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| The Chesterfield Canal - News
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'Situations vacant'
Please check our vacancies page to
see if you can help us.
Volunteer restoration working party.
The work at Mill Green Staveley has now been completed!
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April 17, 2008
Meetings at Wales Jubilee Social Club
A meeting was held on 9th April at Wales Jubilee Social Club for
members and friends from Kiveton and surrounding areas.
About 40 people attended and enjoyed a presentation with slides
by Geraint Coles re the latest development plans for the restoration
of the remaining 9 miles.
A further meeting has been arranged at the same venue on Thursday
8th May at 8pm when John Lower will present a slide show.
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April 11, 2008
Restoration at Renishaw
Restoration is actually starting on another mile of canal at Renishaw.
More...
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January 30, 2008
PROMOTIONS AND EXHIBITIONS GROUP – EVENTS 2008
- MONDAY MAY 5TH RETFORD CHARTER DAY ALL
DAY
- SAT/SUN MAY 10TH/11TH TAPTON LOCK
EXHIBITION SITE ALL DAY
- WED/THU JUNE 4TH/5TH IWAC COUNCIL MEETING 2HRS
ON 1 DAY
- SAT JULY 5TH WALES/KIVETON CARNIVAL ALL
DAY
- SUN JULY 6TH KILLAMARSH ANNUAL GALA ALL
DAY
- FRI/SAT JULY 11TH/12TH "BOATS
& BOOTS" – KIVETON ALL DAY
- SUN JULY 13TH HARTHILL CARNIVAL ALL
DAY
- SUN JUL 27TH TAPTON LOCK – CANAL CAPERS ALL
DAY
- TBA SHIREOAKS CARNIVAL ALL DAY
- TBA MISTERTON CARNIVAL ALL DAY
- SAT-MON AUG 23RD-25TH IWA NATIONAL,
WOLVERHAMPTON ALL DAY
- 3 DAYS
- SAT/SUN SEPT 6TH/7TH ROTHERHAM SHOW ALL
DAY
- THU – SAT OCT 30TH CHESTERFIELD MARKET ALL
DAY
- – NOV 1ST FESTIVAL 3
DAYS
ALL DAY USUALLY MEANS FROM ABOUT 10.00AM – 4 OR 5PM PLUS SETUP/TAKE
DOWN TIME.
YOUR "VOLUNTEER TIME" CAN BE ALL OR PART OF ANY DAY/DAYS
YOU ARE WELCOME TO DO AS MANY OR AS FEW EVENTS AS YOU WISH – REMEMBER,
YOUR "VOLUNTEER TIME" STARTS FROM WHEN YOU LEAVE HOME
– IT IS ALL VALUABLE TO US!!
OTHER EVENTS TBA AS THEY OCCUR.
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January 29/30, 2008
Events page updates
The Events page has been updated with
new walks for 2008.
More...
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January 12, 2008
Meeting to bring together Trust members and interested residents
 A
meeting was held on January 10 at the Rum Runner, Wharf Lane, Retford
to bring together members of the Trust, and other interested people
resident in the area.
It was attended by 29 people, mostly members and chaired by Pete
Ramsell. After the initial welcome, Trust Chairman Keith Ayling
spoke briefly on behalf of the Trust.
Various topics relating to the Seth Ellis trip boat were discussed
and Steve Thompson explained the plans for using the new Trust Trailer
for promotions and exhibitions.
The next topic related to the problems of rubbish constantly found
floating in the canal and thus spoiling an otherwise excellent amenity
enjoyed by so many. A clean-up campaign is being arranged.
The last main subject was the idea of a Retford Boats and Boots
event, that is, a guided walk in one direction returning by boat.
This was greeted with enthusiasm. The meeting closed at 9.35pm after
agreeing to continue holding these meetings in their present format
for the time being. Those attending expressed their appreciation
of the opportunity to get together.
The next meeting will be held on 31.1.08 at 7.30pm in
the same venue. Dr. Geraint Coles will be guest speaker.
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January 11, 2008
Web site for the Seth Ellis
 David
Morris has set up a web site
for the Seth Ellis which will primarily be used to hold crew-
related information (procedures etc) but will feature a little bit
of history and information about the boatand hopefully it will be
expanded to hold more information about our cruising area around
Retford.
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December 13, 2007
WE Win!
Sustrans Connect2 £50m bid, which includes extensive footpath improvements
and linkages to and around the Chesterfield Canal, has emerged as
the winner after the closure of the national phoneline voting on
December 10th.
Up against strong competition from three other schemes (two of
which also included canal elements) the Sustrans bid will encourage
more people to enjoy the freedom of the countryside around the Chesterfield
Canal in Sheffield, Derbyshire and Rotherham by foot, cycle and
on horseback.
The scheme includes a new safe walking link from the terminus of
Sheffield's Supertram at Halfway to the Chesterfield Canal and Trans
- Pennine Trail at Killamarsh, which will link into the new Killamarsh
Greenway which follows the towpath of the canal through the village.
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December 7th 2007
VOLUNTARY RESTORATION UPDATE
Mill Green Restoration project latest
As we are now well into our second year of works on the south
side of Mill Green Bridge were a section of canal walling had become
unstable and eventually collapsed into the canal works have now
almost being completed...
More on the Volunteer Restoration
Project page
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November 26, 2007
Chesterfield Canal challenges for dog walkies award!
The Chesterfield Canal is in line for top spot in a nationwide
trawl for the favourite dog walk! Already in the top 40 nationwide,
you can make us tops by voting on www.21topdogwalks.co.uk
Votes must be in by November 30th.
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November 20, 2007
Canal Trust / Partnership’s new Promotions Trailer
Making its debut at the IWA 2007 National Boat Festival was the
Canal Trust/Partnership’s Promotions Trailer. It had been hoped
to have the X25 available much earlier in the season but production
delays meant the promotions team had to wait until August to try
out the latest acquisition.
The trailer is 2.5m long with side-opening doors but the Trust
has taken the option to extend the doors to give more than 5 metres
exterior full–height display area. A major feature is the incorporation
of a multi-media unit offering video/digital presentations and exterior
large format body graphics promoting the Canal as a Waterway For
All. An awning extends the working area and disabled access is via
a portable ramp. The X25 is a most impressive unit with lighting,
storage, leaflet distribution and exhibition facilities which are
readily set up by one or two people in a matter of minutes.
The
X25 ready for the road after hitching (Photo J. Lower)
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Externally the trailer’s graphic work depicts various aspects of
the Chesterfield Canal as a Waterway For All whilst the panels display
information about the Trust and Partnership, restoration progress
to date, work remaining to complete the Staveley to Kiveton section
of canal and how visitors can become involved. Inside the X25 is
a route map of the Canal’s 46 miles. The map runs along two walls
showing features along the navigation.
The unit is towed by a medium-sized vehicle and represents a tremendous
advance on any promotional/display facility previously used by the
Trust.
The Trust is currently looking at naming suggestions for the Promotions
Trailer. Presently there is the John Varley crew, the Seth Ellis
crew, the work party etc. The trailer purchase has meant the need
to describe similarly the volunteer group working with the X25.
It has been decided, therefore, the trailer requires a name to be
attached to the exterior. Suitable suggestions are being requested
to the Editor of Cuckoo so please join in and send your thoughts
in time for the next Cuckoo due early spring 2008.
Norwood
Awake October 2007. (Photo A. James) |
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November 19, 2007
Canal Trust Santa Publicity Trip 2007
Saturday, 17th November and Santa makes a special appearance in
Retford on board the Seth Ellis trip boat for the Chesterfield Canal
Trust to publicise the forthcoming Santa trips which start in December.
2007 bookings now
being taken for Seth Ellis and John Varley.
Santa, Santa, give us a wave
on board the Seth Ellis (David Morris)
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Local VIPs, related children and
tripboat skipper Tony Winfrow on
board of the Seth Ellis (David Morris)
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November 4, 2007
Volunteers from the Chesterfield
sub-aqua club assist CCT restoration working party by installing
stop planks at Hollingwood Lock prior to pumping out the lock for
work on the bottom gates.
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October 23, 2007
 Light
at the end of the Tunnel? October 13th 2007
Since the re-opening of Rotherham’s part of the Chesterfield
Canal in 2003, attention has been drawn to the next big obstacle
- the collapsed Norwood Tunnel. This 2880yd tunnel (opened in 1775)
took the canal east - west from Wales in Rotherham into Derbyshire
above the village of Killamarsh. Exactly a hundred years ago, on
October 18th 1907, the tunnel finally collapsed and has lain undisturbed
since then.
Using £85k granted by Regional Development Agency Yorkshire Forward,
the Chesterfield Canal Partnership has commissioned consultant engineers
Arup to answer the question ‘How can we forge the missing link
on the canal to join Rotherham with Derbyshire once again?’.
The emerging solution was spelt out at a ceremony attended by members
of the Chesterfield Canal Partnership at the eastern portal of the
closed Norwood Tunnel near Kiveton Park on Saturday October 13th.
The chairs of Wales, Harthill, Anston and Killamarsh Parish Councils
attended, along with the chair of the Kiveton Park and Wales Community
Development Trust.
Partnership
members celebrate the Arup report above the eastern portal
of Norwood Tunnel. |
Although an official draft of the study for local debate will not
be available until later this year, consultants Arup’s work
so far suggests a radical solution - forget about a tunnel - let’s
go up and over the hill on the surface! This is close to the 18th
century canal engineer , James Brindley’s original solution,
which involved a very much shorter tunnel at 630 yards, than the
one finally constructed.
Under the new proposals about 500 yards of the tunnel at the eastern
end will remain underground, before being lifted by two canal locks
to ground level. The canal will cross the former Kiveton Park Colliery
site, then rise by a series of locks to the summit. Although today
the M1 motorway crosses the summit level above the former tunnel,
a farm access and footpath which can be adapted to include the canal
will allow a way under. More new locks will allow the descent through
Norwood to join the top of the existing, although derelict, Norwood
flight of locks, then on to Killamarsh following a new route through
the Rother Valley Country Park.
We must wait for the publication of the report for more details,
but the prospect of a completely new canal for south Rotherham is
an exciting development, as well as solving the most difficult engineering
problem the whole restoration project faces - the long collapsed
Norwood Tunnel.
Canal
Trust members provided boat trips on the summit pound 12-14
October. |
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October 1, 2007
Canal reopens at Chesterfield
Following the successful repair to the canal breach at Tinkersick
the canal has been refilled and is now completely open between Chesterfield
and Staveley.
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August 16, 2007
New link added:
Progress
at Renishaw Some more photos from Michael Chase showing further
work by the Waterways Recovery Group during their work camp 4th
to 11th August 2007.
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12 July 2007.
Supporters' Meeting chairman Jim Walker with distinguished long-service
award
 CCT
chairman Keith Ayling presents Supporters' Meeting chairman Jim
Walker with his distinguished long-service award at the July Supporters'
meeting.
Jim came to national prominence with his legendary 'Bobbin' Robin'
- a marinised Robin Reliant which took to the canals and provided
the Society ( as we then were) with a great deal of useful publicity.
Jim's practical professional mechanical skills with the internal
combustion engine earned Jim the privilege (?) of spending countless
hours of his time over the years dealing with the mechanical unpredictability
of our former trip boat, the Norwood Packet, and more recently the
John Varley.
Jim has also been a stalwart in crewing our tripboats, and has
many times responded promptly to emergency callouts.
Jim's present role as chairman of the Supporters' Meeting has seen
a significant growth in attendance and renewed enthusiasm of active
members, and is in fact his second term in that role. As a trustee
Jim has always has sound advice and a considered view to offer in
our deliberations.
A real 'all-rounder', Jim joins the small number of members to
receive this award, which all agree has been hard earned and well
merited.
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8 July 2007.
'Boots and Boats' journey for clients of the Addison Day Centre
Maltby
Clients of the Addison Day Centre Maltby enjoy the cruise leg of
their 'Boots and Boats' journey on the canal on the Seth Ellis in
Rotherham as part of the Rotherham Walking Festival on July 6th.
All of the programme was fully booked and the Trust will extend
the programme next year.
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4 July 2007.
Proposals for the Killamarsh Greenway project
CCT's Steve Thompson explains proposals for the Killamarsh Greenway
project at the Killamarsh Festival on July 1st to (l to r) Councillor
Alan Charles (DCC and Killamarsh PC), Councillor Harold Laws (NE
Derbyshire DC), and local MP Natascha Engel. Young Malek obviously
approves!
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New Dawn, update June 16, 2007
Fresh Lincolnshire oak and boat-skin larc
Chesterfield Canal Trust’s project to construct a unique “Cuckoo”
narrowboat took a major step forward on January 25th when members
of the Trust took delivery of the bulk of the timber to build the
boat.
More...
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10 May 2007.
Chairman's message 2007.
By Keith Ayling
A Model Restoration Project - that’s official!
At the AGM on March 26th I was able to announce, at last, the good
news from the Inland Waterways Amenity Advisory Council’s (IWAAC)
third review of Inland Waterway Restoration and Development Projects
in England Wales and Scotland, just published from data collected
in 2005.
More...
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10 May 2007.
What goes around…
By Geraint Coles
2006 proved to be a significant year for the
Chesterfield Canal Partnership – 2007 is shaping up to follow suit.
Of particular importance in our search for significant funding is
the huge boost which we have received from the IWAAC Report on Waterway
Restoration and Development Projects and our success in the BURA
Awards.
More...
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10 May 2007.
Latest additions to Along The Towpath
More...
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10 May 2007.
Mick Wilson retires
After almost a quarter of a century with British Waterways, Mick
Wilson, the Chesterfield’s popular Waterway Supervisor, retired
on March 31st, a youthful 63. Moving to BW from a previous job with
Ruston Bucyrus in 1983, Mick had spells with BW at Newark as section
foreman and then Lincoln before taking on the Chesterfield in 1993.
Mick has been at the cutting edge of significant work on the Chesterfield
throughout his long spell with us. Starting at West Stockwith with
the task of bringing the basin up to standard, one of Mick’s early
memories was the locating of milestone 46, placed in the basin as
a memorial to our late chairman, Doug Platts. At the other end of
the canal in BW ownership, Mick and his team worked under John Nuttall
to help achieve the magnificent restoration of the heritage-rich
section in Rotherham. We now have there one of the most beautiful
sections navigation in the country. What a legacy! Less spectacular,
but vitally important for the smooth working of the canal, there
are only a handful of locks whose gates have not been renewed by
Mick and his team.
Mick pays generous tribute to his dedicated team whose hard work
keeps the canal in good working order, and it will be the team spirit
and good working relationships that he has enjoyed that he will
miss most in retirement. Mick takes with him warm memories of his
time with the teams at Lincoln, Newark and Worksop, and also recalls
occasions when prompt action by members of his team out on site
may literally have saved a life - including a potentially fatal
wasp sting suffered by one of his team! Computers however will not
be missed - Mick sees them as a necessary evil!
The most noticeable change Mick recalls in his time with BW is
the Health and Safety legislation which now dominates all worksites,
and the time, training and equipment it takes to satisfy the requirements.
Mick has no problems with H&S, seeing it as essential, and his
teams have always worked safely both before and after the legislation,
and have an excellent health and safety record.
Talking about the future of the canal, Mick sees two main needs.
One is to get the canal into the former Kiveton Park Colliery site
with facilities for boaters. This will motivate boaters to make
the extra journey through the heavily-locked section above Shireoaks.
At present some boaters choose to moor at Shireoaks Marina and walk
up to the tunnel A second priority Mick identifies is to establish
the Rother Valley Link as a non-tidal access to the Chesterfield
via Rotherham. Many boaters are put off accessing the Chesterfield
because of the tidal Trent. The link will improve the number of
boaters who wish to visit the Chesterfield.
Mick now plans to take on a part-time job to ease the transition
to full retirement, but expects his eight grandchildren to keep
him busy! Not one for canalboat holidays, Mick and his wife are
anticipating exploring Europe and looking forward to quieter moments
with outdoor bowls. As Mick lives east of Lincoln the chances of
seeing him on our volunteer restoration working party are remote!
British Waterways share our high opinion of Mick. BW Waterway Manager
Caroline Killeavy writes: "Mick has been an exceptional employee,
supervisor, colleague and friend. His professionalism and commitment
is second to none, as is his sense of fun and humour! I have known
Mick for 10 years and have dreaded this moment - what are we going
to do without him?"
We all wish Mick a long and healthy retirement. I’m sure I speak
for everyone when I say we have always found him approachable and
willing to listen, and we would always get a straight answer! We
can all be grateful for his professional contribution to the Chesterfield
Canal which has left us with more canal than when he started! Not
many waterway supervisors can claim that!
Keith Ayling
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10 May 2007.
Then and Now
Notes on Pride
by Christine Richardson
Pride was a typical working boat of the
Chesterfield Canal. The boat registers show that the year of construction
was 1903, probably at West Stockwith. The original owner was the
Steetley Lime Company, and the picture shows the boat alongside
the company’s quarry at Cinderhill.
We have been sent this postcard of the Chesterfield Canal taken
sometime in the past! Please help with details.
More...
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6 May 2007.
Statement of intent!
Work starts to define the new line of the canal at Hall Lane Staveley.
Here the original line of the canal will be slightly diverted to
the east to allow sufficient height to get under Hall Lane, and
will link to the existing head of navigation at Mill Green Staveley.
The canal scheme is part of the Staveley Northern Loop Road, which
will take up to two years to complete, and includes an Eckington
Road crossing also.
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6 May 2007.
Plaque for Andy Oxley
 Andy
Oxley (centre) from Killamarsh, who has completed ten years of voluntary
work helping to restore the Chesterfield Canal, was presented with
a plaque to honour his efforts on Sunday April 29th.
More...
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23 April 2007.
Towpath closure at Stavely
The towpath from the end of the restored section of canal at Mil
Green, Staveley, to the vicinity of Bellhouse Lane ,Staveley will
be closed from 23 April 2007.
More...
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4th April 2007.
On the night of Tuesday April 3rd vandals opened the paddles on
Manton Lock at Worksop, and emptied the canal as far as Bracebridge
Lock Worksop (picture). The canal is slowly refilling and should
be working again on Thursday afternoon 5th April'.
Manton Lock showing low water level, which should be up to the
runoff on the right of the picture.
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4th April 2007.
30th Anniversary 2006 photographic competition - the results
The results of the 30th Anniversary Photographic Competition
can be found on the competition page.
Many congratulations to the winners and the runners-up!
Winner: "Thorpe Salvin Woods", by Val Unwin
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29th March 2007.
The Waterways Renaissance Awards 2007
The following is another account of the Waterways Renaissance Awards
2007
"At a prestigious evening held in March at the Imperial War
Museum North, Manchester, the Chesterfield Canal Partnership received
what, hopefully, will be the first of many future awards. CCP won
the Partnership Category of The Waterways Trust and British Urban
Regeneration Association Waterways Renaissance Awards 2007 presented
to Councillor Harold Laws, Chair of the Chesterfield Canal Partnership
Executive Steering Group, by Morrison Construction, sponsors of
the Partnership Category.
The presentation was undoubtedly the highlight of a memorable
evening spent in the company of some of the foremost names in the
waterway restoration movement. It was extremely gratifying to receive
congratulatory messages from several respected individuals who were
attending. Their good wishes demonstrated the high regard in which
the work of the Partnership and the Trust is widely held."
More...
(PDF file)
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24th March 2007.
Chesterfield Canal partnership wins national award
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The happy Partnership
recipients of the BURA/TWT award pictured by John Lower
at the Imperial War Museum North- left to right: Cllr
Michael Storey (Deputy Leader of Nottinghamshire County
Council and Vice-Chair of the Chesterfield Canal Partnership);
Geraint Coles (Canal Development Officer); Cllr Harold
Laws (North East Derbyshire District Council, Chair
of the Canal Partnership); Cathy Cooke (Derbyshire County
Council, IWAC board member); Cllr Sheila Place (Notts
County Council), John Nuttall (British Waterways) and
David Trickett (Vice-Chair of Chesterfield Canal Trust).
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"The group behind the restoration of Chesterfield Canal have
won the Partnership category of the 2007 Waterways Renaissance Awards.
John Craven OBE, presenter of BBC1’s Countryfile and Vice-President
of The Waterways Trust, presented the award to Chesterfield Canal
Partnership at a gala dinner on Wednesday 21 March 2007. "
More...
(PDF file)
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17th March 2007.
RETFORD’S CANAL GETS SET FOR A SPRING CLEAN
Waterway users of all types and sizes who enjoy the Chesterfield
Canal are being asked to spare a couple of hours to help spring
clean their local waterway on Thursday 29 March The event will bring
important wildlife benefits as well as improving the appearance
of the Chesterfield Canal and is part of a week long national Towpath
Tidy campaign being led by British Waterways and voluntary groups.
Rubbish and litter left behind by the 300 million visitors each
year to British Waterways’ canals and rivers is harmful to a wonderful
array of waterway wildlife. During Towpath Tidy, volunteers join
forces with British Waterways staff to clear litter and remove shopping
trolleys, prams, traffic cones and other unusual objects that are
sometimes left in the waterways.
More...
(PDF file)
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17th March 2007.
Go Cuckoo over Connect2
Press Release Reference: PR2786 Date: 13 March, 2007
Walkers and cyclists are being asked to add
their support to a proposed National Lottery bid geared to improving
access to one of the most beautiful canal towpaths in Britain.
Rotherham Borough Council’s award winning Rights
of Way team is asking for local support for the Connect2 bid by
Sustrans, the sustainable transport charity, which if successful,
will fund £1.4 million improved access works for walkers and cyclists
to the Cuckoo Way that takes in the beautiful Chesterfield Canal.
The Rights of Way team has joined in partnership
with Sheffield City Council to submit the proposal to Sustrans,
which would provide better access for walkers and cyclists to the
Canal from the Halfway Tram Stop in Sheffield via Rother Valley
Country Park. The money would also improve all the rights of way
around the Chesterfield Canal.
More... (PDF
file)
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16th March 2007.
We have been sent this postcard of the Chesterfield Canal taken
sometime in the past! Please help with details.
More...
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1st March 2007.
Canal facility lost
Another canal facility lost - the site of the demolished Riverside
Inn in central Worksop.
The inn is being replaced by a two storey car park to serve the
Priory Shopping Centre, which will form a barrier between the town
and the canal.
Another reason for boaters not to stop in Worksop?
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February 20, 2007
Retford Angling Association reborn
The Retford Canal Anglers Society has taken over from the defunct
Retford AA's rights on the Chesterfield Canal. They control two
lengths, one in Retford by the cemetery, and the other at Ranby,
about 100 pegs in all.
More...
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February 17, 2007
MAPS GEOprojects
- 'Chesterfield Canal and the River Trent' GEOprojects. Published
2006. Scale 1:60,000 (approx 1inch to a mile). Available from
the Canal Trust at £4.50
More...
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February 17, 2007
Bassetlaw planning decision fails to
promote canal - a lost opportunity
In a dramatic reversal of Bassetlaw Council’s policy to promote
and develop the Chesterfield Canal, Bassetlaw’s Planning Committee
has agreed to marginalise the canal by hiding it behind the proposed
car park in a revamped Priory Centre in the heart of Worksop. The
canal, which is on the north side of this key town centre site,
was previously promoted by the council as forming a major strand
in Worksop Renaissance, (the Town Centre Masterplan). From potentially
being the focus of this new development, it is now sadly consigned
to become little more than a hidden ditch overlooked by a car park.
The proposals agreed make the canal no more than a largely hidden
site boundary, rather than utilising the waterspace boldly to fully
realise the economic, social and recreational gains that the canal
could offer.
More...
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February 13, 2007
Restoration 2006
Chesterfield. Plans for a £100m mixed development on the site
of the former Lavers timberyard and other land between the A61 and
the River Rother... more...
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January 27, 2007
Chesterfield Canal Reinstatement and Surface Mine Site
UK Coal held a public exhibition as part of their draft proposals
for Chesterfield Canal Reinstatement and Surface Mine Site near
Mastin Moor, Staveley at Mastin Moor Community Centre on Wednesday
24th January. This relates to a proposed planning application to
reinstate the canal formation between Staveley and The Hague at
Renishaw.
The Trustees and Supporters have decided to support this application.
When the planning application is actually made to the local authority,
we shall publish details of how you can write in to support this
proposal. It will solve a very expensive restoration problem by
doing about one million pounds worth of work which otherwise we
would have to pay contractors to do. Watch this space!
Please, click on thumbnails below for scans of the leaflet.
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January 15, 2007
New walks added on Events page:
A Canal For All Seasons- Walks By The Chesterfield Canal In
2007
Explore different parts of the canal, at contrasting times
of the year, on these walks led by members and friends of the Chesterfield
Canal Trust.
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January 10, 2007
New link added:
Restoration
starts at Renishaw
 Volunteers
from the Waterway Recovery Group kicked off the restoration project
at Renishaw with a work camp running from Christmas 2006 to the
New Year. The project was to clear the heavy growth of trees and
bushes from the infilled canal between Renishaw and Spinkhill. They
were assisted by locals and CCT volunteers. It is hoped that full-scale
restoration and re-watering of a mile of canl here will commence
shortly. To see progress photos taken by Michael Chase "click here"
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January 10, 2007
New link added on links page:
Chesterfield Canal related activities:
Retford & Worksop Boat Club
- The largest and longest established boat club on the Chesterfield
Canal.
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January 8, 2007
Canal & towpath stoppages, updated
January 8, 2007.
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June 23, 2006
Chesterfield Canal Supporters' Meetings
Supporters' Meetings are intended as the vehicle for passing ideas
and information in both directions between the Chesterfield Canal
Trust Officers and Members/public to the furtherance of restoration
objectives.
More...
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May 16, 2006
The New Dawn Project
Working to create a full-sized working boat of the type unique
to the Chesterfield Canal. Supported by the Chesterfield Canal Trust
and the Chesterfield Canal Partnership.
NEW DAWN - HELP HER SET SAIL (Yes,
she will have a mast and sail for use on the Trent).
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Chairman's message. 2006. Our Project's 30th Anniversary. Help
us to make it a memorable year.
More...
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Eighth Annual Report of The Chesterfield Canal Trust Ltd.
Year to 30 September 2005.
More...
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30TH ANNIVERSARY 2006 PHOTOGRAPHIC COMPETITION
As part of the 30th Anniversary celebrations
the Trust is pleased to announce its first photo competition for
members and their families to enter and it’s free.
More...
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November 14, 2005
Rotherham Council continues support for the Partnership.
Rotherham's proposal to cut their annual contribution towards
our Canal Partnership Development Manager's salary was confirmed
at the meeting of their Economic and Development Services meeting
on October 8th, despite representations at the meeting by CCT chair
Keith Ayling, and a mass of objections from local residents in South
Yorkshire and other Canal Trust supporters throughout the region.
In a compromise move, instead of making a agreed annual financial
contribution, Rotherham will reimburse the partnership for the direct
activities of the Development Manager where these activities are
associated with grant - funded projects, subject to prior agreement
of the Borough Council. Hopefully this will just be a long-winded
and unnecessarily bureaucratic means of achieving the same end product.
A meeting is planned to flesh this out.
Other issues, relating to the revised partnership constitution
and our 20/20 vision document, were amicably resolved between senior
partnership reps and Rotherham. Karl Battersby, Head of Planning
and Transportation for RMBC, stated "The Council wishes to stress
that it remains supportive of the aims of the partnership towards
full restoration. It will also work with its partners to continue
to seek and harness funding sources for further canal restoration,
as and when they arise".
The Canal Trust wishes to thank all those who made representations
to Rotherham on this issue. Councillor Gerald Smith, chair of the
meeting and a former chair of the partnership, acknowledged receiving
a 'sackful' of letters, and numerous phone calls. The planning department
received 21 letters of complaint. Clearly there is continuing strong
support for the restoration scheme in the borough, and pressure
needs to be maintained to ensure that Rotherham's revised offer
contains substance.
The issue was raised again at the Rother Valley South Area Assembly
meeting at Harthill on November 7th, where the Trust had requested
that the canal be an agenda item. Wholehearted local support for
the canal restoration was evident from the floor of the meeting,
and local councillors present committed to making sure that the
request for funding the Development Manager's salary would be actively
considered for the next financial year.
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