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Lowland canals on the up

19th Sep 2005

The revitalisation of Scotland’s inland waterways has reached a major milestone with the opening of a new £1.2 million mooring basin and the announcement of a proposed new canalside pub and restaurant at Auchinstarry, near Kilsyth, on the Forth & Clyde Canal.
The mooring basin, which has been funded by Scottish Enterprise Lanarkshire and British Waterways, with support from North Lanarkshire Council, will help meet the needs of increasing boat traffic on the newly reopened Lowland Canals and will provide a convenient resting place for vessels in transit between the Firth of Forth and Firth of Clyde.
Plans are also being discussed for a themed picnic area, additional parking facilities and a wind turbine installation, while The Waterside Pub Partnership - a joint venture between British Waterways and Scottish & Newcastle Pub Enterprises – has obtained outline planning consent for a public house and restaurant on the site

Jim Stirling, Director Scotland at British Waterways, commented: "As boat use continues to grow across the Lowlands, it is imperative that we continue to improve the facilities available to all waterway users. Thanks to a major effort from our partners at North Lanarkshire Council and Scottish Enterprise Lanarkshire, we now have a first class mooring basin at Auchinstarry which will play an important role in our continuing efforts to encourage more users to our waterways."
In addition to the use of recycled materials in all parts of the construction process, the site also boasts the latest in sustainable environmental facilities. A unique water sourced heat pump utilises nothing less than canal water to provide heat and hot water to the recently constructed shower and toilet block. It is believed this is the first time in the UK that canal water has been utilised in this type of system.

In line with similar schemes throughout the UK a reed bed has also been cultivated to act as an environmentally friendly sewage treatment facility, with special bacteria breaking the waste down into its constituent harmless elements.

Last updated: 22/10/2008