Thinking back to the discussions on the Montgomery on this list last week and to a story I recently heard that that the Hatherton Canal restoration has had to be re-thought due to the environmental lobby not being happy with increased boat numbers on the Cannock extension, I wonder whether the most likely way that canals will close is to have them designated as nature reserves. That way BW can't be blamed!
I happened to be on the Staffordshire Biodiversity Action Plan website a little while ago and the water voles page says the following: "Redundant canals provide excellent water vole habitat - good examples include the Cannock Extention Canal SAC, the Wyrley and Essington Canal near Bloxwich and the Wyrley and Essington Canal / Anglesey Branch at Chasewater." <http://sbap.org.uk/actionplan/wildlifeaudit/print.php?id=120> When was it decided that any of these are redundant? This is the official biodiversity plan for the county, and by implication the source we're meant to refer to for best practice. Steve NB Bream
