The future of Chesterfield canal
partnership has been thrown into jeopardy – after a local authority
pulled its funding.
Nottingham County Council says due to
budget cuts it will be not be paying its £13,000 share for the next financial
year, which starts in April.
The news puts the future plans for
Staveley Town Basin and restoration project in doubt.
Robin Stonebridge, chair of Chesterfield
Canal Trust, said: “I think it is very regrettable that they are pulling
out now. We need to keep the partnership together.
“It is a shame they can’t
find £13,000 in a billion pound budget.”
He added: “We hope they can
continue their interest and support even if they can’t find the
money.”
The trust says the fully restored canal
would give a huge boost to Nottinghamshire because all boats going through
Chesterfield would have to pass through 28 miles of canal there.
The canal, which runs for 46 miles,
links Nottinghamshire, South Yorkshire and Derbyshire.
Since 1989 over 11 miles of the canal
have been restored along with 36 locks and 11 bridges. This month Staveley Town
Basin, which has been under construction for more than a year, was filled with
water.
There are only nine miles left to
restore – but campaigners fear that without funding the project will be
put on hold.
Mr Stonebridge added: “We are
making phenomenal progress at the moment and this is just a real blow.
“The partners who are able to fund
are going to have a meeting in the next couple of weeks to talk about a way
forward.”
Leader of Nottinghamshire County
Council, Kay Cutts said: “Like all other councils, we are facing
considerable budget pressures and are having to find savings to protect
services to the young, the old and the vulnerable.
“Difficult decisions have to be
made and, sadly, this means we can no longer continue to provide funding for
the Chesterfield Canal Partnership.
“We recognise the considerable
achievements of the partnership and we welcome any ideas on how we can work
together in the future.”
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