CHESTERFIELD Canal Trust is celebrating welcome financial support following the award of two grants that will benefit its historic boats and a popular canalside community hub.
Coun Bert Bingham, who represents Worksop West on Nottinghamshire County Council, made a major donation from his share of the authority’s Councillor’s Divisional Fund. It will go towards the maintenance of tripboat Hugh Henshall and Dawn Rose, which is the trust’s replica Cuckoo Boat, built entirely by hand by trust volunteers, as previously reported. Both boats are moored in Shireoaks Marina, which lies within Coun Bingham’s division.
Trust chairman Peter Hardy received a ceremonial cheque from Coun Bingham at the Stret Lock Open Day and said: “Hugh Henshall carries hundreds of passengers every year and Dawn Rose demonstrates horse boating during the summer months to sizeable crowds. It costs a surprising amount of money to maintain boats, so this donation is very welcome.”
The Mansfield Building Society has also given the trust a grant from its Community Support Scheme to purchase a new bench at Hollingwood Hub. The cheque was presented to the trust’s Simon Cork by Laura Beth Harding, from the building society, who said: “Hollingwood Hub is a delightful oasis of calm, and a new bench will offer many years of enjoyment for those visiting or using the canal.”
Simon Cork, a member of the volunteer gardening team, added: “We try to keep the hub pleasant for everyone, which is why we have received a Green Flag for nine years in a row. This grant will help us to maintain good outdoor seating for the public to relax.”
