Canals and Rivers Trust to take over from British Waterways17th July 2012

Britain’s 2,000 mile canal and waterways network should be reincorporated into the nation’s infrastructure to play a practical a role in future tourism, environmental and transport strategies, according to Colliers International planning specialist James Edwards.

The Canal and Rivers Trust is poised to take over the management of the UK’s inland waterways from British Waterways and James Edwards believes the changeover represents an outstanding opportunity to put canals back on the map.

“The canals network deserves much more than a glorified makeover.

“Britain’s waterways could and should play a far more joined up role in shaping our future communities. They shouldn’t simply be pretty places for people to walk their dog.

“The network represents a huge untapped resource for tourism, heritage, environmental projects and even smaller scale commercial freight movement. We no longer have the heavy industry that these canals once served, but we still have the infrastructure and should take the opportunity to restore as much of the network and associated historic built environment and features as feasibly possible, whilst boosting tourism and invariably employment.

Edwards said huge inroads had been made in restoring some of Britain’s canals, which were carved through our cities and countryside during the Canal Mania during the 18th and 19th centuries.

“Rail and then road transport effectively relegated our canals to the status of backwaters. But they could play a far more practical role as transportation and environmental factors necessitate a radical rethink of our national resources.

“According to the Canals and Rivers Trust, some 200 miles of new or restored canals have been created in the past decade, which means this is the first time that the network has grown since the 19th century.

A number of trusts have been set up to restore the canal network in Wales and the West including the Monmouthshire, Brecon and Abergavenny Canals Trust, who are working to restore the canal from Brecon all the way to Newport; the Wilts and Berks Canal Trust and the Cotswolds Canal Trust, working to restore the Stroudwater Navigation and the Thames and Severn Canal.

“But it’s not just the reopening of canals for boats to use that makes this such an important project. The infrastructure in the form of old locks and warehouses is equally vital. There is also an opportunity to bring about widespread improvements to the environment, which could be sensitively managed to create new wildlife habitats.”

It is hoped that the changeover will give the estimated 10 million people who visit UK waterways a greater role in making them cleaner and more attractive, creating new habitats, planting trees and restoring neglected towpaths.