Chesterfield Canal Restoration February 2024

Welcome to a long overdue update from the Chesterfield Canal Restoration. We're up at Staveley to look at work starting for the Staveley Town Deal project.
Plans have been released for the Trans-Pennine Trail bridge, which will be built this year and will cross the canal. This is where the old Great Central Railway Bridge once stood, but was demolished some years ago. It will carry the TPT and the Arkwright Trail over the canal. In preparation there has been tree clearance ready for the ground works to start.
‪@chesterfieldcanaltrust5186‬
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[@davidblurton7158]

it great to see it being restored,, it just brings so many small benefits to everyone who uses it which overall brings big benefits to the area,,, this is our heritage and its been seen so many times that the restoration of a railway canal or industrial area can really boost the local enviroment and reverse decline,,,

[@WobblyRunner]

Spot on David. 👍 You only have to look at how busy Hollingwood hub is on a weekend or sunny day to see how many people come out and use the canal

[@davidblurton7158]

@@WobblyRunner yeah great to see

[@petetwigg5197]

Great work Paul. As a frequent user of the chesterfield canal as a runner the benefits of the restoration are clear to see. The use of it will increase as word gets around and I know my 10 year old will love it even more!

[@WobblyRunner]

Cheers Pete. Fully agree. Used to love running down the canal.

[@martinmarsola6477]

Thank you for this days video. Always interesting and pleasant to watch. Good to see the Boss again. Enjoy the weekend ahead, and see you on the next! 😊😊

[@WobblyRunner]

😄 cheers Martin. Have a great weekend.

[@MalacdenValleyModels]

Thanks for the update Paul, good to keep checks on this awesome project. Hopefully we’ll see a bit more traction this year. They’ve done a good job on clearing the site and the new bridge design looks awesome 😊 Don’t worry about the keyboard warriors, other canal restoration projects have clearly shown the benefits that restored canals (or railways) bring to the local economy and the positive impacts they have on the environment. Thanks for sharing and keep the videos coming 😊👍

[@WobblyRunner]

Cheers David 👍. I'm looking forward to seeing what happens this year

[@paulcharlton4788]

I’m a local government officer at a district council and it’s amazing how little people understand about how councils and the government work. Whenever we post anything about what we’ve spent money on, even it’s something good, 90% of the comments will be “why don’t you fix the roads first”. Well it’s mainly because it’s the county council that looks after the roads. Then we get often funding for specific projects, and we still get the roads comments amongst others! But that funding is for that exact project, we can’t just decide to spend it on something else even if we wanted to. I used to reply to comments but I have to be very careful what I say 🤣🤣

[@WobblyRunner]

It must frustrate the hell out of you having to read them. It winds me up. People will always find ways to moan about stuff.

[@eggy77]

I wish we had the Chesterfield Canal in the state it's in now plus all the greenways, country parks etc when I was a kid, but back then many of the railway lines were still active and the country parks were collieries. The roads weren't fit to cycle on due to heavy lorries going to and from the pits. As for the vegetation, it's a short term issue but once the canal has been restored the wildlife will return, surely greater damage to wildlife habitats is all the new housing estates shooting up, plus the new roads that the person was asking for.

[@martinjm1913]

I would ignore the haters. Canals are a great resource for everyone and they help with reducing flooding and they the transference of water around the network for us to use in our taps. Keep up the good work 👍👍

[@WobblyRunner]

👍🙂

[@user-cn4rg2bs4p]

thanks Paul. great video and good to see work is still going on despite the recession.

[@WobblyRunner]

Thanks 🙂

[@michaelhibbert4393]

Thanks for the update Paul…..always great to see how things are coming along

[@WobblyRunner]

Thanks Mick. Always a pleasure.

[@maestromanification]

Nice to see the canal coming on Paul. Good to see Gordo out and about

[@WobblyRunner]

Cheers Russ. Making progress bit by bit.

[@PCMenten]

The efforts to renew the canal has many knock-on benefits. Canals are not like other outdoors facilities in a very particular way; a canal is a continuous and contiguous feature and that fact leads to effects such as wildlife corridors, human corridors for both land and water travel, connections between communities, opportunities for travel, leisure and historic enrichment and reminders of where we came from. It is a brilliant masterstroke to be maintaining and restoring canals and will be a permanent feature of your countryside for a very long time to come. My hope is to visit your area some day to witness this effort.

[@WobblyRunner]

Great stuff. I couldnt agree more with all of your points 👍. Be amazing when boats are able to visit all the way to chesterfield from the canal network.

[@handyandy4x4]

I have fond memories of the chesterfield canal system mostly , around lowgates where you reported from to brimmington .from 19 82 to 1986 found school was difficult due to being dyslexic so ended up skiving and exploring .

[@mikewood142]

Good Morning Paul, This is my first ever time putting a comment on your KZbin channel, and it's going to be a very nice one to, because you deserve it mate. I've been watching your videos from past up until the future and I MUST say how much I enjoy ever video too, especially the ones on the Wood head railway line, because for some reason that is one of favourite disused Railway lines of all times, if only they could re open it, just like the Monsal railway line. Anyway back to the positive feed back to yourself and your channel. I must admit that you come across as a very interesting and knowledgeable person which is great and I myself follow the same interests as yourself and with watching some of your local videos, it has inspired me to visit some of the places you've been too, and enjoyed the places myself, so a big THANK YOU for doing that. I myself have a few health problems and issues and find that going for a nice walk no matter what the weather, I find it helps me to forget my problems and think about other thing's you see around the parts of the walk I'm doing. I'm a local Chesterfield person, but was born in Devon and have been up here since the early 90's and Derbyshire has got to be one of the best places to go out walking in, I often pop up to see the guys who are working on the old Clowne railway station project and it's nice to see how it's going, I've mentioned your name a few times which makes the guys know that other people know about what's going on there, and I often talk a walk down the Chesterfield Canal to see what's going on and I'm pleased to see, especially in this latest video, that plans are going well for the trust, long may it last. One question Paul, only if you know the answer? Do you by any chance know what is happening to the other part of the canal in Chesterfield down on a place called Brimington Road, where the canal basin is? It's near the railway station in Chesterfield. Anyway one day you never know, we may bump into eachother? Well hopefully as it'll be nice to meet one of my KZbin heroes 😊 plus say hello to Gordo who I enjoy seeing in your videos. So if one day your out and about and you see a chap ie me come up to you and say "hello, your Paul from KZbin" lol 😂 then you'll know it's me. On another note and I understand that your a busy person and have lots to do and other videos going on with, but is there any chance of you doing a video on the railway history of a place just outside Chesterfield called Clay Cross? There's even a Clay Cross walking trail too which I've done many times and you always see something different when you do the walk. Any Paul and Friends, keep up the good work mate, keep on uploading these BRILLIANT videos and I'll keep on watching them all. All the best from. Devon Mike 🚂

[@WobblyRunner]

Thanks ever so much for the very kind words Mike. Very humbling :) Im glad you get so much use out of them. The canal basin near Chesterfield station is an interesting one. It would appear that it's got no immediate future, I guess until someone redevelops the land around it and wants to pay to connect it to the main system. Such a shame. I remember the initial news about the new canal/riverside plans around there, but sadly come to nothing. As luck would have it, I'm doing something very interesting in Clay Cross in the very near future, so keep an eye out for that.

[@mikewood142]

Hello again Paul, just wanted to say thank you for the reply back, and information about the canal basin in Chesterfield town centre, like yourself I remember seeing the plans for the redevelopment of the area myself too, such a shame it's come to nothing at the moment. On another note regarding your latest Staveley canal video, it's horrible to hear that your getting negative feedback from people these days!!! There's always one that tries to spoil it for the rest of us, who enjoy watching your VERY interesting videos you do. I'd say just ignore people like that, there not worth worrying about, just keep up your good work you do and just like myself get on the best way you can. Anyway to yourself and Gordo, all the best, keep smiling. From. Devon Mike 🚂

[@kieran4550ify]

Brilliant video yet again! Love the fact that the Chesterfield Canal is gradually extending in Staveley! I’m 36 and absolutely love cycling from Rother Valley by the TransPennine trail and Chesterfield Canal in the summer months. Is there any way we can cut funding for trolls?

[@WobblyRunner]

😄. Thanks Kieran.

[@Carolb66]

Hi Paul & Godo! Well said about all the volunteers who spend their time on this restoration. It is a worthwhile project because when finished it will benefit everyone young or old! Some people just dint see the wider picture. Great update see you soon. ❤😊👍PS I like canals & I'm not that old! 😂

[@WobblyRunner]

Cheers Carol. I get the same kind of messages about the Clowne station restoration too. Get it buldozed and build a car park etc 🤔😄 I love watching both progress.

[@Carolb66]

@@WobblyRunner honestly some people, bulldoze an old train station, sacrilege! ❤️😱!

[@andrewmarriott4033]

Chesterfield canal is fantastic recently walked the bit from kiveton park to shire oaks it’s a amazing section 👍

[@WobblyRunner]

That's a beautiful section isn't it Andrew. Spend a lot of time down that bit.

[@andrewmarriott4033]

@@WobblyRunner Best piece of canal I’ve ever been on wonder if it will ever get joined up with the rest

[@WobblyRunner]

@@andrewmarriott4033 fingers crossed

[@adrianblunt4310]

The restored canal brings greatly added value to those sections that are accessible now and may be rezoned for high value housing and commercial development in the future. Just look at the videos showing housing renovation and development along sections of the canals that have been restored. Tourism is one of the few sections of the economy where investment shows continuous growth. Repairing roads is necessary but will not increase the local economy to the same extent. Fighting poverty is not done by ignoring opportunities to grow the local economy and employment.

[@WobblyRunner]

Well put Adrian 👍🙂

[@graham76man]

Hi Paul restoration projects are not cheap, but in the case of the Canal, when completed the areas they past through benefit from increased local trade from the numerous visitors to the Canal using the boats or just walking it. You can build a house near a canal or if you have a house near the canal and they price of the property increases in value. Now you can't say that about building a road or railway. Canals can even be used to provide green electricity and there are schemes already using it.

[@WobblyRunner]

Great points Graham 👍

[@Simon-jc1kk]

Thanks for the update Paul. It’s really exciting to see it progressing. Love your Chanel and loving your videos - thanks for sharing your passion.

[@WobblyRunner]

Thank you ever so much 👍. Glad you enjoy the videos😊

[@joecurly3637]

Been watching this restoration project for absolutely ages and been keeping my eyes out for updates. Sorry to hear about you being targeted by haters who are no-doubt ignorant in so many ways, but they can go get lost and learn it for themselves. I'm 26 and love similar things to you, and while you are right that Chesterfield Canal is 1770's (Georgian), the earliest history of canals dates back many thousands of years, maybe ancient Egyptians. But the oldest canal is the Grand Canal in China which construction dates back to around 486 BC; Europe's 1st canal came in 1398 with the opening of the Stecknitz Canal in Germany!

[@WobblyRunner]

Great stuff 👍. I didn't realise canals went that far back.

[@joecurly3637]

Yes, it certainly is quite surprising when you discover something is older than you think, happens a lot in my enthusiasms!👍

[@ModeratorFriendly]

I'm relatively young, and local, and I like the canal. I'd be particularly interested if we could get it connected to the rest of the system.

[@WobblyRunner]

It'll be great once they eventually get out reconnected. Be fantastic to go past Staveley and see it full of boats that have made their way up.

[@chrischapman7514]

Looking good great video alot of hard work as been put in and the dog got a walk to Paul.

[@WobblyRunner]

😄 thanks Chris. Video made, dog walked. Result.

[@karlgt9989]

Looking forward to seeing the progress on this, ignore the negative comments, most are bots anyway

[@jennythescouser]

That troll sounded like a total berk. It's like HS2, all the negative outpourings are drowning out the real issues. HS2 is not about giving Yuppies a quicker train ride, it's about capacity. Likewise, canals can help regenerate fish populations, which has a knock on effect for birds and insects, even the occasional otter. Canals can also help regenerate an area in terms of making safe leisure areas which can pick up a community (sometimes it's not always about money). BTW, have the Clowne gang thought of using their tunnel as a gallery space or even a acoustic music venue?

[@WobblyRunner]

I said the same thing about Hs2. We're so far behind other counties in terms of fast rail links. But it should always have been sold as much needed capacity. They don't hesitate to build a new road or tunnel under the Thames. Those who argued against it obviously never have to use the current appalling train service (especially EMR). That's a great idea about the tunnel. Like the Cave in castleton, but in a railway tunnel. I wonder if anything like that exists.

[@john-pu5uy]

Cheers Paul... always room for Canals

[@WobblyRunner]

Agreed :)

[@leegreveson]

Great to see an update Mr Wobbly, if in fact that is your real name 😂 On a side note, have you ever seen any images of the GCR loop running alongside the canal as it leaves Staveley towards hollingwood hub (works station)? Just curious 🤔

[@WobblyRunner]

😄 my wife informs me she wouldn't have been happy with the title Mrs Wobbly. 😊 I've not seen a photo on that section. I did see one somewhere a little further up at the bridge just before it enters that section, but not that exact section.

[@Dave-D17]

Brilliant video fella 👌🏼 noticed all the trees cut down the other day when I walked down there and was wondering what it was for 👍🏻

[@WobblyRunner]

Cheers Dave

[@scottc1589]

Thanks for the update, Wobbly!

[@WobblyRunner]

👍

[@andreacoates5732]

Thanks

[@WobblyRunner]

Thank you ever so much Andrea

[@Dalbymtb]

Amazing work How long do you think until the canal gets to renishaw ??? And will the toe path be sanitised for walking and cycling as the section from the bridge to renishaw the path is a bog in the winter and a nettle fest by summer ?

[@WobblyRunner]

That's a great question. I don't think there is a time frame on connecting to Renishaw, but once the Puddlebank is completed, it's a good obstacle overcome. If I remember rightly, part of the funding was to sort the old towpath all the way, even before it's put back in water. You're right, in winter it's awful.

[@Dalbymtb]

Council READ ME Would be great if the section of dissued railway to. The side of the new bridge installation would be packed down of its track ballast /stone by to Join to the clowns branch line that one section would make an A* trail from sheffield to Lincoln and a cyclist gravel paradise people would travel from all over the uk to do such routes ironing out all confusing small road links and for local people would be excellent. Roads and pot holes get us to work smoothly who cares make our country more accessible off road our weather and its mud limits this time and trails like this are all year round

[@Carolb66]

Thanks

[@WobblyRunner]

Thank you ever so much Carol 👍😊

[@Carolb66]

@@WobblyRunner your welcome! 🥰❤