Memorandum submitted by the Wilts &
Berks Canal Trust
1. The Wilts & Berks Canal Trust is
a member of a Partnership which includes Local Authorities, British
Waterways, Environment Agency and other Stakeholders, who are
actively restoring the 52 miles of the Wilts & Berks Canal
from Abingdon to Semington, and the 8 miles of the North Wilts
Canal from Swindon to Cricklade (connecting to the Cotswold Canals).
[see Figure 1].
2. The scheme was recognised by British
Waterways in their strategy document Waterways 2025 as
a project that they would support.
3. On behalf of the Wilts & Berks Canal
Trust I can confirm that British Waterways continue to be active
partners in the scheme to restore the Wilts & Berks Canal.
The role of British Waterways in this project is to provide technical
advice and practical help were possible, and we are pleased to
have a good working relationship with the BW South West region
team.
4. Many parts of the scheme are currently
being delivered including several sections in Swindon, where there
is an ambitious project to include the canal as part of the regeneration
of the town centre.
5. We would like to make the Select Committee
aware that the recent decision of British Waterways to pull out
of the Cotswold Canals Partnership has had a very negative effect
on the Wilts & Berks project. The extensive press coverage
of this announcement has caused doubts among the general public,
partners, and funders that the restoration Wilts & Berks can
ever progress, and will undoubtedly make fundraising even more
difficult.
6. Given that the economic and environmental
benefits of canal restoration are well known and extolled by Government,
the Wilts & Berks Canal Trust would urge DEFRA to re-consider
the recent cuts in grants to British Waterways, and would further
ask British Waterways to re-consider its decision to withdraw
from the Cotswold Canals Partnership.
Ken Oliver
Chief Executive
Wilts & Berks Canal Trust
March 2008
Figure 1
MAP OF THE WILTS & BERKS CANAL AND ADJACENT
WATERWAYS
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