Supporters of a major project which will eventually help create a new inland waterway network around Swindon are calling on members of the public to get behind them.

The Cotswold Canals Trust is disappointed because the Herit-age Lottery Fund has deferred its decision on whether to give money to pay for the first phase of the restoration of the canals.

The HLF, which has said it will reconsider its position in July, has also asked for the trust's bid of £22.7 million to be scaled down.

Now another important potential source of funding, the South West Regional Development Agency, is also considering whether or not to fund the project despite having previously said that it was behind it 100 per cent.

CCT chairman Bruce Hall said: "We have been campaigning for the restoration of these canals for more than 30 years and many volunteers have worked hard to save them with the support of local communities.

"We are now organising a petition to show the support there is for this important project."

The Cotswold Canals which includes the 29-mile long stretch of the Thames and Severn Canal will eventually link up the rivers Thames and Severn again when the work is finished.

It is planned that the first major phase of the restoration project will restore the Stroud-water Navigation and the first three miles of the Thames and Severn Canal.

It is estimated that this work will take five years to complete at a cost of £40 million.

But the starting date is now in doubt following the surprise announcement earlier this year which came from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Mr Hall said: "The fund acknowledges the immense heritage and regeneration benefits of the project.

"However, given the current climate of fierce competition for funds, the trusts have asked for the bid to be scaled down and to increase the participation of other partners."

Mr Hall said that the CCT has a membership of 4,400 and is probably the largest organisation of its kind.

But we also need to supplement this with evidence of all those many others in the wider community who support the restoration of these waterways and would like to see it happen now."

When the Cotswold Canals route is re-opened it will eventually form part of the Wessex Waterway Network.

This will link up the old North Wilts Canal, the Wiltshire and Berkshire Canal, the Kennet and Avon Canal and the River Thames.

In doing so it will create a new leisure, boating and tourist boom area around Swindon.

If everything goes to plan boats will again sail past the town as they make their way to the Cotswold Water Park and both the rivers Thames and Severn.

Canal campaigners say the knock-on effect of this will be more jobs and an annual multi-million boost to the Swindon economy.

Full details of the petition can be obtained by ringing 01285 643440 or logging onto www.cotswoldcanals.com

mvincent@newswilts.co.uk

"The aim of the petition is to demonstrate the high level of support that exists for the Cotswold Canals project both locally and nationally.

"In addition to the HLF, we need other bodies to commit funds to the project as matched funding both for phase one, and to enable later phases of the project to proceed."

Martin Vincent