Park Life - A Derbyshire Tale

Millions of pounds of public funds are to be used to help a private company turn Britain's first ever country park into a golf Resort.

Elvaston Castle country park comprising a Grade 2 go tic revival mansion and more than 300 acres of parkland in Derbyshire , was the first country park to be purchased under the 1968 Countryside Act, intended to safeguard open spaces for future generations. More than 600,000 visit there every year.

Now Derbyshire county council hopes to get shot of an estimated £3million repair bill for the castle and the annual £500,000 spent on the grounds. It plans to turn Elvaston into a luxury hotel with wedding and conference facilities, along with bars, restaurants and a swimming pool.
Continued public access will be assured - as long as the public buys gym membership or pays to eat in the bars or restaurants.

The grounds are to be converted into two golf courses. Twelve acres of nature reserve will also have to go.

After the usual loaded public "consultation" exercise, the public consulted itself in the form of a 60,000 named petition in opposition.Nevertheless, Derbyshire announced its "preferred partner" Highgate Sanctuary Ltd. Director Tanya Spilsbury's father is Brian Ashby, head of commercial property firm Norseman Holdings.

The council protests that it is not selling Elvaston - but a 150 yr lease will see us all out. Once the planning permissions are in place by spring 2009 it is hoped that Highgate Sanctuary will provide and estimated £2.75 million match funding(along with a peppercorn rent for the lease) so the council can resubmit its bid for millions more pounds of public money to the heritage lottery fund to "restore" the castle and grounds for the benefit and profit of..... Highgate Sanctuary!