matlock footbridge campaign
Petition responses
We have had responses to the petition as it was presented to Derbyshire County Council, Derbyshire Dales District Council and Sainsbury's. Read the Derbyshire County Council response as presented to Environmental Services Cabinet Member on 10 April 2008 (this will open as a pdf document).
Derbyshire County Council responded to several questions raised by campaigners in the meeting at which the petition was presented. Read the transcript (this will open as a pdf document).
Derbyshire Dales District Council Planning Services Manager has responded to a letter and the petition. Their letter is a detailed history of the planning process in relation to the bridge and a summary of the possible options and why, in the council planning office's view, they are not appropriate. Read the letter (this will open as a word document).
Sainsbury's have responded to the petition by saying that they are in discussions with 'stakeholders' about 'softening the appearance' of the bridge. Read the letter (this will open as a word document).
Online petition
Please sign your name on our petition to take action to change the footbridge.
You can enter your name on the online petition - we have now collected 630 signatures on the paper petition.
We now have 290 signatures on the website petition. These are some of the comments that people have made:
"I am a regular visitor to Matlock and I am very sad that the station area has been spoiled by the footbridge"
"I am amazed that such a hideous structure should have been permitted in such a lovely setting."
"I can't believe that planning permission could have been granted to deface an historic, listed site like this!"
"People who have difficulty in walking or use wheelchairs need a FLAT approach and entrance to Sainsbury's, not an obstacle course!"
"I moved from Matlock 2 years ago after spending most of my life there and was shocked to see the pictures."
"The Council should be big enough to admit it has got this wrong, and then listen to local people about how to change it."
"Shocking when first viewed coming back to the town. A real poor first impression of an otherwise lovely town."
"It is important that we consider people in wheelchairs but I feel this is not the answer. It is not easy for wheelchair users to travel and blights the area."
"The station buildings, station house and even the stone wall, all had character and made a pleasant approach to the station. All this has been spoiled"
"It is a most brutal structure and completely out of place."
"My family visit Matlock nine or ten times a year and I can't understand how such a monstrosity was allowed in the first place. For a town that is a picturesque tourist destination, to approve such an eyesore is beyond belief."
"The bridge is unsightly and no-one with any planning sensitivity would have allowed it to be built over the station."
"I have been involved in environmental improvements to the Derwent Valley Line, but this flies in the face of all our care for the heritage of the stations."
"Let's see how long it takes to get vandalised or see how long it takes to be on YouTube"
You can also read all of the comments we have had online. (This will open as a word document.)