Derbyshire community’s war memorial destroyed in car crash

16/01/2024

A Derbyshire parish has had its war memorial destroyed for the second time in two years after a car collided with it. The memorial, which remembers those who died in the First and Second World War, is located on Norbriggs Road, in Woodthorpe, near Chesterfield [1]. Derbyshire police were called to reports of a collision in the Woodthorpe area [2] at around 4.30am on Saturday, January 13.

At the scene, a VW Passat was found to have collided with a war memorial and a wall. In 2022, a similar incident happened after a car crashed into the monument, destroying it in the process. North East Derbyshire MP [3] Lee Rowley expressed his frustration at the memorial yet again being damaged. POLL: What’s the best thing to do in Derbyshire on a rainy day?[4]

Mr Rowley said: “I’m not sure exactly what words to use on this – sad, frustrated and worrying all only cover it to some extent. It is particularly sad, frustrating and worrying given that the memorial had only recently been reinstalled following a similar issue several years ago. “I feel very sorry for the village and I’m very sorry to everyone who has been impacted by this, particularly the houses nearest to it.

I’ve already spoken to Staveley Town Councillors and will be raising with Derbyshire County Council this week, too. We also need to try to get the wall fixed as quickly as possible.” A spokesperson for Derbyshire police added: “The driver of the vehicle, a man in his 30s, was taken to hospital for what are understood to be non-life-threatening injuries.

A man in his 30s was arrested on suspicion of drink driving and has been released on bail while enquires continue.”

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References

^ Norbriggs Road, in Woodthorpe, near Chesterfield (www.derbytelegraph.co.uk)
^ Woodthorpe area (www.derbytelegraph.co.uk)
^ North East Derbyshire MP (www.derbytelegraph.co.uk)
^ What’s the best thing to do in Derbyshire on a rainy day? (xd.wayin.com)
^ the main Derbyshire Live newsletter here (www.derbytelegraph.co.uk)