Opportunity for Chesterfield restoration

I can understand the worry and frustration expressed by those who have put so much into opening the Chesterfield Canal to navigation, with more to follow, that the HS2 proposed development might prevent, writes Mike Todd.

However, rather than using this as a means of opposing HS2 (which is unlikely to have much effect) would it not be better to lobby for using it as an opportunity?

Costs reduced

An opportunity for planners to insist on development gain in which the cost of restoring the presently unused sections of the canal are actually reduced by requiring the HS2 developers not only to put in navigable crossings (eg full height bridges rather than culverts) but also to restore a section for a specified distance in either direction?

If this approach can be adopted the focus then becomes on negotiating just how much gain is to be required and when. Why not ask that, in return for the planning blight which inevitably happens, these and other community and environmental works have to be done earlier than the rest of the route.