Walking Survey Feedback: CH room ST108 by Jane Hager

Education

2023-11-16 14:39:14 UTC

The provision of education: there is many schools, college, a university centre within Chesterfield college and a university (derby).

Plus the library offers courses on I.T plus holds mini courses for anyone to access.

2023-11-16 14:39:16 UTC

There are services available to individuals in need.

It is a fairly diverse community

2023-11-16 14:40:20 UTC

There's a lack of funding in the town centre

The town centres atmosphere is declining and shops are moving out of the centre

2023-11-16 14:40:32 UTC

There was a market with fresh fruit and veg.

There was lots of adequate transport links.

2023-11-16 14:40:55 UTC

Loads of cobbles everywhere

Uneven surfaces

2023-11-16 14:41:11 UTC

A public petition to get signatures to take to parliament about the fighting in Gaza

2023-11-16 14:41:17 UTC

Homelessness is a problem in the town centre

2023-11-16 14:41:29 UTC

Good transport links-train station, bus station, close to motorway.
Museum, library and theatre.
Good provision of education-chesterfield college, university of derby etc.

2023-11-16 14:41:39 UTC

Socialising, although there were many buildings and shops shut. Lots of small independent businesses were busy

The volume of students.

2023-11-16 14:41:41 UTC

So a mass volume of college students plus our university students. Chesterfield is education rich town that has a thriving popularity of students accessing educational facilities.

2023-11-16 14:41:42 UTC

A lot of closed shops

2023-11-16 14:41:43 UTC

A lot of public transport around the community to allow access to most areas.

Buses run directly to the main hospital to enable access. There are many parks that are renovated and accommodate all ages. A lot of parks to enable walks and fitness. Buses are capped at £2 fare to make it more affordable.

2023-11-16 14:42:00 UTC

There were a large amount of individuals who appeared to be homeless, individuals were drinking in the street.

More accessibility for disabled people

2023-11-16 14:43:02 UTC

2023-11-16 14:43:20 UTC

Lots of community groups available that were signposted fairly well in the library and tourist information centre etc. Groups available for vulnerable people to meet others and get help - dementia groups and safe places at the library. Available and diverse health resources. Lots of religious buildings for different religions. Market area - good for socialising and getting people out the house.

2023-11-16 14:43:24 UTC

Alcohol dependence support ?

A mixture.

2023-11-16 14:44:38 UTC

Poverty: Empty shops, homeless, anti social behaviours in certain areas of the town centre. (Beetwell street, the back of the spire, market areas) Unclean, shabby town centre.

Accessibility: Cobbles throughout the town and uneven floor. People struggle with mobility issues.

Parks and public spaces

2023-11-16 14:44:49 UTC

Queens Park is very well maintained, easily accessible for all ages and abilities, has flat walkways and a bridge from the town centre. Holds events regularly including pride Festival, has a cricket pitch that hosts local games, has a tearoom, 2 play areas including a sand pit, brand new leisure centre has opened which offered refuge during the flooding, is lit but not very bright due to the tree coverage

2023-11-16 14:45:47 UTC

The volunteer centre serving chesterfield and NE Derbyshire provides practical support for vulnerable people with recent hospital admission or at risk of being admitted and elder friends befriending service.

2023-11-16 14:46:26 UTC

Empty shops

The line between education and poverty

2023-11-16 14:46:43 UTC

Although the educational opportunities in Chestefield are prevalent, more can be done to support individuals in achieving their potential, and assist in lifting the poverty within the town.

Due to troubled upbringings or personal struggles, some individuals who are young to middle aged may not have had a full education, by providing out reach services and incentives (such as assistance with meals as adult learners) can motivate them into improving themselves.

General education can also help in other areas of health promotion, through increased literacy and developing critical thinking, can help individuals make healthier choices.

2023-11-16 14:46:55 UTC

Lots of empty units, shops moving away from the centre because of cost. Very expensive car parking - makes people not want to come to town. Increase in homeless people in last 5 years or so - lack of resources to support them in a town. Lack of new industry so the high street dies and independent shops close and big franchises move in. Lack of opportunities for young people to work despite having successful college close to town.

2023-11-16 14:47:00 UTC

A lot of people protesting and asking to sign petitions

2023-11-16 14:47:10 UTC

A lot of socialising

Challenges to the community.

2023-11-16 14:47:48 UTC

Uneven cobble, some shops not being wheel chair accessible due to space inside the shop, their is homeless, people n surrounding areas, a lot of the smell of cannabis on the streets, buildings vandalised with graffiti and lots of cigarettes on the floor, retail parks with lack of accessibility back to the bus route. A lot of empty buildings. The amount of fast food shops available in one area.

Empty buildings

2023-11-16 14:47:52 UTC

Whilst on our walk around we noticed a large amount of empty buildings one including a church, Chesterfield have invested heavily on rejuvenation but can't keep up with the rate of shops shutting

2023-11-16 14:48:47 UTC

Lots of dogs and dog friendly places - might help people leave the house if they can take their dog but if someone doesn’t like dogs they may stay away.

Lots of banks and building societies still open when other towns don’t have many open still at all.

2023-11-16 14:50:37 UTC

Very busy market, allows people to socialise and support independent shops. Lots of public transport, allows people to get to most parts of chesterfield with good frequency.

2023-11-16 14:50:50 UTC

We noticed a large amount of elderly individuals, in the town centre their is nothing relating to health needs apart from several pharmacies where they can get advice and leaflets which they could pick up however they was all small font, with email addresses which some may not no how to use

Education to be a building brick to deter poverty.

2023-11-16 14:51:15 UTC

Educating people, especially in a trade or toward a profession, increases the chance of the individual securing paid employment. This in turn pays society back by investing in the local area, with a secure job, a person can afford to live, which means a home - not homeless. Generating income for the economy with taxes. Bringing stability to their life. Reducing the chance of alcoholism/ drug use. Although on the other hand - this does not mean a person will not do these things . But a person with stability because of the education to provide a trade/job and wage does lessen the effects on poverty and offers a contribution to society.

Standing out

2023-11-16 14:51:18 UTC

The dementia garden, however closed and currently unmaintained, was a nice idea. Theirs a lot of buildings unmaintained, with graffiti and lots of smells of cannabis, and fast food shops, the library was a really good resource and has links and flyers to keeping things accessible, and socialisations.

Inflation

2023-11-16 14:51:45 UTC

The rising costs of food and necessities across the country is also rife in Chesterfield, this shows in the amount of empty shop windows, caused by declining sales from a suffering market and luxary-reluctant clientèle. It also shows through the lack of individuals visiting Chestefield as an outing, as someone familiar with the area, the faces remain the same, those of locals. The pubs are one of the few places which remain mostly unaffected from the outside, however even they are suffering, such as the spa lane weatherspoons is due to close.

2023-11-16 14:53:35 UTC

Lack of accessibility for disabled people in some shops and uneven roads. No safe space for clean needles. Lack of defib, not well signposted to the ones they do have.

Not enough public toilets or public benches available.