NOTICE OF DISPOSAL

ELVASTON CASTLE AND COUNTRY PARK
Sub-Section 123(2A) Local Government Act 1972 and
Section 26(2) Town and Country Planning Act 1959

THE DERBYSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL being the owners of Elvaston Castle and Country Park GIVE NOTICE of its intention to dispose of that property by long lease for one or more of the following purposes:

* Hotel with conference and leisure facilities (Castle, courtyards and immediate area)
* Golf course(s) extending as required onto surrounding land
not in Council ownership.
* Golf Club House
* Retention of public open spaces, including nature
reserve, with access at least to current extent.
* Restoration of gardens
* Visitor Centre
* Craft outlets and similar visitor attractions
* Residential units for hotel and/or other uses.

The Garden Restoration is currently undergoing separate public consultation a preparation for a Heritage Lottery Application. Any person wishing to object to the proposed disposal should do so by writing to Gerald Tommy, Director of Corporate Resources, Derbyshire County Council, County Hall, Matlock. DE4 3AG quoting reference ECC/705 Before 26th August 2005:

All objections so received will be considered by the County Council.

Gerald Tommy Director of Corporate Resources Dated 25th JULY 2005.

A quick line to the Friends of Elvaston letting them know you've lodged a protest would also be helpful in their campaign.
Email: graham@mansey.freeserve.co.uk

Now that Derbyshire County Council has announced the disposal of Elvaston Castle Country Park, we, as long-time protesters, feel vindicated. The county council has always claimed that it was seeking a partner in the running of the estate. The disposal notice dispels any doubts. The county council is handing over the management of the castle and estate on a 99-year lease to a private real estate developer.

The proposals announced include plans for golf courses which will destroy the amenity of visual open space and potentially damage the ecology, and also residential units for hotel/and/or other uses. Does this mean that they intend to build log cabins on the estate, as previous bidders intended to do? If so, this would definitely mean a loss of public access to those areas.

The Friends had a map published in which we outlined the area of parkland that would be lost to a golf course, including public bridleways used by walkers, cyclists and horse riders. This has never been refuted. There is no guarantee to the future of the local nature reserve on the Elvaston Castle estate. Alexander Devlin, chairman, Friends of Elvaston