Have a say on canal project
MULTI-MILLION-POUND plans to restore a 20km stretch of a Derbyshire canal will be shown to the public in a series of exhibitions.
The Derby and Sandiacre Canal Trust expects an official consultation on its £45m proposals to begin this month.
And, in preparation for the move, it has set up seven meetings along the waterway's route, giving people the chance to see and comment on the plans.
The trust aims to rebuild the entire 12-and-a-half-mile stretch, which runs from Sandiacre to Swarkestone via Derby. It hopes to start and complete the restoration within the next 20 years.
The Derby and Sandiacre Canal would be linked to the Erewash Canal, at Sandiacre, and the Trent and Mersey Canal, at Swarkestone.
It would include a new marina on the 10-acre Acordis landfill site in Megaloughton Lane, Spondon, which has been derelict since 1960.
That site would have 250 homes, bars, cafes, restaurants and a hotel.
An outline planning application has been submitted but needs to get the go-ahead from Derby City Council, South Derbyshire District Council and Erewash Borough Council.
Paul Turner, founder chairman of the trust, said it was the first time in the UK that a whole canal application had been submitted for outline planning consent at once.
He said: "It impacts upon three separate local authorities' planning departments but we are confident of success as the authorities have supported the project since its inception – and have protected the route in their local plans."
Chris Madge, chairman of Derby and Sandiacre Canal Society, said three firms – including Heartwood Homes, the company behind the Acordis development – were waiting for outline permission to be granted before agreeing to build stretches of the canal.
The trust's five remaining public meetings, all starting at 7.30pm, are at St Mary's Church Hall, Draycott, on Wednesday, March 17; Longmoor School, Newstead Road, Long Eaton, on Thursday, March 18; St Hugh's Church Hall, Borrowash, on Tuesday, March 23; Blind Lane Scout Hut, Breaston, on Tuesday, March 30; and Shelton Lock Community Centre, Chellaston Road, on Wednesday, March 31.
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by observer2, Derby
Thursday, March 11 2010, 1:07PM
“I think this is a wonderful idea, and will totally enhance towns and villages, and closer links to the countryside.
Such a contrast to what has been happening with this so called uglified "regeneration" of Derby city centre...aside from the Roundhouse- which is lovely.”
by Ian, Long Eaton
Thursday, March 11 2010, 12:33PM
“This is a great idea and such a shame it's taken so long already. I hope they do more in the next 20 years than they've managed in the past 20.
My only concern lies with the "Draycott Ditch" stretch. From memory this was dug out using funds from the railways in order to stop water coming off the hills and flooding the railway. If this "ditch" becomes a canal and is therefore filled with water in the first place what happens to the run off. Do we end up with cancelled trains again due to flooding?”
by JH, Derby
Thursday, March 11 2010, 11:51AM
“We often use the old canal path for running because we can get down to Swarkestone and along to Aston on the canal. I've often thought it was a waste that it is no longer in operation. So I think it's great they are going to try to reopen it.
Ditto the comments about Birmingham. We hired a narrow boat from a place in Wolverhampton last year - was a complete dive of an area but the canal was lovely and it was a great weekend.”
by Chris, Derby
Thursday, March 11 2010, 11:03AM
“It has taken a long time to get this project off the ground, I remember 1n 1987 when work had started on some parts of the canal.
Cities like Birmingham and Nottingham have canals running through their city centres and they bring in millions of pounds. Take a look at the Birmingham Canal Basin with its tourism, yet the canals run through dull sections of the city with high rise office and tenemant blocks on either side of the canal, it also passes through countryside far less appealing than Derbyshire's low lying landscapes. Having actually walked along the canal tow path for several miles I know that the scenery is very different from the view taken from the roads, there are some attractive pubs and plenty of woodland along the route, all just waiting to be opened up.
Cromford Canal is also a place I am famioiar with and thankfully this is already undergoing restoration, Actors Brian Blessed and Timothy West are involved with the Canal Society here and are often seen on TV discussing the progress of the work.
The sooner Derby re-enters the canal system the better it will be for the future of our city.”
by Rhys, Derby
Thursday, March 11 2010, 10:21AM
“I think that putting the canal back on the map is a fantastic idea, I would love to see the canal in operation and as a boat user I would use this.
I also partly agree with "Major Chord" in the fact that Cromford Canal canal should also be looked into, with both canals in operation I believe the value of properties and tourism spend increase would in no doubt, help the area.
Going completely off subject, we also need the high speed rail link, with connections to Manchester. Get the Peak Rail line re-opened for business.”