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The Friends of Elvaston Castle Lodge Official Complaint

DCC defends its repair and maintenance record at Elvaston Castle

Radio Derby Interview

POLICY STATEMENT - FRIENDS OF ELVASTON;

A CHANGE FOR ELVASTON

Sadly, Elvaston Castle and Country Park have been allowed to become run-down and neglected over recent years and Derbyshire County Council has announced that the authority can no longer finance the annual maintenance costs of the Country Park or the restoration costs of the grade 2* listed House and are seeking investment from the private sector. It is the intention of the authority to lease 150 acres of the Country Park, the House and Estate assets on a 150 year lease to a private development company for use as hotel and golf course(s), necessitating additional new build hotel facilities and road infrastructure which will cause the destruction of habitat and loss of public open space. The management of these areas would be by the private developer. This must raise the question as to why the Derbyshire County Council can no longer finance the annual maintenance costs of the Country Park when these costs should surely have been budgeted for when the authority annually sets its ratepayer's council tax for the provision of Countryside Services?

The Friends of Elvaston believe that the disposal is not in the public interest and that the Derbyshire County Council does not recognise the importance of the Elvaston Castle Estate, not only to the able-bodied Park users, but also to the elderly, physically disabled, or people with learning difficulties, because of the level terrain of the Parkland.

We propose an alternative way forward which would benefit all of the community and fall in line with the recent Quark Report into Community Asset Transfer and the announcement by the Office of the Third Sector of a £30 million fund to facilitate the transfer of public assets to community ownership. Here, we would like to take the opportunity here to thank the membership of the Friends for its input of ideas and strategies for rescuing the Estate.

The Friends propose that a not-for-profit charitable trust takes over the management of the 315 acre Estate by way of a lease agreement. The Trust would comprise of all stakeholders and those with an interest in the future of the Estate as a publicly owned asset.

This measure would ensure the protection of this public open space and its assets for the benefit of recreation, good health and social inclusion, the reasons why the Elvaston Estate was purchased for the people under the 1968 Countryside Act.

Restoring the House and grade 2 listed Gardens, which are not only of national but also of European importance would elevate both Derby City and the County’s profile nationally, increasing tourism and creating opportunities  for employment.

To safeguard this irreplaceable community asset, the Friends think that Derby City Council and South Derbyshire District Council should also become involved in its rescue. With the City rapidly growing in population and the proposed future development of thousands of new houses within South Derbyshire, all residents are entitled to enjoy ‘Formal Open Space’, and the authorities should contribute to the annual running costs of the Estate (something which they presently do not), so acknowledging their responsibilities to their respective constituents and visitors who use and value the Parkland and relieving the Derbyshire County Council of total responsibility for the annual running costs. The three councils would fund the annual maintenance costs of the Country Park and a 'not-for-profit' community trust take over management by way of leasing the House and built assets of the Estate. The Friends would expect representation on the Board of Trustees.

Through our own research and enquiries, we believe that the Elvaston Castle Estate, run on sound business practices which have been proven successful by both trusts and local authorities in other areas, will not only protect vital public open space but also contribute to giving our citizens an improved society in which to live (see Ajegbo report).

These targets can be achieved by involving young people with projects within the Estate, creating partnerships with schools and various organizations, as recommended good practice by the Commission on Integration and Cohesion. School camps could be established during holiday periods, promoting both social inclusion and healthy living, offering life opportunities which many youngsters might not otherwise enjoy. The potential beneficial effects that this might bring about are immeasurable but could result in savings to the Judiciary, Health Service, Local Authorities and Central Government to name but a few public bodies. One example of such a project is the restoration of the Working Farm Museum at Elvaston, much loved by all until its closure.

The Estate could promote social cohesion and interaction between young and old people from all communities, provide activities and events for all to enjoy and enhance the amenities that are presently there, reinstating those which have been closed by Derbyshire County Council, due to the developer requiring ‘vacant possession’ of Estate buildings.

Our projections show that the Estate could be self-financing within 5 years maximum but if self-financing was achieved prior to this projection the three councils, if they so wished, could be invited to withdraw their individual funding.

If you, or your organization, agree with the Friends of Elvaston that this should be the way forward for the future of the Elvaston Castle and Country Park, please support the Friends campaign to save the Estate (the rich history of which stretches back until at least the Domesday Book).

Please email, or write to us (contact details below), pledging your support, whether it is moral, physical, or financial. Now is the time to give us your full support; Such a combined community effort will help to ensure that we all retain and preserve the Elvaston Castle Estate as permanent public open space.

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The Friends would like to make it clear that whilst there are websites and forums which are sympathetic to our common community cause and which hold similar views to our own, we cannot guarantee that this will always remain the case. Therefore, the Friends can accept no responsibility whatsoever for the content or comments on any website other than our own.