Plans to bring boats to Monkton Park along a stretch of the Wilts and Berks Canal are underway, with a proposal showing planners hope to follow the course of the disused Calne railway line.

The proposed route would link from the restored mainline of the canal to the River Avon near Monkton Park, and then go south-east to the Stanley Locks, roughly following the old Calne railway tracks.

The mile-and-a-half long stretch would connect the Avon to the canal, and then link it to the Melksham and Semington stretch and so on to Swindon and Abingdon.

Ken Oliver, canal officer for Wiltshire Council, said: “These are not new plans, but we are at the beginning of the process for this proposal.

“We are blowing the dust off these plans as a result of the Chippenham River Festival, which seems to be growing in popularity with each passing year. We have now put together a map to show what has been discussed for a number of years. It is not exactly a done deal in terms of planning yet, and the proposal is up for discussion.”

The owners of land in the east of the town, Chippenham 2020, say they are supportive of the plans.

Edward Heard, from the developers, said: “We are very excited about the prospect of the river being used more.

“It would be fantastic for it to be integrated into the town centre so it becomes a major feature of the town. If we were going to build on the land at the east of the town, we would love the canal to be integrated into the developments so water and the boats that could pass by would be a part of the design. Anything that makes the river and the canal the main artery for that side of Chippenham for pedestrians and cyclists to travel out into the countryside is really exciting.”

Mr Oliver said: “It would be an opportunity to get steel-hulled, fully-engineered boats through Chippenham, from the Swindon stretch of the canal to Monkton Park.

“I believe Chippenham 2020 are supporting this as they would like to give people a flavour of having a wonderful river and some activities on it as well. It could really move that part of Chippenham forward in terms of things to do on the river.”

A picture of the new route can be found at http://www.wiltsand berkscanal.org.uk/chipplans.htm