ELVASTON CASTLE

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Derby City Council leader Councillor Maurice Burgess must have been issued with the same councillors' handbook, titled "Forget the People, Think of the Money", that Councillor Maurice Gent of Derbyshire County Council reads. Councillor Gent said in defence of selling off public open space, "It is better than land standing idle." Councillors Burgess and Gent obviously do not see the benefits to the community and environment of green open space. The restoration of Elvaston Castle by Highgate Sanctuary will mean the loss of the country park to the general public.

Although the Elvaston estate is 325 acres, only 200 acres of this is deemed as country park. The other 125 acres the general public has no access to. Highgate Sanctuary intends to claim 185 acres of the country park for the restoration of gardens which will be enclosed if Derbyshire County Council is successful in its bid for £10m of public money on their behalf, and a further 10% of the remaining land for an access road and car park. The 125 acres which lie outside the country park, plus additional land, where presently there are bridleways and footpaths, will be turned into a golf course.

I can assure Councillors Burgess and Gent that they will not be on "idle land" when using the public footpaths and bridleways when crossing the golf course and attempting to avoid flying golf balls whilst doing so. Graham Mansey, Secretary, Friends of Elvaston

It is quite clear to many people that the Elvaston Castle Estate is an important public asset. It is a well-used, well-loved area, not only for the people of Derby but also for the county and nation, yet its future has still to be determined after nearly 10 years of abortive attempts by Derbyshire County Council to secure a sustainable future. The results are all too evident on the infrastructure of the estate, as the delays by the council are only increasing restoration costs and the local community is now united in its opposition to the council's proposal to lease the whole estate to a developer for use as a hotel and golf course.

We now have the very real possibility of not only legal action being brought against the council by its own ratepayers but a prolonged and protracted planning battle resulting in a planning inquiry. When will common sense prevail? The Elvaston Castle Estate Trust has always stated that it wishes to fully realise the original vision of Derbyshire County Council when the site was acquired in the late 1960s for the people of Derbyshire. We have also stressed our awareness for the need for commercial emphasis and change while understanding the strong community involvement, both past and present.

The trust believes that this change can only be successful if it is managed through a joint initiative with the council, the trust and the wider community. The trust has put forward the suggestion that it would secure a lease interest in the estate and commit to a 99-year lease. The trust would keep the estate open in its entirety to the public, thereby safeguarding public access for the foreseeable future. The trust has also declared that it would run the estate on a sound commercial basis with assistance and limited financial support from the council, reducing in time the burden on the public purse.

The Heritage Lottery Fund has already stated that it would look favourably on a joint venture that saw the council's continued commitment. Heritage Lottery would also like to see strong community support. The trust's intent is to formulate, with the help of the council, a specialist team of people to run the estate commercially. Bearing in mind the national average spend per head for similar visitor attractions is about £8.60 (Elvaston currently returns 26p), this can be achieved quite quickly. The joint venture would ensure a sympathetic and balanced approach to restoration and commercial growth through the hundreds of untapped revenue streams.

Furthermore, the trust, as a charitable organisation, can not only apply for substantial grants but would be able to reinvest all the profits into the estate to increase revenue and to protect and enhance its structure. The trust has an army of volunteers ready and waiting to work to ensure the success of the Elvaston Castle Estate. We must all unite to ensure a win-win situation, one that can only be achieved if Derbyshire County Council removes itself from its current path and works with the trust and the community. We want it to share in this success story. Karen Sims-Neighbour, chief executive, Elvaston Castle Estate Trust

Alexander Devlin, chairman of the Friends of Elvaston action group, complained to the Local Government Ombudsman accusing the county council of failing to properly consult the public before its disposal of the stately home and country park. The Ombudsman is now investigating and, if it finds in Mr Devlin's favour, possible action includes forcing the authority to carry out renewed consultation. The county council has also been requested to provide further information after a number of questions were put by the Ombudsman. Mr Devlin received an interim response from Ombudsman investigator Lesley Towner, which includes answers provided by the council to a list of questions.

She asked for a brief chronology of events. She also asked for various pieces of information about consultation which the council had already carried out and asked why no further consultation had been carried out after an agreement with Seasons Holidays was terminated in 2002 and the search for a developer began again. In his initial reply, Nick Hodgson, chief executive of the council, said, "The council has not disposed of the country park, although it is proposing to do so by way of a long lease. So far, all that has occurred is that a preferred developer has been chosen but ... a development agreement is not even at draft stage. Further, no planning application has been applied for."

Lanarca, an independent firm of consultants, has been employed by Derbyshire County Council to talk to 40 groups who have an interest in plans for Elvaston Castle. The consultation is expected to cost between £20,000 and £25,000 and forms part of the county council's application for a £10m grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund to restore the historic core gardens. If lottery cash is awarded, the management team would not be allowed to charge admission fees to the gardens. The Lanarca team will also study who uses the park and will analyse statistical information and pass it onto the design team, landscape architects Hilary Taylor.