Plans unveiled to restore vital stretch of historic Chesterfield Canal after coronavirus delays

Plans have been pitched to restore another key stretch of the Chesterfield Canal after work on the project was halted by the coronavirus pandemic.
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A planning application for the restoration of the remainder of the waterway which falls within Chesterfield borough – a 1.6-mile section from Staveley to the edge of Renishaw – has been submitted.

Volunteers at the Chesterfield Canal Trust say the completed canal towpath will provide a ‘delightful walking and cycling route’ which will link up with the Trans-Pennine Trail and other routes.

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The bid is part of their ambitious goal to open up the canal from Chesterfield to the River Trent in time for the historic waterway’s 250th anniversary in 2027.

Volunteers at Staveley Town Lock when it was opened by the trust.Volunteers at Staveley Town Lock when it was opened by the trust.
Volunteers at Staveley Town Lock when it was opened by the trust.

It is also hoped planning permission will allow the trust to gain greater leverage on the route of a proposed spur of high speed rail line HS2 to a maintenance depot near Staveley.

The news has been welcomed by councillors in the Staveley area, who believe it could be a shot in the arm to attract new investment and visitors.

Councillor Dean Rhodes, deputy leader of Staveley Town Council, said: “I am all for the Chesterfield Canal and will support the volunteers in any way I can.

Chesterfield Canal Trust held a public consultation at Hollingwood Hub when the plans were initially unveiled before the pandemic.Chesterfield Canal Trust held a public consultation at Hollingwood Hub when the plans were initially unveiled before the pandemic.
Chesterfield Canal Trust held a public consultation at Hollingwood Hub when the plans were initially unveiled before the pandemic.
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“Everyone I’ve spoken to about this is in favour of it and thinks the volunteers down there do an amazing job.

“It helps promote the area and will hopefully bring in more visitors. It’s a lovely walking area and a lot of people use it.

“The town council is working hard to bring investment to Staveley as a deprived area and positive developments like this can only help.”

Staveley puddlebank, part of the route the trust wants to restore next.Staveley puddlebank, part of the route the trust wants to restore next.
Staveley puddlebank, part of the route the trust wants to restore next.

Councillor Mick Bagshaw, Chesterfield borough councillor for Hollingwood, said he ‘fully supported’ the application and the work of the volunteers.

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“This work will fit in with our hopes and ambitions to increase footfall, tourism and lift the profile of Staveley,” he said.

“The transport links that this and the proposed Staveley By-pass application, Barrow Hill passenger line reopening and potential government grant of £25,000 would fast-track our aims of putting Stavely on track to attract further investment and large retailers into the area.”

The canal’s route from Staveley to Renishaw, which falls under the planning application, is mostly through open countryside.

Chesterfield Canal Trust held a public consultation at Hollingwood Hub when the plans were initially unveiled before the pandemic.Chesterfield Canal Trust held a public consultation at Hollingwood Hub when the plans were initially unveiled before the pandemic.
Chesterfield Canal Trust held a public consultation at Hollingwood Hub when the plans were initially unveiled before the pandemic.

Part of it sits on the Staveley Puddlebank, an embankment running for nearly half-a-mile across the Doe Lea river valley. The canal will cross the river on a 37m long aqueduct.

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George Rogers, who as development manager is the canal trust’s first ever paid employee, says the aqueduct is one of a number of engineering challenges on the route.

“The route is complex and interesting and features five different land owners,” he said when the plans were first unveiled.

“This makes it difficult to accurately come up with a price tag for the work, but it is likely to be £6-7million.”

The trust will build another lock at Staveley to complement Staveley Town Lock which was constructed several years ago.

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Trust publicity officer Rod Auton said: “Altogether the trust has spent well over £200,000 on its work on this site. Derbyshire County Council’s Reclamation Department has also sunk considerable funds into the project which, along with the Loop Road, has totally transformed the area.

“The canal is integral to the local landscape and the trust is discussing how the restoration is central to the vision for Staveley currently being developed as part of the Towns Fund.

“Staveley is one of 101 towns allocated up to £25m each to support capital regeneration projects, and the trust believes that this application should be one of the chosen projects.”

Before the pandemic, trust volunteers were planning to start restoration work at Renishaw on a further kilometre of canal.

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“The hope is that this work can start in the autumn,” Rod said.

“When both sections are complete, they will extend the canal within Derbyshire by two-and-a-half miles.”

Rod says it is likely that cancelling events such as the trust’s walking festival because of Covid-19 has cost it around £50,000.

He added: “We have reserves, so the trust is not currently threatened financially, but it is immensely frustrating that we do not have our usual income.

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“More importantly, it is frustrating that we are not introducing folk to the canal on our boats, at Hollingwood Hub, at our festivals, horseboating demonstrations with Dawn Rose and so on.

“Most of our regular volunteers are just desperate to be able to get back to what they love doing. Many are missing the companionship that is such an important part of volunteering.

“We are definitely not expecting business as usual for a very long time.”

The plans will be decided upon at a future meeting of Chesterfield Borough Council.

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