Aim: To restore the Chesterfield Canal to full navigation using, wherever possible, the historic route.

Following the re-opening of the Chesterfield to Staveley and the Kiveton Park to Worksop sections, the Partnership will pursue the restoration of the original line of the canal from Staveley to Kiveton Park. Restoration of this nine mile ‘missing link’ will be pursued from both Staveley and from Kiveton Park taking into account the available water resources and the opportunities presented by canal side development. In all cases the Partnership will seek to work closely with local communities.

The Next Navigation design study (2006) for the Staveley to Killamarsh Section will be acted upon. The Partnership will seek funding from public and private sectors for the project. It will do so opportunistically and will bring forward sections for local amenity use if circumstances permit (e.g. developer funding).

A detailed design study for the Killamarsh to Kiveton Park Section will be undertaken.This will examine the most effective means of achieving the restoration of the Norwood flight, the replacement of the partially collapsed Norwood tunnel (including a passage under the M1 motorway) and reconnection with the restored canal at Kiveton Park. This study will also consider the possibilities for the development of an iconic waterways feature (such as a boat lift or incline plane at Killamarsh).

The Partnership will seek to secure the reinstatement of the canal through the former Kiveton Park Colliery in line with the site’s Waterspace Masterplan(1999). The first two stages in the Masterplan involved the development of fishing lakes and are completed -- there is a need to seek to secure support and funding for the implementation of the third and fourth phases.

Aim: To explore the potential to create and develop a new navigable link between the Chesterfield Canal and the Sheffield & South Yorkshire Navigation.

The Partnership will build upon the initial route scoping, water supply, built heritage and environmental impact studies to further investigate possible route proposals for the Rother Valley Link. In particular it will seek to establish:

• The optimum preferred route and initial engineering requirements.

• The planning and legal framework required to progress the link.

• The specific environmental impact and possible options and feasibility of compensation and mitigation measures (in line with the recommendations of the Ecological Scoping Study, Halcrow 2004).

• The potential social and economic impact and the relationship of the project to other key regeneration projects on the route.

Working with the local community and all potential stakeholders to overcome potential conflicts, the Partnership will develop proposals which balance the needs of the environment, economic development, local stakeholders and navigation.

Aim: To protect, conserve and enhance the natural and built heritage of the canal.

The Partnership will continue to conserve and where possible enhance the natural and built heritage of the canal in line with the current strategy for protection of the natural and historic environment of the canal as set out originally in the Chesterfield Canal Strategy for Protection and Restoration (1993), and strengthened in the full 20/20 Vision document (2006).

All the local authorities along the route now have clear protection and conservation polices relating to the Chesterfield Canal in their Local Plans.

Many of the historically important structures along the Canal have statutory protection under the Ancient Monuments Act legislation. Periodic review of this listing and the possible addition of further structures will be undertaken, supported by the archaeological work carried out by the Partnership.

A significant section of the Chesterfield Canal in Nottinghamshire is a Site of Special Scientific Interest and protected under that legislation. Concerns have been raised over the deterioration of the unique flora of this section and the Partnership will support, and where appropriate, will undertake, additional research to clarify the causes of this decline and to design appropriate measures to halt or reverse this deterioration.

The natural heritage is also subject to control by several agencies from different authorities. The Partnership will work towards the formulation of an Environment Management Plan for the entire canal.

In recognising the importance of local ownership, it will also support any initiatives along the canal that promote community participation in the built and natural heritage of the canal.

Aim: To improve and widen all forms of public access to the canal.

In order to increase access to, and use of, the canal by all sectors of the community, the Partnership will seek to implement the Chesterfield Canal Partnership’s Access Strategy (2006).

The Access Strategy sets out a detailed programme of actions which can be undertaken to widen access, participation and increase use by all members of the community. The key areas that will be addressed relate to:

• Transport to the canal corridor and the canal, including by public and private transport and by sustainable means such as cycling and walking through working in partnership with transport managers and providers.
• Accessibility of the towpath for all users including walkers, cyclists and horse riders, and for those with limited mobility. The findings of the access node and towpath condition survey will guide improvements.
• Access to the water for activities including boating and angling. Projects that will increase the tourism value of the waterway and the canal corridor will be developed.
• The barriers that restrict people’s engagement with, and enjoyment of, the canal will be addressed through projects to encourage understanding and enjoyment of the canal. The use of the canal for education and community involvement will be developed to increase intellectual access and community ‘ownership’.

The partnership will work towards funding the key actions of the Access Strategy and the incorporation of these actions in the plans and activities of other agencies.

Aim: To promote the sustainable economic and social regeneration of the Chesterfield Canal corridor in order to improve the quality of life in the surrounding communities.

The Partnership will engage with communities and businesses to further develop the canal economy. It will work with local and regional regeneration agencies and inform potential business partners of the value of the canal in order to build investment confidence.

The Partnership wishes to see the canal marketed more fully as an integral part of the local and regional tourism strategies and will work with all interested parties to encourage the promotion of the canal as an attraction.

The use of the canal for economic and social regeneration projects will be encouraged provided that such projects do not detract from the canal and its setting.The Partnership will engage with developers to encourage the enhancement of the built and natural heritage.

It is recognised that each area along the canal has different priorities and policy commitments. The Partnership will work with landowners, developers and local authorities to proactively identify potential development sites to achieve imaginative and sustainable land use along the canal corridor.

The Partnership will promote the incorporation of the canal in the quality of life agenda exemplified by Community Strategies and Local Area Agreements. It will work to ensure that the canal contributes to:

• Crime Reduction and Community Safety
• Lifelong Learning
• Environment and Transport
• Healthy Communities and Well-being
• Homes and Neighbourhoods
• Leisure and Culture