Stroud District Council to be asked to approve compulsory purchase powers on 13 sites to keep canal project on course

The compulsory purchase orders, which would only be served if private negotiations fail, apply to canalside locations including GK Joinery at Brimscombe.

They are needed to ensure work stays on schedule and also to meet a condition of the £11.9million grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

An SDC spokesman said: "The timetable for restoring the canal is very tight and we cannot risk any delays due to land not being under our control.

"We aim to acquire all these sites in agreement with the owners.

"The compulsory purchase process is not in anyone’s best interests and we regard it as very much a last resort."

The proposed orders, to be presented to cabinet, relate to land between Stonehouse and Brimscombe.

SDC must acquire the sites by private negotiations or otherwise draft orders by the end of 2010 to comply with the Lottery agreement.

Some sites are needed before then for work to stay on schedule.

GK Joinery at Brimscombe stands on an infilled section of canal and must be bought and demolished to reinstate the watercourse.

Other sites include part of a back garden in Westward Road, Stroud and a narrow strip of Marling School playing field.

SDC claims most of the owners are willing to sell the land by private agreement.

However, the owner of land north of Dudbridge Lower Lock, which is needed to restore and later manage the lock, has twice shown an unwillingness to sell and has disputed its value.

Roger Grant, owner of GK Joinery, which has been at Brimscombe Corner for 27 years, said he would sell-up if SDC first helped him find another suitable property in the Stroud valleys.

"I don’t have a problem with moving because I am in favour of the canal coming through," he said.

"But I have got to look after my loyal workforce and customers, so I need to find a suitable premises within the locality."

Officials are already negotiating to acquire further sites east of Stroud.