Expansion of village conservation areas sought

Conservation area status was originally given to historic buildings and their settings in the area in 1981. A draft document has now been drawn up which proposes two extensions to these conservation areas – first, to include a small 1989 addition to the churchyard at the medieval St Nicholas Parish Church in High Bradfield, and also to add the 97-year-old water filter station site in Low Bradfield.

The water filter station was built in 1913 to purify water from Strines, Dale Dike and Agden reservoirs. It closed in 1995 when a new water treatment works was built and is now dilapidated, but it has a classical-influenced facade and is a prominent feature of Low Bradfield.

The Peak District National Park Authority is now recommending it should be repaired.

There are 109 conservation areas in the Peak District National Park, all of which are reviewed periodically. This draft "Conservation Area Appraisal" relating to High and Low Bradfield is available for public comment until Friday, January 29.

Residents are invited to drop in to the village hall in Low Bradfield on Wednesday, January 20, any time between 4pm and 7.30pm, to talk to conservation officers.

People can also view the document online on the Peak District National Park Authority website, at the Post Office in Woodfall Lane, Low Bradfield, at Bradfield Parish Council, or at the National Park headquarters at Aldern House, Baslow Road, Bakewell.

Written comments should be sent to the Historic Buildings Team at that address, or emailed to [email protected].