Canal restoration moves a step closer

6 July 2004

Chesterfield Canal Partnership builds on its stunning progress in the restoration of the canal with the announcement of an exhibition outlining the alternative routes in and around Killamarsh.

The latest news builds on work which has seen Derbyshire County Council complete a £3million scheme to restore five miles of the canal from Chesterfield to Staveley in 2002 and British Waterways and Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council complete the restoration of the canal from Worksop back to Kiveton Park in 2003.

Killamarsh remains as a major gap which needs to be crossed. In 1995 the Chesterfield Canal Trust commissioned engineering consultants Halcrow to undertake a feasibility study of the restoration of the canal.

In the Killamarsh area Halcrow identified several alternative routes. Following this a locally based Killamarsh Sub-Group was formed to examine the alternatives - this group consists of parish, district and county councillors, officers from North East Derbyshire District Council and Derbyshire County Council together with representatives from the Chesterfield Canal Trust.

This group has commissioned consultants Babtie Group to examine the costs and benefits of each route and to indicate which route would be of the greatest economic and social value to the residents of Killamarsh. Babtie will hold an exhibition outlining the routes in the Killamarsh Sports Centre between the July 9-16. Visitors will have the chance to register their views of each possible route.

The Killamarsh Sub-Group of the Chesterfield Canal Partnership will also be holding an open public meeting at which Babtie will set out the alternative routes and be on hand to answer any questions. The meeting will be at 6pm on the Wednesday 14 July at the Killamarsh Sports Centre.

Derbyshire County Council cabinet member for environment and highways Councillor Brian Lucas said: "By working together the canal partnership has ensured the prospects for full restoration have never been brighter.

"Restoration would enable Killamarsh to develop as the waterways gateway to North East Derbyshire and would bring great economic social and environmental benefits to the area."

Chesterfield Canal Partnership builds on its stunning progress in the restoration of the canal with the announcement of an exhibition outlining the alternative routes in and around Killamarsh.

The latest news builds on work which has seen Derbyshire County Council complete a £3million scheme to restore five miles of the canal from Chesterfield to Staveley in 2002 and British Waterways and Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council complete the restoration of the canal from Worksop back to Kiveton Park in 2003.

Killamarsh remains as a major gap which needs to be crossed. In 1995 the Chesterfield Canal Trust commissioned engineering consultants Halcrow to undertake a feasibility study of the restoration of the canal.

In the Killamarsh area Halcrow identified several alternative routes. Following this a locally based Killamarsh Sub-Group was formed to examine the alternatives - this group consists of parish, district and county councillors, officers from North East Derbyshire District Council and Derbyshire County Council together with representatives from the Chesterfield Canal Trust.

This group has commissioned consultants Babtie Group to examine the costs and benefits of each route and to indicate which route would be of the greatest economic and social value to the residents of Killamarsh. Babtie will hold an exhibition outlining the routes in the Killamarsh Sports Centre between the July 9-16. Visitors will have the chance to register their views of each possible route.

The Killamarsh Sub-Group of the Chesterfield Canal Partnership will also be holding an open public meeting at which Babtie will set out the alternative routes and be on hand to answer any questions. The meeting will be at 6pm on the Wednesday 14 July at the Killamarsh Sports Centre.

Derbyshire County Council cabinet member for environment and highways Councillor Brian Lucas said: "By working together the canal partnership has ensured the prospects for full restoration have never been brighter.

"Restoration would enable Killamarsh to develop as the waterways gateway to North East Derbyshire and would bring great economic social and environmental benefits to the area."

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