Public Support Chesterfield Canal Project

A STAGGERING 13,000 people have backed a petition to show there is support for restoring Chesterfield’s canal.

Less than a year ago the Heritage Lottery Fund reportedly said the waterway’s mammoth rennovation did not hold much heritage value or public support.

Now that has been proved otherwise by the Chesterfield Canal Trust petition.

The canal stretches from the River Trent to Chesterfield, through tranquil countryside to what will be the multi-million pound Waterside development.

In total restoring 20 miles, with nine left to close the gap, will cost around £32m. Funding is being sought in chunks and the petition will help bids by showing how much support there is for the massive initiative.

Latest progress includes a 200m stretch being rennovated at Mill Green and Staveley’s new canal basin.

The Heritage and Lottery Fund said discussions are ongoing about the project’s development and support that may be offered in future.

Over £91.4m has been awarded for more than 215 projects on canal or river navigations by the fund.

Edale MRT to the Rescue

A CLIMBER was airlifted to hospital after falling 20ft at Curbar Edge in the Peak District. He was climbing in the Avalanche Wall area when he fell at around 3pm on Saturday. Edale Mountain Rescue Team treated him for lower back pain before carrying him to an air ambulance scrambled to deal with the casualty.

Crew members, joined by members of Buxton Mountain Rescue Team, helped an injured walker in Grindsbrook, above Edale, later in the day. The 24-year-old had slipped while descending into Edale and suffered a dislocated shoulder. Rescuers carried him on a stretcher to an ambulance and he was driven to hospital in Chesterfield for treatment.

As the teams were returning to their vehicles they were informed a 66-year-old walker, from Bournemouth, had collapsed with exhaustion and hypothermia near to Edale Cross.

What would we do without them – all volunteers. Have any of the three rescued made a donation to the MRT coffers? If they haven’t then ought to!

Chesterfield Canal wins award

Chesterfield Canal Partnership has scooped a top award for its restoration of a nine-mile stretch of the town's canal.

It won a partnership accolade at the Waterways Renaissance Awards, for its work with the public and volunteers.

The walk along the canal is pleasant provided you continually look at the canal. Unfortunately the parts outside the control of the Chesterfield Canal Partnership are a disgrace and the council should be issuing clean up orders to those concerned.

Chris Sabian, Peak District View - 2007-04-28 06:10:28

Easter bunny girls a great success

Big-hearted bar staff from Chesterfield were bouncing into action as bunny-girls with an Easter fund-raiser for seriously ill children.

The staff, at The Barley Mow pub, Saltergate, dressed up as the Playboy magazine favourites during Saturday night to attract donations for The Chesterfield Children's Charity.

David Woodhead, charity trustee, said: "The Chesterfield Children's Charity was formed a couple of years ago to help very poorly youngsters from the area.

"I'm a regular at the pub and when I told them about the charity they were determined to help.

"The money will go towards organisations which help youngsters from this area including Bluebell Wood Hospice, at Dinnington, and the Fairplay charity which provides services and activities for disabled children."

Bar staff made collections throughout Saturday night. The pub has previously raised money for Chesterfield Royal Hospital's Nightingale Ward for children.

Roll on the next Bank Holiday

Chris Sabian, Peak District View - 2007-04-10 08:09:15

TV Date for Derbyshire Student

A Derbyshire student whose prize-winning tale of life as an African slave was broadcast on national radio has appeared on television.

Tupton Hall pupil Alice Corker won first prize in the BBC's Freedom writing competition commemorating the 200th anniversary of the abolition of slavery.

Her story about Beth, a young slave on an American plantation in the 1800s, was broadcast on Radio 4's programme Go4it on Sunday.

The 13-year-old, who is a member of Derbyshire County Council's Chesterfield Write On group, was also interviewed on the show.

She appeared on the CBBC news programme on Tuesday and talked about her success.

The Write On group is a writing group for people aged from 11 to 14-years-old which meets every six weeks at Chesterfield Library.

Chris Sabian, Peak District View - 2007-03-29 02:58:01

Chesterfield eBusiness successes

Three north Derbyshire companies have won accolades in the eBusinessAwards for 2007 run by the East Midlands Development Agency.

Chesterfield-based Imagesound beat 25 other finalists to the top prize as eBusiness of the Year 2007, after demonstrating how they use technology to increase profits and improve customer fulfilment.

Two other local companies were successful - Cruise Ahead Ltd, a specialist travel agency won the Best eBusiness Start-up award and material development company NetComposites scooped the award for the Best Use of eBusiness.

Over 100 entries from across the East Midlands were received from a host of new companies who have realised the benefits of using ICT to run their business.

As well as their overall victory Imagesound, specialists in media and music, won the category for Increased Exports Through The Use of ICT.

Another Chesterfield company, Hike Bike and Ride Ltd, was highly commended in the same category.

Imagesound graduated from Tapton Park Innovation Centre to their own premises on Dunston Technology Park in 2002 while NetComposites are still based at the Centre.

Eeeee we're reet gud in Chesterfield

Chris Sabian, Peak District View - 2007-03-21 01:22:35