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ELVASTON AGAIN!
The idea that the Labour party might be able to
revive it’s cloth cap image and join
everyone else in the New Millenium has been
severely dented under the leadership of Tony
Blair. An example of this is present right here
on our own doorstep, with what is rapidly
becoming an albatross around the neck of the
Labour controlled Derbyshire County Council,
namely, Elvaston Park.
Of course, to be fair to Tony (and I’d
rather not be!), this problem goes back further
than his oligarchic reign. Even before he came to
power we still had the Labour County Council.
Previously though, any excuses for the inadequate
use of local taxation, namely that anything
urgently needing money that hadn’t already
been squandered elsewhere had to be either very
seriously considered, or even deferred, could be
blamed on the Tories and their capping policies.
Now however, (with Labour in power in central
government), all we get from the County Council
is a conspiratorial silence on the subject of
Elvaston Castle and Country Park. This
magnificent jewel, set for us in it’s
crowning glory, the wonderful parkland that
surrounds it, is in very serious danger of being
sold off to private developers.
Once, when a different, less pessimistic way of
governing local affairs was the order of the day,
Elvaston Park was treated as it should be; A
lovely amenity for families and individuals to
escape to. Somewhere to get a breath of country
air without too much time and travelling distance
involved.
A place for walking, wildlife pursuits and local
studies for schoolchildren. There were displays
of old farm wagons and pony traps, a working farm
where the lady volunteers used to bake cakes and
biscuits, horses to ride and things to see and
do.
If there was a bird or animal or insect to
identify, the Derbyshire Wildlife Trust was based
there, and were always ready to help. Although
the welcome refreshment facility is still present
in the form of the cafeteria, this will not be
for much longer I fear.
The County Council is supposed to be announcing
it’s preferred bidder next month, one of two
it has short listed from a number of commercial
adventurers, people who are successful because
they can see the big picture, and recognise the
true value of such an asset.
Of course, it will cost whoever takes it on
several million pounds to restore, due to the
criminal neglect that it has suffered at the
hands of a few decision makers at the County
Council. One has to wonder at the psyche involved
here. Perhaps, politically speaking, it is a
manifestation of the intense hatred exhibited by
some left-wingers on the former landed gentry.
A form of tokenism, a protest at an ordered way
of life, impossible to comprehend for
today’s Luddites. This may be fanciful, an
attempt to understand how such gross and
unforgiveable conduct can be carried out in the
name of local government. The park was bought
with taxpayer’s money, supposedly for the
use and enjoyment of all.
Now, it is sad to witness the decline of
somewhere which is valued so highly by so many of
us, and yet which, due to the actions of a few
political and moral cowards, is looking more and
more likely to either crumble away into total
ruin, or become polished up and fenced off for
the pampering and indulgence of a few privileged
and moneyed people, whilst the rest of us press
our noses to the wire and gaze from a distance at
what once belonged to us and yet, due to
politics, circumstances, the law, and most of all
the lack of action, howling protest and sheer
bloody-minded aggression by the rest if us in
defending what is ours – lost!
Today it might be Elvaston Castle, tomorrow, it
could be the country itself. Next month, when the
County Council announces who it’s preferred
bidder is, or even if they slip back into the
shadows after yet another red herring, let them
know how you feel. Fax your MP, contact your
local councillor, newspaper, or radio station. If
everyone doesn’t ‘get on their
bike’ now, we will lose something else that
we will never be able to replace. Think of that
the next time you look at somewhere you once
liked, through a fence or barrier – what
price does freedom truly cost?
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