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Latest News: Ghost hunter wants to be a councillor ........ Councillors claimed nearly £790,000 in allowances ........ Bus station opening is delayed again ........ Swing Bridge in line for an award ........ The former Debenhams building is set to be a furniture store ........ Council planning failure ........ Three sites have been shortlisted for the new Council House ........ £456,000 English Heritage grant for repairs to Elvaston Castle ........

CREATOR OF CITY'S GHOST WALKS WANTS TO BE A COUNCILLOR
Richard FelixLocal historian Richard Felix is to stand for the Labour party in the next Derby City Council elections and will be the party's candidate for Darley ward at the 2010 local elections next May. The former chairman of Derby's Chamber of Trade has already worked with Derby's Labour group on campaigns such as a petition to keep open city centre toilets. Mr Felix said that, as someone who cares deeply about Derby, he wanted to make a difference locally.... more >>>
COUNCILLORS CLAIMED NEARLY £790,000 IN ALLOWANCES
Derby CrestCouncillors cost taxpayers in Derby nearly £790,000 in allowances and mileage claims in the past year. Figures for 2008-09 have been released showing how much each city councillor claimed in travel expenses and how much they were paid for their work. They insisted their expense claims withstood scrutiny. Councillors are allowed to claim for miles they travel in their own cars to attend council meetings and other council-related work and the mileage rate ranges from 46.9 per mile to 58.7p.... more >>>
BUS STATION OPENING IS DELAYED AGAIN
New bus stationDerby's new bus station will not open by the end of the year as promised, due to building delays. The project has faced problems with planning disputes, administrative delays and the recession. The city council said developers had now predicted the station would open by early 2010. Officials also admitted they had not agreed a charge for using the facility with the bus companies. The city council also confirmed it intended to charge buses to use the station as a way of paying for maintenance and security.... more >>>
SWING BRIDGE TO NOWHERE IN LINE FOR AWARD
Swing BridgeThe swing bridge across the River Derwent is one of two pieces of county architecture short-listed for an award from the Prime Minister. The footbridge at Cathedral Green, which opened in April, is one of 24 buildings and bridges in the running for the Prime Minister's Better Public Building Award. The short-listing panel said that the bridge in Cathedral Green, designed by Ramboll, was an elegant pedestrian and cycle swing bridge creating both a link and a meeting place.... more >>>
FORMER DEBENHAMS BUILDING TO BE FURNITURE STORE
DebenhamsThe former Debenhams building is due to reopen as a furniture superstore. Star Furnishings, of Long Eaton, is moving into the building, which has been empty since Debenhams moved to the Westfield Centre. A number of developers had expressed an interest in buying the building, which is owned by Westfield, but the recession has made investors shy away from large-scale schemes. Westfield is still searching for someone to buy the building.... more >>>
COUNCIL PLANNING FAILURE
City GateCouncil officers failed to post adverts in the local press about sixty major building projects. This means members of the public were less likely to be aware of them and raise any objections before approval was granted. Council rules state that if four or more complaints are made, plans have to be discussed by councillors at a public meeting instead of being approved privately by officers. Councillor Paul Bayliss said, "It's an absolute disaster for democracy and for the city council.".... more >>>
SHORTLISTED SITES FOR NEW COUNCIL HOUSE
Council HouseThree city centre sites have been shortlisted as the location for a potential new Council House. The three sites involved are the former police and magistrates court in Full Street, Heritage Gate and the Riverlights development. The companies behind each site are to be asked to submit proposals to provide either a large office building to be the council's new headquarters in place of the present one, or a smaller building to complement a refurbished Council House.... more >>>
ENGLISH HERITAGE GRANT FOR CASTLE REPAIRS
Elvaston CastleElvaston Castle's historic gardens are to undergo much-needed repair work thanks to a £456,000 English Heritage grant. A condition of the grant, which will cover 80% of the cost of the remedial work, is that the area of land is not sold for at least 15 years and that it remains open to the public. Many of the listed buildings within the estate have fallen into a state of disrepair over recent years, and it is estimated that the repair work needed will cost £800,000.... more >>>
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