Buxton Advertiser • 3rd September 2015

New deal means no Buxton return for G&S festival

The International Gilbert & Sullivan Festival will not be making a return to Buxton, its organisers have confirmed. The festival has struck up a three-year deal to keep the event in Harrogate, which has been its home since its acrimonious departure from Buxton at the end of the 2013 season. High Peak Theatre Trust, which runs Buxton Opera House and the Pavilion Arts Centre, expressed disappointment that its “detailed, fair and equitable” rival proposal had failed to entice the festival back to...

Buxton Advertiser • 27th July 2015

Green light for new Aldi supermarket in New Mills

Plans for a new Aldi retail food store in New Mills have been given the green light, despite fears by objectors that it will lead to increased traffic congestion and impact on existing town centre shops. High Peak Borough Council’s Development Control Committee voted 10-1 in favour of the development of a single storey flat-roofed supermarket on vacant land off Albion Road, close to Newtown train station. The budget supermarket chain’s new store, covering a gross floor area of 1,784 square met

Buxton Advertiser • 6th July 2015

Bid to restore pavement canopies to Buxton’s main shopping street

Ambitious plans are being put forward to reinstate an important heritage feature to Buxton’s main shopping street. Buxton Civic Association has revealed its vision to bring back pavement canopies to Spring Gardens. Victorian cast iron and glass canopies, similar to the ones which front the Grove Hotel and Cavendish Arcades, had previously adorned shops and businesses along a large part of the street.

Buxton Advertiser • 22nd June 2015

Developer back to the drawing board as proposed £35m Station Road scheme is put on hold

The developer behind the £35 million redevelopment of the former Nestle Waters bottling site in Buxton is going back to the drawing board following the surprise withdrawal of its controversial plans for a supermarket, hotel and shops. Cheshire-based Consolidated Property Group (CPG), who have been chosen by Nestle to develop the vacant Station Road site, withdrew their application for planning permission last week. The proposed scheme had included the construction of a single-storey supermarket...

Buxton Advertiser • 14th June 2015

“Significant progress” behind scenes of £46m Buxton Crescent development

Work on the multi-million pound transformation of Buxton’s Crescent into a five-star spa hotel is progressing, councillors have confirmed. Despite a lack of visible progress on-site, High Peak Borough Council said this week that good progress was being made on finalising the designs and timescales for the flagship £46 million development - which has been plagued by delays due to legal difficulties and funding problems.

Buxton Advertiser • 5th June 2015

Prince Charles letters: decaying state of High Peak mill “makes me weep”

Newly-released correspondence from Prince Charles have revealed his concern for the future of historic listed buildings, such as the derelict Torr Vale Mill in New Mills. Among letters written by The Prince of Wales to government ministers is one from March 2008 to the then housing and planning minister Caroline Flint MP, in which he states how the decaying state of the Grade II* listed former cotton mill “makes me weep”.

Buxton Advertiser • 29th May 2015

Buxton band The Indieannas instruments stolen in burglary

A member of a Buxton-based indie/rock group has described the theft of instruments, worth thousands of pounds, from their bandroom as “soul-destroying” and a “kick in the teeth”. Seven guitars belonging to The Indieannas were taken during a break-in at their practice room on Staden Lane Industrial Estate yesterday evening (Thursday).

Buxton Advertiser • 20th March 2015

Peak District road tunnel plan forms part of northern transport blueprint

A road tunnel could be constructed under the Peak District as part of plans to revolutionise the transport system in the north of the country. Investment in a new ‘TransNorth’ rail system, faster journey times for commuters and new roads form part of the Government’s blueprint to build a ‘northern powerhouse’, aimed at bringing jobs to the region and boosting the economy. The ambitious vision is set out in the new Northern Transport Strategy report released this morning (Friday), which details

Buxton Advertiser • 21st November 2014

Heritage Lottery Fund agrees additional £11.3m grant towards Crescent development

An extra £11.3 million of funding has been awarded towards a scheme to redevelop Buxton’s historic Crescent. The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) today (Friday) agreed to contribute the money - in addition to the £12.5m it awarded in 2006 - to the project to repair and restore the iconic Grade I listed building into a five-star thermal spa and hotel.

Buxton Advertiser • 5th June 2014

Residents’ sadness as village church to shut

Residents of a small community on the outskirts of Buxton have expressed sadness at the proposed closure of the village’s only church. Peak Dale Methodist Church is closing its doors to the public next month because of a dwindling congregation and shortage of funds required to bring the building up to standard. A final act of worship will be held on Sunday July 20, with the closing service conducted by the Rev David Hall.

Buxton Advertiser • 12th December 2013

Cancer sufferer Mal strikes a chord with charity singles

A cancer sufferer who recorded a song to raise funds for a High Peak hospice has followed it up with a second track in aid of cancer charity The Christie. Mal Wood originally composed the track titled Reaching Out in recognition of the support he received from Chapel-en-le-Frith’s Blythe House Hospice during his battle with the disease. Now the 66-year-old, of Buxton Old Road, Disley, has turned his attentions to charity The Christie by releasing the instrumental track ‘Coastal Spirit’.

Buxton Advertiser • 14th November 2013

Rams man Sam’s story in print for the first time

The story of a farmer’s boy from Chapel-en-le-Frith who lifted his beloved Derby County into the top echelon of English football has been told for the first time in his own words. Sam’s Story is the newly-published autobiography of Sam Longson OBE, the renowned Derby County director, chairman and honorary president who presided over the most successful decade in the Derbyshire club’s history during the late 1960s and 70s. Having a life-long association with the Rams until his death in 1989, Mr

Buxton Advertiser • 18th November 2012

A feast of golf in 1,000 courses

A rich golfing pedigree has been the driving force behind a High Peak man’s passion for the sport. So much so that earlier this year, John Armitt, from Buxton, celebrated playing his 1,000th different golf course. John began playing golf as a junior and his first golf subscription in 1945 cost five shilling. That was at Buxton and High Peak Golf Club, where he is a life member. And during a long and varied golfing career spanning a remarkable eight decades, the 77-year-old has gone on to play

Buxton Advertiser • 13th September 2012

Longnor pays tribute to races stalwart Roy - VIDEO & PICTURES

“THIS one’s for Roy” was the poignant tribute from organisers of Longnor Wakes Races as they dedicated last Thursday’s successful event to their former chairman Roy Mellor. Spectators and competitors basked in glorious sunshine as the age-old spectacle of traditional harness racing returned to the beautiful setting of Longnor Moor, its home for over 100 years.

Buxton Advertiser • 10th August 2012

The £600 million decision: shot in the arm or nail in the coffin for rural post offices?

Communities across High Peak are holding their breath over a Government decision on a key £600 million contract which could give local post offices a huge shot in the arm – or put another nail in their coffin. Post Office Limited is waiting to learn if it has been successful in its bid to continue to provide services on behalf of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), the Government’s car licensing division.

Buxton Advertiser • 22nd May 2012

I’m all shut up, says Buxton barber ‘Elvis’

David ‘Elvis’ Fawkes has left the building! The 70-year-old Buxton barber this week retired after nearly half a century of cutting hair at the Waldorf traditional barber shop. David is famous as a former Elvis convention singer - and memorabilia to the late King of rock ‘n’ roll adorned the walls of his Market Street barbers. A hairdresser for some 55 years, David has spent 45 of those at the Waldorf - taking over the business...

Buxton Advertiser • 17th March 2012

‘Time team’ turns back clock at arts centre

It's not just musicians who need a steady hand when plying their trade at New Mills’ newest arts venue... Conservators from the nationally-famous Crick Smith have been carrying out painstaking restoration work at the former St James the Less chapel, on Spring Bank, which is being transformed into a community arts centre. As part of the £750,000 project led by the Heritage Lottery Fund, the team of specialists have meticulously peeled back the layers of history at the Grade II listed building

Buxton Advertiser • 14th March 2012

REVIEW: Yes, Prime Minister at Buxton Opera House

Who knew politics could be this much fun! The hilarious hit stage version of the TV classic Yes, Prime Minister opened at Buxton Opera House on Tuesday night and offered some light relief in a time of growing economic uncertainty. The plot is bang up to date: a Prime Minister leading a coalition government as the country faces financial crisis. A refreshing change... well, at least we can all laugh this time!

Buxton Advertiser • 3rd March 2012

Ex-Archers star heads on the campaign trail

Former The Archers actor Graham Seed knows a few things about sudden downfalls... As aristocrat Nigel Pargetter, Seed exited the nation’s best-loved radio soap in dramatic style just over 12 months ago, in a storyline to mark the show’s 60th anniversary. The owner of Lower Loxley Hall suffered the indignity of plummeting to his death from the roof of his home while removing a New Year’s banner. The much-hyped storyline sent shockwaves around the world - but at the same time ended Seed’s

Buxton Advertiser • 16th February 2012

Battle to save river from oil pollution

Metal thieves are thought to be to blame for causing a chemical spillage which is threatening one of the nation’s most iconic waterways. Environmentalists have been battling to protect the River Dove after oil from the former Hartington cheese factory contaminated one of its tributaries. The source of the oil, thought to be a tank at the disused Stonewell Lane site, was located by Environment Agency officers, who have prevented further leaks, but not before it entered the small watercourse