Canal could flow again (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Canal could flow again

The canal at the bottom of Kingshill. Ref: 78726-93BRINGING the canal back to Swindon could be the missing link in the town centre's redevelopment, it has been claimed.

The historic waterway could return within 10 years, according to the Wilts and Berks Canal Trust.

And Swindon Council's deputy leader Roderick Bluh has thrown his weight behind the project.

The canal would follow the historic line of the old canal, but instead of going along Canal Walk, would run from Milton Road down Farnsby Street and along Faringdon Road and Fleet Street.

The estimated cost would be between £25m and £30m.

Ken Oliver, the chairman of the canal trust, said the canal would not require any buildings to be demolished.

"We had all decided it would go round the town, but with the new political leadership at the council, we are enthusiastic to explore the route through the centre," he said.

"I think the canal could be the missing link in the redevelopment of the town centre."

And it could be completed within the 10-year time frame of the town centre redevelopment plan, he said.

Canals have played a major part in the revival of urban areas in Birmingham, Manchester and Reading.

"The trust has been working for many years with other members of the Canal Partnership to achieve full restoration of the canal and this scheme is now well underway," said Mr Oliver.

Coun Bluh (Con, Dorcan) said: "I'm totally supportive of this idea. I'm passionately in favour.

"In fact, I've been working on this issue since the first day I got elected.

"Bringing the canal back into Swindon would help regenerate the economy and make Swindon a destination, putting heritage back into the town.

"Under the current proposals for the canal, Swindon will be by-passed, but more could be spent bypassing the town than putting the canal through it.

"The economic effect the Kennet and Avon Canal has had on communities has been enormous."

He stressed the idea is only in the early stages but he is optimistic that it could be feasible.

"According to the canal trust the cost could be £25m or £30m, using the western route," he said. "That would possibly be affordable. There would be potential for lottery funding, British Waterways funding and Section 106 money."

A feasibility study of the original route was carried out in 2003 by the Regional Development Agency, along with a number of other agencies, putting the cost at £50m.

But one for the town centre route has not been done and without it Coun Bluh said the £25m-£30m figure might not be correct.

Former Conservative Minister John Gummer is also behind the project.

He said: "Swindon needs something that will really make a difference.

"The coming of a new campus of the University of Bath will help, but it will remain an also-ran unless there is some real imagination to transform the centre.

"That's why the re-opening of Swindon's canals is so vital."

Alan Hayward, the spokesman for the Civic Trust, said: "We did a survey last year and one of the questions was about the canal.

"The response wasn't overwhelming but it was over 50 per cent in favour. I think people have got mixed views about it.

"But I don't think anyone could disagree that it would add a lot of life to the town centre and bring something that's missing.

"I think it really would be an asset."

The Wilts and Berks Canal Trust welcome comments from local residents about bringing the canal back to the town centre.

Comments can be made by visiting www.swindoncanals.co.uk.

Worth it only if benefits outweigh costs

THE cost would be the main stumbling block.

Philip Watkins from the New Swindon Company, which is responsible for the regeneration for Swindon, said: "Anyone who works in regeneration is always looking for an opportunity to introduce water into the scheme.

"One of the first surveys we did was to look at the feasibility of bringing the canal through the centre.

"It came back on the instruction that yes it was possible but extraordinarily expensive.

"If Coun Bluh and the trust have found a way of answering some of the questions raised previously then we are open-minded."

Dennis Grant, the chief executive of the Swindon Chamber of Commerce, said: "The truth of the matter is the impact on business would be relatively minimal.

"There will be a spill-over in retail and leisure and it may well attract visitors.

"I think the idea is good and I think there is room to explore it.

"The question is, would it really make the difference the town centre needs?

"The level of disruption would impact on the business community because it would make getting in and out of town hard but that would be worth it if we're going to have something really different."