Plans? What plans?

Those travelling along Derby Road in Ashbourne might be surprised to see the road layout shown in the photo below at the entrance to a new estate being constructed by Cameron Homes (part of Tara Homes) on land adjacent to Hilltop to the SE of Ashbourne.

From a wider road layout at the junction with the busy Derby Road, the road narrows significantly on both sides, in a manner reminiscent of a ''road narrows' sign. The wide (?2m) tarmac pavement also appears to stop, with just a grass verge beyond this point.

This would appear to be at odds with the plans submitted and indeed with the Cameron brochure for their 'Sycamore park' development.

This is curious but much more importantly it poses significant issues for any one attempting to leave this new estate on foot. As we highlighted in a previous article here, Derbyshire Highways have already allowed the developer to make life difficult and dangerous for pedestrians wishing to walk or catch a bus. The County Council regarded it as acceptable that pedestrians were forced to cross the busy Derby Road to access the pavement that is only on the other side of the road. They believed that a short section of pavement leading to a dropped kerb was enough provision to enable people to achieve this in safety. . However even that has now disappeared! Although visible in the architects impression of the development there is now no dropped kerb, or even a pavement.

As it stands at the moment, a mother with a child in a pushchair wishing to visit the local shops on foot (they are only about 300m away) will need to stand in the road as she attempts to cross the busy Derby Road.

We have approached Cameron Homes for comment and will update this article if we receive a response.

Update! We have received a response, indicating that the sections of pavemment a;ong Derby Raod and the dropped kerbs will be completed, as indicated on the plans originally agreed. Hoever no explantion for the 'road narrowing' has been offered.