Grant Awarded For Staveley Canal Project

[cheshire~rose]

http://www.chesterfield-canal-trust.org.uk/index.php/latest-news/press-releases/623-grant-awarded-for-staveley-canal-project

 

 

12th January 2015

Press Release from the Veolia Environmental Trust

 

A project to install new lock gates on the Chesterfield Canal in Staveley can go ahead thanks to a funding boost from The Veolia Environmental Trust

 

We have awarded Derbyshire County Council a grant of £37,500 towards the manufacture and installation of the new gates. The work will be third phase of a project to construct Staveley Town Lock in Staveley Town Basin.

 

The new lock will provide a centrepiece to the site. When it is completed, the basin will be a combination of water-space on the canal and open green space for dry-land exhibits to be used during regular canal festival events.

 

The grant was one of 53 recently awarded by our Board to community and environmental projects across the UK, with the grants totalling over £1.4m. This total represents our commitment to making a difference to communities and the environment, and people of all ages and backgrounds.

 

We award grants through the Landfill Communities Fund and since we were established in 1997 we have awarded a total of over £3.9m to 89 projects in Derbyshire. We are now working with the county council to finalise the details of their project, including the start date, so it can get up and running as soon as possible.

 

Derbyshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways, Transport and Infrastructure, Councillor Dean Collins, says, “Redeveloping Staveley Basin is all part of our plans to create a thriving local economy in Derbyshire to benefit everyone. This funding will help us continue to restore the canal and make more of the waterway navigable as well as improving the area for visitors to help boost tourism.”

 

The Executive Director of The Veolia Environmental Trust, Paul Taylor, adds, “The new lock gates will bring many benefits for Staveley, its residents and its visitors, and we look forward to seeing the start of their installation.”

End of Press Release

 

 

 

Chris Beech, Assistant Project Manager (MEGZ) / Team Leader Land Reclamation, said “The grant offer has been made by Veolia Environmental Trust as funding specifically toward design, fabrication and installation of new gates for the Staveley Town Lock. We have begun preparation of tender documents with respect to provision of gates and other lock ‘furniture’ and, following a very successful 2014, the Chesterfield Canal Trust and Derbyshire County Council will be working closely together throughout 2015 in a bid to achieve completion of the remainder of the engineering works required at Staveley Town Basin.”

[cheshire~rose]

Of course while on the face of it this is an extremely welcome shot of money to boost the Staveley Town Lock project towards completion I think there are a great many people holding their breath.

 

There is a vast amount of work needed, in particular to the area below the lock to allow water, not just into the lock, but through it!

 

Many of the things that need to be done rely on contractors being appointed to do the work and that in turn relies on the tender process for such contracts getting underway. There are some very tight deadlines to be achieved in order to comply with the terms of the grant and I personally think it is fantastic that Derbyshire County Council have accepted the grant as it proves their commitment to moving the restoration of the Chesterfield Canal on. It is going to involve some fast work and significant spending on their part to achieve what is required to get this grant and in these times when local authorities are feeling the pinch it is nice to think they have the foresight to see this is a project worth investing in.

 

I know The Work Party are up for it and raring to go. They have been managing to continue with a little work despite weather throwing hard frosts and vast amounts of water at them in turn. I think there will be a period of apparent inacctivity while the people who deal with the paperwork get themselves organised but if it all comes together there is going to be some mighty big strides made through 2015

[peterboat]

Yes it moving on well I walk up to it most weekends and have a chat. We park at Nonas walk up to the basin with dog go back and have coffee and cake, Its amazing the progress they have made in appalling weather They told me that the lock was 7 foot 8 inch wide which makes a change from some locks gripping you tight

 

Peter

Edited January 13, 2015 by peterboat

[cheshire~rose]

I plan to have a walk up there from Nona's myself on Thursday. I look forward to seeing the progress

[LoneWolf]

Well done to you & the trust Chesh - Onwards & upwards eh

Edited January 13, 2015 by LoneWolf

[cheshire~rose]

Well done to you & the trust Chesh - Onwards & upwards eh

 

Aunty Wainwright did not have ANYTHING to do with this one Lonewolf but yes The Trust is doing really well at the moment. Several sizable donations have fallen through the letter box unexpectedly and the £15,000 for Python's new bottom too.

 

Bit by bit things are coming together.