Considerable support for Chesterfield Canal

THE Heritage Lottery Fund has been proved wrong in its assumption that the restoration of the Chesterfield Canal did not hold much heritage value or public support.

Over 13.000 people proved it wrong when they signed a petition to show that there is support for restoring the waterway that the Fund would help, Alan Tilbury reveals.

Tremendous support

Chairman of the Chesterfield Canal Trust, Robin Stonebridge, pointed out:

"Our petition was a way of demonstrating there is a tremendous amount of support. To get 13,000 signatures in less than year is a true measure that people hold the canal very dear."

It is estimated that the length of waterway left to restore will cost around £32m, the same as restoring the Huddersfield Narrow Canal that was supported. The Chesterfield leaves the Trent at Stockwith, is a broad locks canal to Retford, then a narrow locks canal for the rest of the way.

A great deal of restoration has already been undertaken on both sides of Norwood Tunnel, with its East side very much in use.  The latest restoration was a 220 yards length at Staveley, with the canal at Mill Green shown in the photograph.

Up to date £91m has been awarded for over 200 projects.