Memorandum submitted by Gloucestershire
Society for Industrial Archaeology
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Gloucestershire Society for Industrial Archaeology
(GSIA) is very concerned that the changes made to Defra's budget
are highly detrimental to British Waterways' role in regeneration
and restoration. In particular, the Society deplores that these
changes have led to British Waterways withdrawing as lead partner
from the Cotswold Canals Restoration Project. This action severely
jeopardises the future of the project which is now making significant
progress and is so important for the regeneration of the Stroud
area.
The GSIA urges the Committee to recommend that
additional funding is found so that British Waterways is able
to continue its regeneration and restoration role in general,
and its involvement with the Cotswold Canals, in particular.
1. The Gloucestershire Society for Industrial
Archaeology (GSIA) fully supports the ongoing restoration of the
Cotswold Canals. The benefits of restoration extend far beyond
simply reopening the waterway for boats. Canal restoration schemes
bring significant social, economic and environmental benefits
to the urban and rural areas along the canal corridor.
2. Very significant progress towards the
restoration of the Cotswold Canals has been made in recent years
by the combined efforts of a large number of organisations working
together as the Cotswold Canals Partnership. The project has gained
the support of the Heritage Lottery Board, the South West of England
Regional Development Agency, Gloucestershire County Council and
Stroud District Council who are all making large financial contributions.
Members of the Cotswold Canals Trust and other organisations have
carried out a vast amount of voluntary work over the years in
support of the project. GSIA members have completed or started
nearly 30 heritage projects related to the Cotswold Canals in
the past year (www.gsia.org.uk/canals).
3. The restoration project has been severely
jeopardised by the recent withdrawal of British Waterways as lead
partner for financial reasons. GSIA, therefore, deplores the changes
made to Defra's budget which have had such a major detrimental
effect on British Waterways role in regeneration and restoration.
4. The GSIA urges the Committee to recommend
that additional funding is found so that British Waterways is
able to continue its regeneration and restoration role in general,
and its involvement with the Cotswold Canals, in particular.
Gloucestershire Society for Industrial Archaeology
March 2008
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