Mike Rodd, Chairman of The Kennet and Avon Canal Trust Council, said: "The Trust is delighted to have been advised by British Waterways that they have received confirmation from DEFRA’s Parliamentary Section that the re-classification Order to redefine the sections of the K&A Waterway which are presently classified as “Remainder Waterways” as “Cruiseways”, will definitely come into force on 18 April 2011. This is wonderful news that begins another chapter of the history of our Trust and our Waterway.”
British Waterways (BW), supportedand cajoled by the Trust and the K&A Trade Association, has campaigned for many years to achieve this important change. In the long term, it will ensurethat BW (or its proposed successor, the “National Waterways Charity”) will maintain the canal in its entirety as a fully operational waterway, available for cruising.
In practice, BW has been maintaining the waterway as a Cruiseway since the restoration was completed in 2002, with the substantial additional funding required currently coming from direct financial contributions from the relevant riparian Councils (Wiltshire, West Berkshire and Bath & North East Somerset).
For all those who love, play or boat on, or make their living from the waterway, this announcement is the best possible news!!
You heard it here first!
What a superb epitaph to those stalwart volunteers, many of whom are no longer with us, they fought and won to get our beautiful canal restored and open for us to use today.
ReplyDeleteElaine Kirby