narrowboatworld

I suggest that all the local members of the Cromford society have a quiet word with their individual ward councillors.

This is quite normal obedience to rules by officers, the planning fees being fixed by central government, another dead hand on local initiative. However, although officers might not like it, councillors are there to help local people get round these problems.

Four ideas come to mind:

• Channel the application through a local Parish Council, who get a 50% rebate.
• Apply for grant aid from the Borough Council.
• Have a go at the tourism budget (Joanne Brown—Tourism & Cultural Co-ordinator on 01773 841485.)
• Raise the issue with the Local Community Forum (although the Forum cannot discuss merits of planning applications themselves the issue of costs should not be excluded)

I am sure that local councillors will know of other 'cocoa pots' that could be tapped. Like it or not, softly softly will, hopefully, achieve more. I would have posted this to the Friends web site but, somewhat surprisingly, I can find no mention of this problem on the site.

Martin Cox