Chesterfield Canal Partnership 2020 Vision: A Strategy for the Restoration and Development of the Chesterfield Canal “Bringing the Past into Focus for the Future” Third Edition, Revised 2006 2020 Vision: A Strategy for the Restoration and Development of the Chesterfield Canal Preface Preface: Why Revise our 2020 Vision? The first edition of 2020 Vision was produced after the formation of the Chesterfield Canal Partnership in 1995. This was subsequently revised and a second edition produced in 1999. It is this second edition which has provided a compass for the direction of the Partnership over the last six years. In that time a very great deal has been achieved and it is now appropriate to update our “2020 Vision”. Given the extent of changes in waterways restoration, management and funding regimes, together with the numerous development studies undertaken by the Partnership, the document needs to provide a more comprehensive review than that undertaken in 1999. Notwithstanding these contextual adjustments, the fundamental ambitions of the Partnership remain essentially unchanged. This document sets out those aims and outlines the broad strategy of the Partnership for the restoration and development of the Chesterfield Canal. Councillor Brian Lucas, Derbyshire County Council, Chair of the Chesterfield Canal Partnership, 2003-2006. Contact For further information on the Chesterfield Canal Partnership please contact Dr Geraint Coles, Development Manager, Chesterfield Canal Partnership, The Old Parish Rooms, Church Street, Eckington, Derbyshire. S21 4BH Email: [email protected] Tel: 01246 433 186 Fax: 01246 431 861 ii Chesterfield Canal Partnership 2020 Vision: A Strategy for the Restoration and Development of the Chesterfield Canal Contents Contents Page Executive Summary v 1 Introduction 1 2 The Chesterfield Canal Partnership 3 3 The Aims of the Partnership 3 4 Why Restore and Develop? 4 4.1 Rationale 4 4.2 Economic Regeneration 4 Employment 5 Growth of the Tourism and Leisure Economy 6 Business Start Up 6 Property Development 6 Changing the Image of the Area 7 Improving Quality of Life and Health 7 4.3 Social Regeneration 7 The recreational importance of the Canal 8 Arts and Creativity 8 Health and Wellbeing 8 4.4 Environmental Regeneration 8 Historic Environment 9 Natural Environment 9 5 What has been Achieved? 11 5.1 Introduction 11 5.2 Protection of the Canal Route 11 5.3 Protection of the Built and Natural Heritage of the Canal 11 5.4 Physical Restoration, Reinstatement and Development 13 5.5 Restoration Studies and Planning 1995-2005 14 Engineering Feasibility and Design 14 Water Resources 15 Environment and Ecology 15 Historic and Built Heritage 15 Land Ownership 15 5.6 Economic Development 16 5.7 Social Development (Access Strategy) 16 5.8 Provision of Visitor Facilities, Interpretation and Recreational Routes 17 Visitor Facilities 17 Trip Boat Operation (Canal Cruises) 17 Interpretation 17 Coordinated and Complementary Development of Recreational Routes 18 5.9 Improvements in Quality of Life 18 6 What Remains to be Done? 21 Chesterfield Canal Partnership iii 2020 Vision: A Strategy for the Restoration and Development of the Chesterfield Canal Contents 6.1 Introduction 21 6.2 Restoration of the Original Line of the Chesterfield Canal 21 The Challenging Opportunity of Killamarsh 22 6.3 Future Maintenance and Management of the Restored Canal 22 6.4 Exploration and Development of the Rother Valley Link 23 6.5 Development of the Existing Waterway 24 Increasing Use of the Canal 24 Developing the “Canal Economy” 25 Utilising the Canal as a Catalyst for Regeneration 26 7 The Way Forward 28 7.1 Introduction 28 7.2 Restoration of the Original Line of the Canal 28 Strategies for the Restoration of the Original Line of the Canal 28 7.3 Exploration and Development of the Rother Valley Link 29 Strategies for the Exploration and Development of the Rother Valley Link 29 7.4 Development of the Existing Waterway 29 Strategies for Protection, Conservation and Enhancement 30 Conserving and Interpreting Built Heritage (Cultural Resources) 30 Maintaining and Enhancing Biodiversity 30 Community Participation 30 7.5 Widening Access and Increasing Use 31 Strategies for Widening Access and Increasing Use 31 7.6 Economic and Social Regeneration 31 Strategies for Developing the Canal Economy 31 Strategies for Utilising the Canal as a Catalyst for Regeneration 32 7.7 Improving the Quality of Life 32 Strategies for Improving Quality of Life 32 7.8 Strategies for Funding 33 8 References 34 Appendices 37 A A Significant Undertaking: A Brief Introduction to the History of the 37 Chesterfield Canal B Chesterfield Canal Strategy for Protection and Restoration (1993) 42 C Restoration Remaining: A description of the route and the 44 remaining challenges to restoration (2005) D Origins and Development of the Canal Partnership 48 iv Chesterfield Canal Partnership 2020 Vision: A Strategy for the Restoration and Development of the Chesterfield Canal Executive Summary Executive Summary The Chesterfield Canal is one of the country’s earliest and most fascinating canals. Its 46 mile length links the regions of the East Midlands and South Yorkshire and includes a range of both natural and built heritage attractions equal to any other part of the British Waterways network. Considerable progress has already been made towards full restoration and the canal is now fully navigable from the River Trent at West Stockwith to the Norwood Tunnel at Kiveton Park and from Staveley to Chesterfield. In addition to the physical works carried out on the ground, there has been significant progress on the range of studies required to support bids for the substantial funding necessary for continued restoration. Negotiations are being conducted to bring forward several further sections for restoration (e.g. the Renishaw Mile) while the restoration of further sections are to carried out as parts of other projects (e.g. the Staveley Northern Loop Road, Chesterfield Waterside/A61 Corridor). Although the primary aim is to restore the entire canal on an alignment (as near as is practical) to the original line, it is also proposed to investigate the possibility of creating a new length of canal in the Rother valley to forge a link to the Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation. This Rother Valley Link, together with the restored Chesterfield Canal, would significantly extend the cruising network of the region by creating a new South Yorkshire Ring. Studies indicate that this will bring substantial economic benefits to the wider South Yorkshire sub-region. There is agreement among the members of the Partnership that economic development, conservation of the built heritage and maintenance of biodiversity, together with improved physical and intellectual access for communities, are all key parts of the restoration process. Without a commitment to sustainable development the project will not succeed. The Partnership is committed to good management practice including the need to consult the public and to work with other partners and agencies in achieving its objectives. Its policies are designed to respond to the changes and challenges facing regional development and the restructuring of funding streams. The Partnership seeks to affirm the principles of value for money and local accountability while, at the same time, meeting the requirements of a trans-regional project of national importance. Chesterfield Canal Partnership v 2020 Vision: A Strategy for the Restoration and Development of the Chesterfield Canal Nothing can prepare the boater for the magic of the next few miles: it is pure waterway witchcraft as beyond, against rolling farmland to the north, the canal heads for the first of the treble locks, followed immediately by the three single locks and another treble. So begins a truly awesome length of waterway and an amazing feat of early canal engineering.” [Nicholson Guide to the Waterways of Nottingham, York and the North East 2003 (Chesterfield Canal, page32). Harper Collins Publishers, London] Pictured, the Turnerwood Flight – part of the “waterway witchcraft”. vi Chesterfield Canal Partnership 2020 Vision: A Strategy for the Restoration and Development of the Chesterfield Canal Introduction 1 Introduction 1.1 The Chesterfield Canal is one of the country’s earliest and most fascinating navigations. Within its forty-six miles it has a range of attractions equal to any of Britain’s waterways. It passes through open countryside, quiet villages and historic towns; climbs up and down flights of locks; meanders along river valleys and plunges through one of this country’s longest canal tunnels. 1.2 After a century of relative prosperity the canal, like so many, declined in the face of railway competition and economic change. By the 1960’s commercial traffic on the canal had ceased and the canal had dwindled from 46 miles and 65 locks to 25 _ miles and 16 locks. Further closures were prevented by vigorous local and national campaigns and by the 1980’s there was growing support for the restoration of the canal. 1.3 The Chesterfield Canal Partnership was formed in 1995 to co-ordinate restoration efforts and pool expertise. The ambition was simple; to restore the whole of the waterway to full public use. The first and second editions of 2020 Vision set out the key aims of the Partnership, outlined the challenges to be faced and the approaches which might be adopted to make the reborn waterway play a key role in social and economic regeneration. It is to the credit of all the Partners that as the third edition of 2020 Vision is written a total of 33 miles of canal and 53 locks are now navigable. 1.4 Notwithstanding recent success, many challenges remain and this document sets out to reaffirm the core aims of the Chesterfield Canal Partnership and its vision for the restoration and development of the canal and its corridor. A Cuckoo Boat loading limestone at Cinderhill near Shireoaks circa 1905: The unique working boats of the Chesterfield Canal were known locally as Cuckoos hence the name for the long distance path based on the canal towpath – The Cuckoo Way.