New study could see Chesterfield Canal restored to Kiveton Park
AN INVESTMENT of £10,000 by Rotherham Council could help to create a payback running into benefits totalling hundreds of millions of pounds in the future.
The authority is putting the cash into a feasibility study which could see a 14 kilometre section of the Chesterfield Canal, running from Kiveton Park to Staveley, regenerated.
Rotherham Council is one of several bodies contributing to the work, which will be done by The Chesterfield Canal Trust.
If it goes ahead, the restoration would see the final stretch of the waterway revamped - with predictions of a huge impact on the local economy from the overall scheme.
It would seen canal infrastructure, like bridges, restored, with new leisure and recreational opportunities from opening up the ‘corridor’ around the canal.
There is also an anticipation it would see economic development, with new jobs created and increased tourism.
Overall, the fully restored canal would be expected to bring in £252m from visitors, £116m through job creation and another £132m in arts and heritage engagement.
It is expected that any work resulting from the masterplan would be phased over ten to 15 years.
According to a Rotherham Council report, the masterplan will pursue “the development of 18 distinct hubs, each offering tailored opportunities for investment, community engagement and cultural enrichment.”
It would also see routes for walkers and cyclists improved, with links to the Trans Pennine Trail.
The contribution will match payments from two other local authorities and comes from a grant which Rotherham Council has for work in that area.
The Chesterfield Canal Trust was formed in the mid-1990s.