Find out about us, what we do and how we do it on this page.
Who we are
We are essentially a group of people with an interest and love of Chesterfield and the surrounding area. We want to:
- Promote high standards of planning and architecture throughout the area
- To learn as much as possible about the geography, history, natural history and architecture of the area, and disseminate this knowledge as widely as possible.
- Secure the preservation, protection, development and improvement of features of historic or public interest in the area.
We are a registered charity – number 507458.
Our aims
Our aims and objectives are set-out in our constitution – a copy of which is downloadable at the bottom of this section. Practically our aims include:
- Preserving buildings, monuments and places of natural beauty
- Regenerating life in town centres and utilising urban wasteland
- Encouraging good architecture and town planning by vigilant examination of proposals
- Criticising, discouraging and opposing the destruction of amenities, bad planning and poor design
- Co-operating with local authorities and organisations with similar aims – local, regional and national
- Protecting civic amenities
- Encouraging a sense of citizenship and pride in our town and district.
Download a copy of our current constitution below.
Our committee
Our day-to-day administration is run by a small committee drawn from our membership.
The committee meets around very two months. The Committee Members are:
- Howard Borrell – Chairman
- Frank Gorman – Secretary and Treasurer
- Janet Murphy
- Diana Allen
- Darrell Clarke
- Philip Cousins
Members of the committee must be members of the civic society unless they are a member of an affiliated society (and elected by that society to represent it). The latter may have a representative who is a full committee member.
Contact our committee via our contacts page.
How we work
We work by identifying areas of interest or concern relating to our aims. This may include wider ‘civic’ type issues such as the impact on civic life of council budget changes or of any electoral boundary alterations. This is additional to more traditional issues such as planning matters, building design, regeneration, etc.
We prefer to work with local stakeholders (including councils and developers) but won’t be afraid to criticise if we feel the need.
We often comment on local planning applications – particularly where these involve listed buildings, conservation areas or are major in their scope.
We would normally work via our committee, who are responsible to our membership principally through an annual general meeting, held in the autumn of every year.
We keep our members informed through newsletters and meetings. We engage with members of the public via this website, our Facebook page, blue plaques scheme media releases and publications and occasional public meetings.
Why not join us helping to make the area a better place to live.
Page last updated 5 December 2023.