Council set to invest £3 million in next phase of Saul to Stonehouse canal restoration project

STROUD District Council is set to pump £3 million into regenerating the canal from Saul to Stonehouse over the next four years.

This will help compete the six-mile stretch of the landlocked Stroudwater Navigation Canal and open up Brimscombe, Stroud and Stonehouse into Britain’s 2,500 mile network of canals and rivers.

The new funding was announced as part of the administration’s budget and spending committee meeting on Thursday.

This will see an initial investment of £250,000 towards the extensive and complex project in 2017/18.

Another half a million will follow the next year, another £1.5 million in 2019/20 and the final £750,000 in 2020/21.

It continues the momentum of the first phase of restoration, which was led by the Stroud District Council (SDC) and generated £115m in private investment to the area.

It is projected that the total cost of excavation and construction of the second phase will cost £16 million.

SDC is also hoping the largest chunk of money from this sizable bill will come from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

The council said it will also work alongside Gloucestershire County Council and the Cotswold Canal Trust to progress the scheme.

David Hagg, chief executive of SDC, said he was also meeting with representatives from the Canal and River Trust in the coming weeks to discuss their input.

Mr Hagg also said the projected economic boost from tourism and increased land value could reach as high as £70 million.

SDC hopes a link to the national canal network will bring more people to the district to for leisure and boost ecology, environment and health and wellbeing, and extend existing cycle paths.

Cllr Steve Lydon, leader of Stroud District Council, said: “Canal restoration brings huge economic, environmental and leisure benefits.

“The existing restoration has given Stroud and the surrounding area a massive lift, but its full potential will only be realised when boats can get from the national waterway network into Stroud and beyond.

“I’ve been struck by the popular support among both residents and businesses for continuing our great work with canal restoration.

“We hope that our funding and involvement in the project will give the Heritage Lottery Fund the confidence to support us with the funding needed.

“Despite the possibility of this funding, this restoration will again be very dependent on volunteers. Without their support and commitment, we wouldn’t be where we are today.”

The work is expected to take up to six years to complete.

A report from the Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust has also highlighted the huge benefits the restoration would bring to the area’s wildlife.