>IWA Press Release
>
>Issue Date: 9 December 2008
>
>IWA Gives Grant To Uttoxeter Canal Feasibility Study
>
>One of Staffordshire's lost waterways has been given a helping hand by The
>Inland Waterways Association (IWA) with a grant of £5,000 to the Caldon and
>Uttoxeter Canals Trust towards a feasibility study into the restoration of the
>Uttoxeter Canal. The study will investigate how to restore the canal between
>Froghall and Uttoxeter, which although closed as long ago as 1849 is
>considered restorable by many waterways experts.
>
>In making the grant, IWA Restoration Commitee chairman Vaughan Welch said:
>
> "This is one of many grants that IWA makes to similar organisations during
> the year to enable planning and scoping works to take place to help unlock
> funding for restoration. In making this award, IWA was conscious of the
> Trust's public awareness and political lobbying campaign which has to date
> successfully engaged and got the interest of the various local authorities,
> to the extent that restoration of the Uttoxeter Canal is 'pencilled' into
> their Local Development Framework processes and on their regeneration
> agendas, and the authorities are now pressing for a feasibility study in
> order that the restoration scheme can be formally recognised."
>
>He went on to say:
>
> "A positive outcome of the Feasibility Study would enable the Trust to press
> for the restoration of the Uttoxeter Canal to be formally included in the
> Local Development Framework documentation for the canal's various local
> authorities, including Staffordshire County Council, Staffordshire Moorlands
> District Council, and East Staffordshire Borough Council. This would enable
> the route to be protected and encourage its inclusion in future development
> planning."
>
>
>Mike Maryon, Uttoxeter Canal Restoration Committee Chairman, and Staffordshire
>County Councillor for Cheadle & Checkley, said:
>
> "We are indebted to The Inland Waterways Association for this grant. This
> money comes at a critical time for us as we are discussing with the local
> Councils (Staffordshire County Council / Staffordshire Moorlands District
> Council / East Staffordshire Borough Council) the opportunities that
> regeneration could bring to the 13 mile stretch of Staffordshire canal that
> runs from Froghall via Oakamoor, Alton, Denstone and Rocester through to
> Uttoxeter. This extra funding will help us take another step in the Trust's
> plans towards re-establishing the former glory of this canal and making
> people aware of the great benefits that this scheme could bring to local
> communities."
>
>
>- Ends -
>
>For further Information Please Contact:
>
>
>Vaughan Welch Chairman IWA Restoration Committee
>0121 477 9782
>
>Mike Maryon
>Chairman, Uttoxeter Restoration Committee
>Caldon & Uttoxeter Canals Trust (Registered Charity No 259766)
>Hillcrest, Winnothdale, Staffordshire Moorlands ST10 4HB
>Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>Web site: www.cuct.org.uk
>Tel: 01538 723193
>Mob: 07786 632235
>
>Photos available on request to Mike Maryon
>
>
>
>Notes for Editors:
>
>
>The Inland Waterways Association (IWA) is a registered charity, founded in
>1946, which advocates the conservation, use, maintenance, restoration and
>development of the inland waterways for public benefit.
>
>IWA has about 18,000 members whose interests include restoration, towing path
>walking, industrial archaeology, boating, nature conservation and many other
>activities associated with the inland waterways.
>
>IWA works closely with navigation authorities, other waterway bodies, a wide
>range of national and local authorities, voluntary, private and public sector
>organisations to raise funds, lobby for support and encourage public
>participation in the inland waterways. The Association also supplies voluntary
>labour through its Waterway Recovery Group.
>
>More than 500 miles of canals and navigable rivers have been re-opened to
>public use since the Association was founded in 1946. Currently another 500
>miles of derelict inland waterways are the subject of restoration plans.
>Further information can be found at www.waterways.org.uk and www.wrg.org.uk.
>
>Uttoxeter Canal. The objectives of the Caldon & Uttoxeter Canals Trust are to
>restore, preserve, maintain in good order and improve the existing Caldon
>Canal and all the former arms of the canal including the branch known as the
>Uttoxeter Canal (to which the Caldon Canal is currently the only link) - for
>the use and benefit of the public. Previously known as the Caldon Canal
>Society, the organisation was formed by enthusiasts in 1963 in response to
>notices closing the canal after traffic had declined in the 1950s. Volunteers
>began the restoration works and in 1974 the Caldon Canal was reopened, the
>Society having been instrumental in bringing about a partnership agreement
>between Staffordshire County Council, Stoke-on-Trent City Council and British
>Waterways Board. (Reg. Charity No. 259766) www.cuct.org.uk
>
>Volunteers from the Caldon & Uttoxeter Canals Trust, Waterway Recovery Group
>and The Inland Waterways Association commenced restoring the Uttoxeter Canal
>at Froghall on 7 February 2003. The volunteers worked in partnership with
>British Waterways on the £800,000 "Destination Froghall" rural regeneration
>and restoration initiative in the heart of the Churnet Valley. At Froghall
>the Caldon Canal terminates at its former junction with the Uttoxeter Canal,
>in the shadow of preserved limekilns where limestone was transhipped from the
>Cauldon Lowe quarry tramways on to narrow boats and later the North
>Staffordshire Railway - now the Churnet Valley Railway, preserved and operated
>by volunteers.
>
>On 23 July 2005 the restored first lock and basin of the Uttoxeter Canal at
>Froghall were re-opened to provide moorings for visiting boats, footpaths
>giving inclusive access around the site, seating areas and sympathetic
>landscaping including tree planting, wildlife habitat, a pond and a stumpery.
>An important feature from the industrial revolution has been saved from
>dereliction and brought back into use to be enjoyed by local residents and
>visitors to Staffordshire: The Canal County.
>
>An exhibition about the Uttoxeter Canal ("Bringing the Uttoxeter Canal Back to
>Life") is currently running at Uttoxeter Heritage Centre, Carter Street,
>Uttoxeter, ST14 8EU, from now until 31 January 2009. The Trust will be 'At
>Home' at the Centre on Saturday 13th December from 10am to 2pm when members
>will be available to answer questions for members of the public
>
>
>Jo Gilbertson
>Campaign & Communications Manager
>The Inland Waterways Association
>Non-profit Distributing Company Limited by Guarantee No 612245
>Registered Charity No 212342
>
>Registered Office: Island House Moor Road CHESHAM HP5 1WA
>Tel: 01494 783 453 Ext 611
>E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>website: www.waterways.org.uk
>P sustainable thinking...please don't print this e-mail unless you really need
>to
>
>
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Brian L Dominic
Web Sites:
Canals: http://www.brianscanalpages.co.uk
