|
|
|
|
HIGHGATE SANCTUARY - NORSEMAN HOLDINGS
The ongoing attempt by Derbyshire County Council to
sell Elvaston Castle and Estate from the people has now plumbed new
depths. The County Council announced Highgate Sanctuary as its long awaited
'preferred bidder', allowing the Castle to be
turned into a hotel and part of the Park to be turned
into an eighteen hole golf course.
Many people wondered how a company
registered at Companies House two years ago as a seller
and developer of real estate, and having only £1000 of
assets and no trading experience, could be considered as
a fit and proper choice for such a monumental task. That
is, until they are made aware that Tanya Spilsbury,
Co-Director of Highgate Sanctuary with her husband, both
registered as such for the sum of £1 each, is the
daughter of Brian Ashby, chairman of Norseman Holdings, a
real estate seller and developer whose company was
rejected in a previous round of bidding. He wanted to
turn the Castle into a hotel and build not one but two
golf courses.
The grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) is
not available to PRIVATE COMPANIES. It can only go to trusts and the
like and other non profit making organisations despite repeated
assertions by the County Council that it is to apply for Lottery funding
for the Gardens restoration project. We believe that this is not
possible under HLF rules because a restoration on such a scale would
also benefit a commercial hotel operator who would find their investment
sitting in the middle of £10m of improvements funded by the general
public.
Highgate Sanctuary also stated that it would keep
90% of the estate open to the public. This means that 10% will be
permanently closed! No sale? We think differently. Take into account that
at the moment approximately 50% of the land is opened up and the scale
of the loss becomes much clearer. If Highgate Sanctuary gets its way we
will only have half of the park (with no Castle!) left. That is, until
they decide they want some more.
Derbyshire County Council's Elvaston
Castle Estate Working Party, led by Councillor Bob Janes,
are recommending the sale/lease (99 years!) to the
cabinet in October 2004. In November 2004 it went before the
full council for the sale and was rubber stamped by them.
The planned 'championship golf
course' also provides us with many posers. As it is
planned right next to the nature reserve, what will
happen to the nitrogen and fertilisers drained from the
greens? They can only go into the drainage ditches which
surround the reserve, and run into it's lake areas. What
about the loss of habitat to all the birds, insects and
wild flowers? What about the poisoning of the water?
If anyone is in doubt about the resolve of the
community, let them bear in mind that we will not cease in our
endeavours, we will not rest until we have restored the Elvaston Castle
Country Park to its rightful owners, the people.
|
