Watersports company to build headquarters next to the banks of River Derwent - despite ongoing legal battle

The application, from Rapid Horizons Limited, would see a small storage facility with toilets and changing rooms built off Wenslees, close to Darley Bridge – upstream from Matlock.

Derbyshire Dales District Council planning meeting on March 8, councillors approved the plans despite strong opposition from a number of residents, anglers and angling clubs.

They feared that “armadas” of inflatables and kayaks would continue to cause “real harm” and claimed the site was being “used and abused” by the firm.

Councillors were informed that access rights to the River Derwent, from the spot the watersports company had been using for a decade, were a civil matter not for consideration by the authority.

John Best, who runs the company alongside wife Emily, said the company had used the site since 2012 and that access to the river had been used at this point for watersports for 40 years.

He said the company employs five local instructors and its main customers are tourists, charities and educational groups, with activities taking people from Darley Bridge down to Matlock Bath.

This includes rafting, canoeing, kayaking and tubing – using inflatable rubber rings to float down the river.

It had until now been leasing storage space two miles away and bringing equipment to and from the site each day, but the lease of its facility has been cancelled and the firm needs a new base.

Mr Best said the company operates between 10am and 4pm, mainly on weekends and also on weekdays during term times, for around nine months each year when conditions suit themselves best for watersports – not during periods of flooding.

He said: “The angling club holds fishing rights along the river and we have always been respectful of their presence while carrying out activities.

“Our business needs a sustainable base to store paddle sport equipment and naturally the most sensible location for this is in the location of the majority of our operations

“We believe that it will benefit not only our customers but also local residents, tourists visiting the area and the local outdoor community

“It will allow us to reduce the journeys we make with our vehicles, easing congestion and emissions.”

He said the company regularly takes part in river cleanups and reports blockages and issues to the Environment Agency.

Mr Best said providing parking on the site, for six vehicles, would mean there would not be any need for people to park on nearby streets or perform three-point turns which “inconvenience” residents.

He said the proposals would improve Matlock’s reputation as a “go-to tourist destination”.

Peter Astles, the founding member of charity Paddle Peak, which helps to remove “tonnes of tonnes of rubbish, litter, agricultural waste and sewage pollution every year using canoes and kayaks”.

Mr Astles, who also runs a watersports equipment business in Darley Dale, said one of his goals was to encourage local people to try paddlesports and improve access to watersport.

He said the company had historic rights of access to the water in Darley Bridge.

Mr Astles said the company had recently featured on the Channel 5 programme Susan Calman’s Grand Day Out, “selling the Derbyshire Dales and the Derwent Valley to tourists”.

He said the plans were a “win-win” and would prevent the need for people to “pee in the bushes”.

Mr Astles said the plan would “create and preserve local employment and promote environmentally friendly activities”.