say on the link at the bottom.

𝗨𝗡𝗔𝗖𝗖𝗘𝗣𝗧𝗔𝗕𝗟𝗘 𝗗𝗘𝗟𝗔𝗬𝗦

Figures show that the depleted department has over 300 outstanding applications over 6 months old; over 180 over a year old and over 100 that appear to be outstanding for over 2 years!

Government guidelines say that once a planning application has been validated, the local planning authority should make a decision on the proposal as ❝𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐥𝐲 𝐚𝐬 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞❞ and in any event within the statutory time limit unless a longer period is agreed in writing with the applicant.

𝐌𝐈𝐒𝐒𝐄𝐃 𝐓𝐈𝐌𝐄 𝐋𝐈𝐌𝐈𝐓𝐒

The statutory time limits are 13 weeks for applications for major development,10 weeks for applications for technical details consent and 8 weeks for all other types of development (unless an application is subject to an to an Environmental Impact Assessment, in which case a 16 week limit applies). Where a planning application takes longer than the statutory period to decide, and an extended period has not been agreed with the applicant, the government’s policy is that the decision should be made within 26 weeks at most in order to comply with the ‘planning guarantee’.

So our Council has seemingly missed the ‘planning guarantee’ on at last 300 current applications!

𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐈𝐓𝐀𝐆𝐄 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐆𝐑𝐄𝐄𝐍 𝐅𝐈𝐄𝐋𝐃𝐒 𝐓𝐇𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐓𝐄𝐍𝐄𝐃

Currently outstanding from 2018 is the application for the Belper Mills – and no action can be taken to save this World Heritage asset until a decision has been made. And delays in deciding applications, especially on brown field sites, mean that housing numbers are potentially lower than they could be, putting our green fields under threat.

𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐒𝐄𝐑𝐕𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐕𝐄𝐒 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐋𝐀𝐁𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐏𝐋𝐀𝐍𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐓𝐎𝐆𝐄𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐑

Given the Conservatives Local Plan, which has a ‘strategy’ to build in and around Belper and the other 3 towns – a plan supported and voted for by Belper’s Labour Councillors – a vote for BELPER INDEPENDENTS in May has never been more important.

𝗕𝗘𝗟𝗣𝗘𝗥 𝗜𝗡𝗗𝗘𝗣𝗘𝗡𝗗𝗘𝗡𝗧𝗦 𝗣𝗢𝗟𝗟𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗦𝗛𝗢𝗪𝗦 𝗪𝗘 𝗔𝗥𝗘 𝗢𝗡 𝗖𝗢𝗨𝗥𝗦𝗘 𝗧𝗢 𝗪𝗜𝗡 𝗜𝗡 𝗕𝗘𝗟𝗣𝗘𝗥!

Have your say on the local elections here: https://forms.gle/Y1BB8inh7PxEfYY79

A pledge to you.

BELPER INDEPENDENTS will always act and vote with integrity and for the best interests of Belper.

We will not squander your money on pet projects, such as the £8000* co-op clock or on creating work for our friends.

We will always act and vote in the best interests of Belper, not that of ourselves.

And most importantly, we will keep our promises.

Cllr Ben Bellamy

*edit, the clock is an eyewatering £8k, not £5k that I previously thought!

Local Elections are coming -what are YOUR priorities?

Have your say now:

https://forms.gle/2zjEjLLWsMns6WAi8

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Local elections are coming -what are your priorities? BELPER Election poll

𝘾𝙊𝙐𝙉𝘾𝙄𝙇 𝙏𝘼𝙓 𝙐𝙋

The BELPER INDEPENDENTS were the ONLY group to vote AGAINST raising Council Tax at last nights Borough Council meeting. Greens, Tories and Labour united to push this rise through despite the cost of living crisis.

At the meeting we also highlighted Belper Town council’s holding of half a million pounds of YOUR money in reserves, being eaten up by inflation, & the eyewatering 10% increase in their Council Tax precept for hard working Belper people to find.

Why they made promises that they never intended keeping, only they know. What we know is that Belper needs councillors who keep their promises.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdA5gipmihRgdpxZGyDd2kusSftdBJgt0of1ddHiFrZcOgrLw/viewform

If you can help in anyway, please fill in this form

Belper Independents The Local Voice for Belper

Due to the continued appalling behaviour of some members of our Town council, I decided again to boycott last nights meeting, knowing that this would trigger my disqualification as a Town Councillor. I remain a Borough councillor for Belper North.

I could not in all conscience remain associated with a body that made so many promises, such as new accessible toilets, and a new skatepark, only to vote against these things continually.

The Town council now has a balance sheet of over a million pounds, but even withdrew support for the North Mill Trust last night. This is money that I belive should be spent on playgrounds, youth clubs and community groups.

It has not all been bad – we got the new chargers in the Coppice car park, although many councillors are pushing to charge residents to park on coppice.
As I said, I remain your Belper North Councillor , currently sitting as an independent, and will decide in the new year whether to seek to serve another term.

Cllr Ben Bellamy

Today will be my last, at least for a while, as Amber Valley Labour Group Leader- as I will be standing down and supporting my great friend and comrade Chris Emmas-Williams for leader, and hope to serve again as his deputy.

We make a really good team and are ready to step in next year when the Tories have failed on the local plan, Heanor Grammar school, Belper Mills and continue to neglect the finances and assets of Amber Valley.

Last May I said I would be keeping Chris's seat warm, and true to my word, that’s what I am now able to pass back.

It was an incredibly boost to have him returned as member for Codnor & Waingroves on Thursday , and despite losing some good members, we grew our vote by 600 on the seats we contested the previous year, as the tories vote collapsed by 2300.

I would like to thank all those councillors and comrades who have supported over the last 12 months - but especially my deputy cllr Emma Monkman and rock of support cllr Fay Atkinson who was reelected with an increased majority.

It has been wonderful to be able to help so many people with issues across the Borough over the last 12 months, and of course that will continue over the next year. Much of what we do as councillors is unseen.

I’m sure the huge amount of abuse that I get both on social media, and at times in person, will continue – if they ignore you then I guess you are not being effective!

Cllr Ben Bellamy

Petition to reinstate funding for Belper North Mill Museum

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We Can Make an Impact. Reinstate Council funding for Belper North Mill Museum