Derby Canal – One step closer!
Planning Permission has now been granted for the restoration of 1100m of canal line at Draycott. This follows the recent permission granted to change use of the adjacent Canal Cottages to allow conversion of three cottages for use as a café, museum and office space. It opens the opportunity to develop a community hub incorporating facilities for walkers and cyclists with new water sports and wildlife benefits.
The expected cost of restoration is budgeted at £450,000 and the Derby and Sandiacre Canal Trust has sourced funding of £350,000 as part of flood alleviation works, but there are two conditions to the funding:
- it must be completed before winter flooding and
- The Trust needs to raise a £100,000 matched funding contribution.
Despite the lockdown it is expected that contractors will commence in summer to complete by October 2020. All this can start once the resident water voles are temporarily relocated by experts over the next two months.
The Trust has been receiving pledges towards this total for the last few years and has now put out a call for pledges to be paid. The Trust has currently raised £90,000 towards this total from its supporters. Anyone wishing to support the project can contact info@derbycanal.org.uk for details.
