20/02/2024
** STATEMENT **
Having been thrusted unfairly into the public eye this afternoon by Jan Stanley and without speaking to us first to get both sides of the story, we would like to make a Public Announcement regarding the closure of the alleged public right of way, from the Trans Pennine Trail to what is commonly known as the old railway goods yard, off St Mary’s Street, Pen*stone, i.e. the blocking of the gate.
Firstly, there isn’t a public access between our site and the Trans Pennine Trail. The gate opens on to our Private Land. And secondly in a conveyance dated March 1994, between BMBC and the previous owners of the Coal Drop land, it clearly states and was agreed by the Council’s Solicitors, that a solid boundary, running the full length of our commercial site would be erected and maintained at all times by BMBC preventing any access onto the private land for the entirety of the lease. The Council are in breach of their agreement and Sarah Ford, Senior Rights of Way Officer at BMBC is fully aware of this and as confirmed in our previous meetings and email correspondence. The land has been available to purchase for many years and if public access was a concern for the Council, then maybe they should have considered purchasing it before we did? But they didn’t, as they knew they would have to acquire a 2nd land owning to enable the public to get to the adopted highway. If the Council were so intent in owning the land, they could also have provided parking, free or otherwise, but once again they chose not to.
But in February 2023 we did and for a considerable sum with a view of turning what is a redundant piece of wasteland, along with the historical coal arches and signal house into something that will enhance the market town of Pen*stone and bring benefit, both for employment and recreational use.
We pride ourselves in straight and honest actions and have demonstrated this over the many years of being in business. We turned the David Browns redundant site, into a successful Business Park creating lots of employment and helping start-up companies and we intend to do the same at the Coal Drops site.
It is wrong and unfair how the Council and certain individuals, i.e. Jan Stanley have tried to blacken our name in such a way. It would be irresponsible to leave the said gate open which would give access to an ongoing construction site which would be a Health & Safety and security risk.
For those who point out that our current construction fence does not include the gate in question, we would like to point out that this boundary was left short on purpose to enable use of the gate for as long as possible. It is only now when we have to make use of the site that we have pressed the council to fulfil their obligations. Public access to the businesses on St Mary’s Street can still be accessed by using the official public access which is 40 yards further up.
It is our intention that should we be successful with providing our finished scheme, we would be looking to incorporate a 2nd access to the Trans Pennine Trail.
We have submitted first draft outline plans for pre consultation with BMBC and we will be putting this into the public domain in the near future.
We thank you who support the scheme and can see the benefits of what we are trying to create for the community of Pen*stone.
