ELVASTON CASTLE - LEGAL APPEAL

Dear Friends,

As you all now know, Derbyshire County Council appears to be going ahead with its decision to sell a 99 year lease on Elvaston Castle Country Park, effectively disposing of it. Highgate Sanctuary plans to build golf courses, an access road, club houses, service buildings, a floodlit driving range, a hotel, and residential units on the site and even when the lease expires in the next Millenium, it is unlikely that the Park, much altered, would ever again offer the public the amenities that it does at present. The County Council's announcement that public access will remain unchanged is misinformation which it thinks will smooth the path of its hand over to the real estate developers.

As we foresaw this event sometime ago, The Friends of Elvaston Committee engaged a legal team to represent the community in its battle to prevent Derbyshire County Council from selling the lease without the mandate of the general public, which it has so far, scornfully ignored.

Our legal advisors wish to call for a Judicial Review and we have strong evidence against the County Council to set before a judge. However, these actions require funding and the involvement of Barristers means that this is not cheap. To fund Counsel's Opinion and insurances we need in the region of £1000. We only have a short time period in which to act.

Therefore, we are calling for donations from all of the registered Friends and our supporters. We have an account opened specifically for this purpose and are requesting donations of £5 or £10. Naturally, if anyone can afford more it will be gratefully received. Donations can be paid in the form of direct transfer, cash, cheque or postal order, made out to the Friends of Elvaston, straight into the Derbyshire Building Society, at the following;

Anyone handing cheques, cash, postal or other orders over the counter, only need the Reference No: 331182606.

Alternatively, cheques, postal orders etc, can be made out to the Friends of Elvaston and posted to;

The Friends of Elvaston
24 Kirkleys Avenue North
Spondon
DE21 7FX

The funds will be used solely to place a legal challenge against the Derbyshire County Council over its intended disposal of Elvaston Castle Country Park and will be under the control of the Friends' Committee. In the unlikely event that we are unsuccessful, any funds remaining will be donated to Derbyshire Children's Holiday Home at Skegness, Lincolnshire, (closed by Derbyshire County Council, reopened by the community!).

Thankyou to everyone in advance. This is a battle that we must not lose!

Graham Mansey, Secretary, for and on behalf of the Friends of Elvaston and the Community.