Local council rips-off canal society

Published: Friday, 04 June 2010

THE canal restoration society Friends of the Cromford Canal were amazed to discover that the local council was ripping them off for £650 for  planning permission for two information signs on the disused waterway though only quoted £95 each.

Amber Valley Borough Council is charging the Friends £325 per sign in planning fees.

Members of the society are furious, as the council maintain it is in favour of the canal being restored, as it will eventually bring in money to the area, yet make such a charge for signs that are to the council's own good in promoting visitors.

More publicity

The society's Publicity Officer, John Barker, pointed out that putting up the information boards in Ambergate, was part of a plan to give the canal more publicity.

The canal is derelict where the £400 each signs have been erected, but has become a haven for wildlife, with the signs explaining what plants and animals nature lovers can see.

Told £95 per application

John pointed out the authority had originally told the Friends the cost would be £95 per application, but that the £650 total was the equivalent of almost a year of fundraising at the Friends social events, but remarks:

"We will have to go ahead now because the signs are on order, but if we had known it would cost this much we might not have gone ahead. The signs are part of our plan to raise awareness of a canal project that will bring more tourists and millions of pounds into the county.  It doesn't make sense for them to charge us this much."

The council gave the excuse that a mistake had been made in the application, and that there could be no reduction.