Fingers crossed for a Lottery win

The Cotswold Canals Partnership has made its long-awaited bid for Lottery cash.

Partnership member British Waterways has asked the Heritage Lottery Fund to pay half of the £40m cost of rebuilding the long-derelict canal from Saul Junction, near Gloucester, to the village of Brimscombe, near Stroud. The nine-mile route comprises the 12km (7-mile) Stroudwater Navigation and a further 4km (2 miles) of the Thames & Severn Canal to Brimscombe. The work could be complete by 2008.

Andrew Stumpf, British Waterways’ regeneration manager, said: "We are delighted to have secured sufficient local support and match funding for the restoration of this first phase, enabling us to submit a bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund for around half its funding. Support for the project continues to grow, and by December, we will have developed a plan for the entire 58km (36-mile) canal restoration. The Partnership will continue to promote the development of a walking trail across the whole length of the two canals and we will also be putting more funding packages together for individual restoration projects, like the Spine Road Bridge, in the remaining lengths.

"Our ultimate goal is reconnecting the rivers Thames and Severn and unlocking the true potential of these historic waterways for the benefit of the communities they connect."

Stroud District Council has already committed £1.25million to the project through direct funding and securing developers’ contributions. The Council’s Cabinet has recently recommended that the Council makes a further £1 million available to the project.

After initial hopes of a 'big bang' approach, the Partnership - including British Waterways and the volunteer organisation, the Cotswold Canals Trust - has settled on five stages of work:

1. The restoration of the Stroudwater Navigation and 4km of the Thames & Severn from Stroud to Brimscombe Port and the establishment of a walking trail across the entire 58km (36-mile) length # The restoration of the Thames & Severn Canal from the Thames at Inglesham to the Cotswold Water Park via Cricklade # Connecting the Cotswold Canals to Swindon through the North Wilts Canal # Restoring the Thames & Severn Canal from Brimscombe to Sapperton Tunnel west portal and from Sapperton Tunnel east portal to Lechlade # Restoring the 2.25-mile Sapperton Tunnel Last month, the Waterways Trust launched the Cotswold Canals Appeal, inviting members of the public to back the restoration with a donation. It is hoped that the Appeal will raise £750,000 towards the cost of the restoration. For more information on the appeal or to make a donation please call 0845 0700 710 or write to the Waterways Trust, FREEPOST NWW8200A, Ellesmere Port CH65 4ZZ.