The complex Clay Cross town centre regeneration scheme had been planned for over 20 years as a joint proposal between North East Derbyshire District Council and GMI. An extensive Compulsory Purchase Order and Orders under the Highways Act were required, which meant that a public inquiry was needed. Understandably, the local community had doubts that their new facilities would ever get off the ground.
Therefore, in addition to the pre-planning public consultation on the scheme over several years, GMI decided to organise a series of Community Open Days to give updates on the scheme progress, celebrate Clay Cross – past present and future – and to consult local people on what they wanted the public art to reflect and represent about the local area.
GMI, NEDDC and the incoming superstore operator, Tesco, also undertook projects with local schools to make sure that the town centre scheme’s positive influence could spread to the wider area.
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Peter Gilman and Cllr Pete Riggott meet with members of Chesterfield Football Club at the Community Open Day – the footballers spent the afternoon meeting members of the community and local children
Local History workshops were well attended, given by well known local historian Cliff Williams in February and in August a ‘Trace Your Rail Ancestors’ workshop was run by leading rail history expert Dr Di Drummond, Reader in History at Leeds Trinity University College
School students display their work at a Clay Cross Open Day, with GMI Chairman Peter Gilman and sculptor Peter Maris
GMI have retained talented local photographer Geoff Hicks to maintain a photographic record of the town centre development in its setting within wider Clay Cross
New Tesco recruits helped out with re-painting Holmgate Primary School and Nursery with GMI Construction showing the ropes and organising the site’s health and safety regime. This community project formed part of NEDDC’s and Tesco’s regeneration partnership, initiated to bring long term unemployed people back into work.
The Leader, Deputy Leader and local councillors from North East Derbyshire District Council watch as local schoolchildren assist in preparation of a new mural for Clay Cross
Chester assists painter Tony Donnelly in painting the new 40 ft mural at the Open Day
The mural is now prominently displayed on the acoustic fencing around the new foodstore, adjacent to a new footpath link and overlooking a main road into the town
Local historian Cliff Williams, Robert Gratton, President of the Ashover Light Railway Society, Peter Maris and Carolyn Lord with a sculpture celebrating sports and social life in Clay Cross
Peter Maris’s sculpture ‘the Hands’: 1.1 metre square magnesian limestone carving
Peter Maris has a dedicated workshop in Clay Cross, provided by GMI and North East Derbyshire District Council
Carving produced by Chloe, a student at Tupton Hall school, based on the local railway tunnel arches
Sixth Form student, Konrad produced a carving of the Church at an art session run in his school by Peter Maris, which Konrad then finished at the Open Day workshop sessions.
Finishing touches at a Clay Cross Community Open Day
Secondary school visitors from Leeds visited the town centre scheme Open Day in February 2008
School children at the February Open Day produced artwork based on the New Bridge Street logo
The temporary hoardings for Phase II of the New Bridge Street scheme, advertises to supermarket shoppers how close Clay Cross centre is to the car park
Children try out the Chesterfield FC goal kicking speed equipment
GMI’s Carolyn Lord with Chester the Field Mouse, the official mascot of Chesterfield FC, who visited the Open Day for an afternoon