12th February 2008

Dear Member  

British Waterways Withdraws from Restoration Partnership

On the 3 rd July 2001 at the Stonehouse Court Hotel Dave Fletcher, the then Chief Executive of British Waterways, announced to prospective partners that BW had a firm intention to restore fully the Cotswold Canals. In 2002 BW became the lead partner and over the past 6 years has frequently reiterated this intention.

It is with deep regret that I have to inform you that during the morning of Monday 4th February 2008 I received a telephone call from Robin Evans (currently BW Chief Executive) explaining that the BW Board had decided from April 2008 to withdraw from the Restoration Partnership together with the £6 million it had pledged to the Phase 1a Heritage Lottery project funding package to restore the canal from Stonehouse to Brimscombe Port. BW made this decision without consulting with, or prior warning to, its partners.

BW gave as its main reason for withdrawal the necessity to concentrate its scarce resources on repairing the breach (and other structures) on the Monmouth & Brecon Canal at a cost of £15 million. In its press release BW was silent on whether or not any attempt had been made to obtain alternative funding so as not to jeopardise the Cotswold Canals project.

During the past 6 years much has been achieved. A great deal of work went into preparing the successful HLF bid for Phase 1a. The Big Lottery bid for Phase 1b (Saul to Stonehouse) was equally demanding in time and although ultimately unsuccessful the Big Lottery development grant of £250,000 resulted in a significant amount of preparatory work being undertaken which will be extremely useful as restoration progresses in the future.

The local BW Regeneration Team has introduced many initiatives designed to meet Heritage Lottery funding criteria. Volunteers, including work parties from the Cotswold Canals Trust and Waterways Recovery Group, have made considerable progress in removing trees and undergrowth from the line of the canal. Recently BW awarded contracts for the removal of the Ryeford infill and the restoration of Oil Mills bridge (these will be completed before BW's withdrawal). The freehold lengths of canal owned by Gloucester County Council were also transferred to BW within the past few weeks.

Last Autumn we were particularly heartened by BW's apparent determination to complete the Phase 1a Project by a significant strengthening of the Regeneration Team. In the last edition of the Trow the Regeneration Manager announced three senior appointments and in the enclosed Spring 2008 Trow a very recently appointed Project Manager dedicates himself to the Cotswolds restoration.

It was with incredulity, therefore, that BW's partners received the news of withdrawal. Clearly this is potentially a serious blow to the restoration in general and to Phase 1a in particular. I have to say, however, that the remaining partners are very positive and Stroud District Council and the Waterways Trust have already pledged to continue with the project.

The Cotswold Canals Trust will shortly attend a meeting of the Partnership Board, to be convened by its Chairman Roger Hanbury, when we will press for the following actions to be taken as a matter of urgency:

• The reconstitution of the Cotswold Canals Partnership, without BW, and the appointment of a credible Lead Partner.
  To seek additional funding partners
• Urgent talks with Heritage Lottery and the South West Regional Development Agency to ensure that funding is not diverted elsewhere
• A review of BWs costings for Phase 1a (£35 million in total) to see if efficiency savings can be made and costs reduced by a much greater volunteer input
• To determine the future status of those lengths of the Stroudwater & Thames & Severn Canals recently handed over to BW by the Company of Proprietors of the Stroudwater Navigation and Gloucestershire County Council.

Needless to say informal discussions are already taking place with our partners and our very supportive local MP David Drew (who has described the withdrawal as a ‘bolt from the blue'). The Inland Waterways Association is outraged by BW's decision and is already campaigning on our behalf at a national level.

Clearly the next few weeks, and months, will be extremely challenging. We are fortunate, however, that very recently the Trust appointed Ken Burgin as its Chief Executive. I can assure our members that Ken and I, with the support of Trust Council, will work unremittingly to ensure that the restoration of the Cotswold Canals comes to fruition.

I would like to thank you for your past support. The strength of the Cotswold Canals Trust has been based on a large and committed membership. In meeting, and overcoming, the challenges ahead that commitment will be even more important. I will, of course, keep you informed as to progress.

Finally a reminder that a Dinner & Cabaret to celebrate our 35th Anniversary and the ‘Bruce Hall Years' is scheduled for Saturday 8 th March at the Whitminster Inn. Over 150 bookings have already been received but the venue is large enough to accommodate at least 200. If you have not already booked why not come along to join in the celebrations? Our spirits have not been dampened! I will also give a restoration up-date. Further details can be obtained from Linda Amery (Tel: 01453 766751 or E-mail: Linda@bowbridgelock.wanadoo.co.uk)

Yours sincerely

Elizabeth Payne
Chairman