Thousands more young people are to get help with travel costs after Derbyshire councillors gave the thumbs up to the new b_line scheme.

Plans have been approved to extend b_line − introduced in 2001 – to include all young people aged up to 19 living in Derbyshire. Previously only students in full-time education qualified for the reduction on adult bus and rail fares.

Now, from Saturday 1 August 2015, apprentices and those on training courses or looking for work will also qualify for the discount on local bus and train services – extending the benefit to an extra 6,000 young people.

Councillors also agreed to withdraw the travel discount for the under 16s who instead will qualify for the bus or train operators’ own cut-price tickets. In most cases these are currently better than or match the b_line discount.

Councillor Dean Collins, cabinet member for highways, transport and infrastructure, said:

“Since b_line started there are more options, other than more traditional study, open to young people and the extension of our b_line scheme, to include wider groups of young people, reflects this.

“b_line is an optional scheme and although we are having to make unprecedented cuts we recognise the importance of supporting young people in getting out and about, particularly when they may be making the challenging step from education to training or work.”

Under the new scheme the two types of card will be:

b_line1 − an orange card for 11 to 16-year-olds. This provides proof that the cardholder is entitled to a child fare or operators’ discount.

b_line2 − a purple card for 16-year-olds up to 19th birthday. This gets the cardholder 25 per cent off adult fares on all bus and train journeys in Derbyshire and on some trips to nearby towns and cities that start or finish within the county.

For those attending Derbyshire or Derby city schools new cards will, in most cases, be issued automatically through schools. Other eligible young people will need to complete a b_line application form.

b_line is run in partnership with Derby City Council. Both cards also entitle the cardholder to discounts at around 600 local shops and other businesses and to borrow at any Derbyshire or Derby City library.

Long-serving defender Drew Talbot has committed his future to Chesterfield by signing a new one-year contract.

After putting pen to paper, Talbot said:

“I had a career-threatening injury, but I’m over that now and I’m raring to go. Chesterfield have always been good to me – especially over the last 18 months – and I wanted to repay their faith in me.

“I had a couple of offers to go elsewhere and I could have gone for a lot more money, but I love it here and it means I don’t have to move.

“It’s an exciting time. The manager has tried to sign me in the past and I was interested to hear his plans for the club.”

Spireites boss Dean Saunders said: “I’m really pleased to have kept Drew because I can rely on him and that’s the type of character I want. He’ll run through a brick wall for you.”

Talbot, who joined the Spireites after leaving Luton Town six years ago, has made over 200 appearances for the club. After regaining full fitness last season, he had a successful spell on loan at Plymouth Argyle.

A week-long event starting on Saturday 23rd May will see Chatsworth’s water features played in all their original glory this half term holiday with the Emperor fountain expected to reach a staggering height of 200 feet – the equivalent of 14 double decker buses!

As well as the Emperor fountain – which was named after Tsar Nicholas I Emperor of Russia in anticipation of a visit that never took place – visitors will be able to enjoy the impressive site of water tumbling over the roof of the Cascade house before it flows over the stone slabs created to mimic the sound of music.

Another water feature to look out for this May Bank Holiday is the Willow Tree Fountain. Designed as a practical joke when it was first ‘planted’ in its own little dell back in the 17th century, the copper tree often catches out the unwary with its spurts of water.

Free waterworks tours will take place five times a day, starting from the Cascade house and culminating in a countdown as a member of the public is invited to turn up the Emperor fountain to its full 200 feet, more than double its usual playing height of 75 feet.

Chatsworth’s Paul Hayes said: “These water features rarely get played to this level, the last time we had them all on was for the Queen’s visit last year. It’s an amazing opportunity to see them in their full glory as they were originally intended to be viewed.

“To give an idea of how impressive the plume from the Emperor Fountain will be, it’s likely spray can be felt in the car park if the wind blows in the right direction!”

Also on offer over the weekend will be bee themed activities in the Stickyard; a new educational space in the garden, where a series of hands on fun activities looking at native bees will be taking place, and packs of bee friendly plant seeds will be handed out for visitors to plant at home.

Councillor Barry Bingham became the town’s 375th mayor at a ceremony held at Chesterfield Town Hall this week.

Councillor Bingham was raised in Old Whittington and New Whittington and he worked at the Staveley Coal, Iron and Chemical Company for 38 years.

He has served as a Liberal Democrat councillor since 2007 and was re-elected as councillor for the Barrow Hill and New Whittington ward at the borough elections held on 7 May.
Councillor Bingham says: “I am honoured and very proud to become Chesterfield’s mayor.”

“Over the course of the next year, I am particularly looking forward to meeting residents from across the borough and hearing their stories and experiences.”

Councillor Bingham’s wife, June, will serve as his mayoress for the coming year.

Mrs Bingham was also born and raised in Chesterfield and worked at Boots in the town centre for 40 years.

The couple married in 1977 at the same time as celebrations took place for the Queen’s Silver Jubilee.

Residents are invited to attend the civic service at St Mary and All Saints’ Church, the Cooked Spire, on Saturday 23 May from 11am.

There will be a civic procession from the Town Hall to the church. Anyone attending the service is asked to be seated for 10.40am before the arrival of the procession.

The service will be followed by a further procession from the church to the Town Hall. There is likely to be congestion in the town centre and the car parks around the Town Hall will also be closed until after the service.

The couple replace Councillor Alexis Diouf and his wife, Vickey-Anne, who served as mayor and mayoress during 2014/15.