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We're on track to clear the pothole backlog by mid-October, following significant investment in our highways service.
 Back in April, more than 16,000 potholes were waiting to be fixed. That number's now expected to drop below 3,000 by mid-October – bringing the service back to typical levels.
Since April, more than 26,000 potholes have been repaired. Additional improvements have included surface dressing, resurfacing, and large patch repairs on affected roads.
Are you aged over 66? With a Gold Card you can enjoy free travel on local buses, providing you with endless opportunities to get out and about.
Fancy popping out for a coffee and a catch-up with a friend? What about watching the latest film at the cinema? Or simply getting some fresh air while admiring the local views?
No matter how big or small the trip is, if it makes you smile, it's a trip worth taking.
Derbyshire’s Gold Card currently allows free travel on local buses in Derbyshire – and across the whole of England – from 9.30am up to 11pm on weekdays and at any time during weekends and on bank holidays.
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It's changed Billy Morley's – who joined our team of school crossing patrols nine years ago and, although he was very nervous, says the role has boosted his confidence.
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Billy, pictured, who is dyslexic, was supported by the service during the recruitment process.
He started as a relief patrol and then progressed to his own site and now helps children get to and from Wirksworth Junior School safely.
Working shorter shifts in the morning and afternoon also benefits Billy, who has scoliosis, as it means he doesn’t have to stand up for long periods of time.
If you might be interested in becoming a school crossing patrol please find out more and apply. There are currently 24 vacancies across the county.
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Our trading standards team has carried out another successful prosecution.
A business that runs a shop in Chesterfield has been fined £300 and ordered to pay £1,800 costs after admitting selling vapes to an underage person.
Adeal Ali, representing AM News Sheff Ltd. which trades as Spire News at 33 Burlington Street, Chesterfield, appeared before Southern Derbyshire Magistrates Court on Monday 6 October 2025 and pleaded guilty to a charge of selling nicotine inhaling products (vapes) to an underage person.
People wanting to report any suspicions of the sale of vapes to underage people or supply of illicit vapes should report them to the Citizens Advice consumer helpline telephone: 0808 2231133 or Crimestoppers telephone: 0800 555111.
Stoptober is the national campaign encouraging people to stop smoking – and Live Life Better Derbyshire is here to help you if you want to quit.
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The service offers free expert advice, tools and support to help you quit for good.
Quitting brings major health benefits, from reducing the risk of cancer and heart disease to improving mental wellbeing.
You can also save lots of money!
Support is available to manage withdrawal symptoms and there's even a local Smokefree Facebook group for encouragement and shared experiences.
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Buxton Museum and Art Gallery has found a temporary home, thanks to a funding boost.
The museum has welcomed £77,000 funding from Arts Council England which will make it possible for it to move to a more suitable venue.
The museum and art gallery's building in Terrace Road closed due to structural concerns in 2023.
An interim service has been in place since then which has included events and displays as well as travelling pop-ups, alongside boosting the museum’s presence online.
The money is to be used to support moving the interim service into a larger, self-contained, dedicated space on the Buxton Library site in Kents Bank Road, giving more room for displays, exhibitions and events, and making it more accessible for visitors to view collections.
If you use Somercotes library please be aware the branch will be closing temporarily for five months from Monday 10 November.
This is due to nearby building work which is affecting the delivery of the service.
The library is based on the Somerlea Park Junior School campus on Bank Street, Somercotes, which is currently undergoing a complete redevelopment.
The disruption has had a negative impact on the running of the library, with activities disturbed, which has led to the decision to close the library until the beginning of April 2026.
Meanwhile, nearby Pinxton Library will extend its hours and increased activities will be offered at Pinxton and South Normanton libraries.
Alfreton Library is open six days a week and is an eight-minute bus journey from Somercotes (using the Nines bus route which runs every 15 minutes).
Books borrowed from Somercotes Library can be returned to any Derbyshire library, and Somercotes Library users will be able to keep the books they have without incurring overdue charges during the closure.
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High Peak Buses will now be the operator of several bus services in and around Crich.
The services – bus numbers 140, 141, 142, 143, 143a and the 319 – connect local people with several schools and larger towns for shopping and employment.
The buses were previously run by Stagecoach but following a competitive procurement exercise will now be run by High Peak Buses, trading as Hulleys by High Peak Buses, with us providing the funding.
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