Plan to link Severn and Thames (From Stroud News and Journal)

Plan to link Severn and Thames

IT should be possible to reach Stroud by water as well as road and rail in five years' time.

That is the belief of the Cotswold Canals Trust following last week's announcement from the trust, British Waterways and The Waterways Trust that they intend restoring the Stroudwater Navigation and the Thames and Severn Canal as part of a national canal reconstruction programme.

Watercraft should be able to travel from Saul Junction where the Stroudwater Navigation meets the Gloucester Sharpness Canal, to Wallbridge in the centre of Stroud, where the Thames & Severn Canal will eventually continue all the way to Lechlade and the River Thames.

Cotswold Canals Trust treasurer Jack Telling explained that watercraft in Stroud by 2007 is seen as a reality rather than a possibility.

"It's something we are not afraid to tell people," he told the News & Journal at the launch of the estimated £82 million restoration.

"The idea is to be in Stroud in five years."

The main obstacle to reaching their goal is negotiating a way around the M5 motorway and Gloucester - Bristol railway line which cuts across the canal at present.

Several options are open to them and they are confident that ways around these two major communications routes can be found.

In the meantime, "quick win" restoration projects have been identified, while major fundraising continues in earnest, safe in the knowledge that their financial hand has been strengthened by British Waterways and The Waterways Trust's statement of intent.

The first stage of the work is to undertake a £150,000 environmental impact study over 18 months, then a £50,000 engineering research project. The South West Regional Development Agency has awarded a grant of £100,000 towards this.

"We should have a funding package together in around two years," explained Mr Telling.

"In the interim we have several quick win schemes - Ebley infill, Warp Bridge at Whitminster and Wallbridge.

"The level of optimism that it's going to be quick rather than slow is increasing."