IWA boost to Lincolnshire restoration

The Inland Waterways Association has made a grant of £2,000 to Sleaford Navigation Trust towards the purchase of the bed of the River Slea from Bone Mill Lock to Carre Street, in Sleaford.

Ownership of the land will provide a boost to Trust's efforts to restore the full 13 miles of the Sleaford Navigation in Lincolnshire. At present some eight miles from the junction of the River Witham at Chapel Hill to Cobblers Lock are navigable.

The forthcoming purchase includes Cogglesford Lock and Lock Island, by the side of the restored Cogglesford Watermill. The total cost of the land being boaught is about £7,600, including legal fees of which over £5,000 has already been raised by local public appeals.

The land is currently owned by the Bristol Estates, once major landowners in Sleaford. Ownership of the land will strengthen the Trust's application to the Heritage Lottery Fund to restore Cogglesford Lock, a listed structure. Although at the head of navigation and not connected to the main navigable section, restoration of this part of the waterway is particularly desirable as it is a high-profile site in the centre of town. Ownership of the land should also preclude any hindrance to the Trust's restoration plans.

The validity of the restoration has now been recognised by the inclusion of the waterway in the Lincolnshire Waterways Partnership scheme to develop and promote the waterways of Lincolnshire as a local amenity. Work is about to start on an Implementation Study for full restoration funded by that Partnership.

Chris Hayes, chairman of Sleaford Navigation Trust, said, "The Trust is very grateful to the Inland Waterways Association for its generous assistance in helping to fund the purchase and attendant legal costs."

Tony Harrison, chairman of IWA's Restoration committee said, "IWA regards the purchase of the river bed as of strategic importance in progressing full restoration of the Sleaford Navigation and is pleased to make this contribution".