The Herald Newspaper in Scotland has published an interview with Lord Hattersley, a former deputy leader of the Labour Party. Roy Hattersley, a well known Derbyshire Dales resident, believes that the Liberal Democrats are likely to be the coming force in British politics under the new leadership of Jo Swinson.

A recently published report from Derbyshire Dales District Council has shown that the air on Buxton Road Ashbourne has levels of pollution that are on average almost 20% above the suggested safe maximum. The pollutant in question is nitrogen dioxide (sometimes abbreviated to NOx) and is formed in vehicle engines, particularly older diesel engines. It is an internationally recognised hazard with EU legislation making 40ug m-3 the maximum long term exposure limit. It is associated with a variety of health conditions including respiratory diseases.

Both books are worth a read but it is to the rather less leisurely pursuit of trying to cross a busy road in Ashbourne, Derbyshire that this title refers.

All those with concerns about the climate emergency know that we should walk or cycle wherever possible in order to reduce the amount of pollution. However what do you do when to walk means you have to cross a very busy road? To drive would be safer for you and your family but that would make the journey of those who do not have that choice or who simply want to do 'the right thing' so much more dangerous by increasing the amount of traffic.

We request that Derbyshire County Council Highways Department urgently considers creating a pedestrian crossing on Clifton Road, Ashbourne. This road is frequently extremely busy and the single central refuge is inadequate to allow parents with children to cross the road in safety.

Ciick on the link to read the latest leaflets for your area

Ashbourne Focus 8 June/July 2019 pp4,1

Ashbourne Focus 8 June/July 2019 pp2,3

Matlock Focus 170 June 2019 pp4,1

Matlock Focus 170 June 2019 pp2,3

Matlock St Giles & Tansley Focus 168 pp4,1

Matlock St Giles & Tansley Focus 168 pp2,3

Litton and Longstone Focus 2 pp4,1

One of the problems for science teachers (I used to be a chemistry teacher) is trying to make complex ideas accessible without distorting the basic ideas involved. A poorly chosen phrase and you might need to spend an extra lesson or two trying to correct a misconception.

It is clear that in the wake of the success of the Brexit Party in the EU Elections that phrases such as 'clean Brexit', 'WTO terms' and 'No Deal Brexit' are being thrown out with no apparent thought as to exactly what they mean.

Another great night at the Count

After the initial verification process held at Wirksworth on Thursday, on Sunday night the action moved to the Town Hall in Matlock for the counting of votes from the whole of the Derbyshire Dales area in the May 2019 European Elections. It was clear early on as the piles of ballot papers grew that although the Brexit Party had the largest pile, the Lib Dems were clearly the second most popular party and, significantly, the piles for the Greens and the Lib Dems added together were greater than those of the Brexit party.

Here are some of the photos taken at the count. There are also a good selection on the Ashbourne News Telegraph website

It happens all the time in the Derbyshire market town of Ashbourne - two large vehicles meet each other in the narrow roads. It is usually the pavements that provide a way to pass each other (with pedestrians having to get out of the way) but on this occasion even the pavement didn't provide sufficient room and the two vehicles locked against each other causing traffic to back up through the town.

Now you see it, now you don't....

A very convenient bin, particulalrly for conscientious dog walkers, has disappeared. Located next to a bench celebrating players of Shrovetide Football and (fairly) regulalry emptied by the Distrct Council for several years, there is now just a plinth and some poorly directed pieces of litter to show where it once stood.