Have Your Say on Whitwell’s Parish Boundary
Whitwell Parish Council is asking its electors to support a request for a review of the parish boundary between Whitwell and Hodthorpe & Belph so that the boundary better reflects local identity, connections, and everyday life in Whitwell. Please sign the petition at Whitwell Community Centre.
Published: 28 April 2026
Why is this important?
- When Hodthorpe & Belph became a separate parish, Whitwell residents were not properly consulted on where the boundary should be set.
- The boundary was placed along the Robin Hood railway line, which Whitwell Parish Council believes was an arbitrary starting point rather than a considered decision.
- The last boundary review in 2012 did not take into account the future development of the former Whitwell Colliery site, which will have a disproportionate impact on Whitwell.
Why does this matter?
Although the site is currently in Hodthorpe & Belph Parish, it is naturally connected to Whitwell, where the impact will be felt. Future residents will rely on Whitwell for:
- Primary education (Whitwell Primary School)
- Shops and services (Co-op, Post Office, local businesses)
- Healthcare (Whitwell Health Centre)
- Leisure and community facilities
- Public transport, including Whitwell train station
The development provides no direct connection to Hodthorpe village and has been designed to avoid changing its character.
How will Whitwell be affected?
- The development, which will include over 400 new homes, employment land, green space and community facilities, will place increased pressure on Whitwell’s services and infrastructure.
- Hodthorpe & Belph’s population would more than double, while Whitwell’s population would increase by only 20–25%.
- ⚠️Most impacts—traffic, schools, health services, and local facilities—will be felt in Whitwell.
What is being proposed?
Whitwell Parish Council is proposing that the parish boundary be amended to include the former Whitwell Colliery site within Whitwell Parish (see maps below of the current boundary and proposed new boundary).
Why change the boundary?
- It reflects how the community actually functions.
- It allows decisions to be made by the parish most affected.
- It does not affect voting fairness.
- The site has always been historically and locally associated with Whitwell.
What can you do?
✍️ Support the Petition
By supporting the petition, you are asking Bolsover District Council to carry out a Community Governance Review so that the boundary better reflects local identity, connections, and everyday life in Whitwell.
📍 This petition is for electors of Whitwell Parish
