Chesterfield Canal

The Chesterfield Canal Trust has been awarded £5.8m as its share of the Staveley Town Deal which is part of the government’s Levelling Up agenda. After years of work with tenders, contracts, ground investigations, relocating badger setts, not to mention negotiating with National Rail and HS2, the first stage of work on the ground is due to start in April 2024. This will be the construction of the new Trans-Pennine Trail bridge at Lowgates. It will be followed by another new bridge, a pumping system, a new lock and the restoration of as much of the canal as funds allow, plus about 2.6km of new multiuser towpath.

The trust work party’s next major project is at Renishaw. After more delays for all sorts of reasons, the final design should be ready in early 2024 with restoration work starting in the spring. However, it is hoped that preparatory work, such as the removal of tree stumps, can begin before that time.

Derbyshire County Council has been awarded £2.2m from the Staveley Town Deal for the first stage of the development of Staveley Town Basin. Having received planning permission, this work is expected to start in the spring of 2024, with the new building, which will include a café, opening in the autumn.

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