ELVASTON CASTLE

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I am incensed that Derbyshire County Council, despite public protest, is still pursuing its project to sell off Elvaston Castle. We see almost daily the carnage that is happening to the castle and estate. I can well see why Highgate Sanctuary is pursuing this long-term potential investment with vigour. They have a vision of a lucrative long-term venture. It is however to the detriment of the public with greatly reduced free space. We see daily that artefacts, once thought valuable enough to be preserved, have been neglected and now are being placed in skips to be destroyed. The working museum that used to house these valuables was a treasure in itself and is a great educational loss.

The Countryside Act of 1968 was passed by Parliament to provide improved opportunities for the enjoyment of the countryside by the public. Derbyshire should be proud that The Peak District National Park and Elvaston Castle Estate were all firsts nationwide. One of these is seriously under threat. The historic gardens are nice to have but not imperative. Where is the logic in spending £10m on restoring them to their original 1830s splendour, when an adjacent Grade Two-listed building is in need of a relatively small amount to restore? It is a sad reflection of our times, but when the gardens are restored they will need a hefty budget for security fencing and maintenance to retain the 1830s splendour, recognising the estate employed 90 gardeners in 1867.

We know the cost deficit of expenditure over income to run the estate is in excess of £500,000 and this must be increasing due to the council's lack of commercial utilisation. The recent County Show has moved away and this surely would be a lucrative booking for the show ground. The nature reserve looks like being lost forever, so where are all these concerned ornithologists with their objections to the council? It cannot be about money. Costs incurred by the council from the start of this saga in 1999 by agents, advisers, consultants and lawyers must run into millions. We need the county council to discharge its responsibility to an authorised trust which will work with the council to run the estate commercially, while retaining full public access. Roy Battelle

Campaign groups who had criticised the county council for its decision to offer a 99-year lease to a private developer, were at last told that people would be asked what they wanted to see in the gardens. But controversy continues to cast a shadow over the site as some visitors claim that their involvement in the plans for the gardens is not enough, they want the chance to have their say on the entire scheme, which will see the creation of a hotel and golf course. Consultant Lanarca, based in Newark, is preparing the consultation programme for the county council's application for up to £10m from the Heritage Lottery Fund to restore the "historic core gardens" at Elvaston Castle "to their former glory". The company is aiming to get as many people as possible to make the most of the chance to give their views. As part of the public consultation process, it has now sent a questionnaire to every household in Elvaston. The company has also posted forms, also available from the castle and the county council, to more than 70 groups and organisations with an interest in the future of the stately home and country park.

Rachael McCormack, director of Lanarca, said, "People's views are important in developing the proposals for the gardens. There is already a high level of interest in the gardens, because of the speculation surrounding the future development plans for the castle and the estate. However, this consultation process is not about the project currently under development between the council and Highgate Sanctuary Ltd. This consultation will focus on the gardens." Alex Devlin, chairman of the Friends of Elvaston, of Chaddesden, highlighted the fact that in the consultation carried out by the council in 2000, 78% of people did not agree "the estate should be leased or sold to release substantial income to be spent on key county council services". That complaint is currently being investigated, with the investigator expected to pass on the facts of the case to the ombudsman. The Friends are also critical of a number of elements of the latest consultation process.

Secretary Graham Mansey, of Spondon, said, "Once again, the county council is failing to carry out a full and open public consultation, as it is claiming. By not asking people whether the gardens should be restored before, for instance, the castle itself, we believe that the public is being told what is to happen, not asked. The only reason that this consultation is being carried out by the county council is because of the Heritage Lottery Fund rules. It is a shame that it did not carry out such an extensive and prolonged public consultation regarding its plans to dispose of the estate altogether. How can the county council apply for the use of Heritage Lottery Funding, which is public money to be used for the benefit of the community, when the sole beneficiary will be Highgate Sanctuary? The county council has to match fund the bid for lottery funding, which will be £2.5m of Derbyshire taxpayers' money - again, sole beneficiary, Highgate Sanctuary."

The group pointed to particular elements of the questionnaire, which it felt were inadequate for the task involved and claimed it was "little more than a public relations exercise". Mr Mansey added, "If the county council's objective was to get a clear impression of what the public wants from the estate and not merely to fulfil a set of criteria for a £10m bid for Heritage Lottery Funding, it would have been better do so through the pages of the Derby Evening Telegraph." A website has been set up for people to have their say on the future of Elvaston Castle and gardens and features information about the consultation process, which will culminate in a bid for National Lottery money to restore the historic core gardens. The website has been set up by consultancy firm Lanarca, which has been employed by the council. To have your say, obtain a questionnaire by calling 0845 605 8058, ask for one at Elvaston Castle or download one from: www.elvastoncastlegardens.co.uk