The Wey & Arun Canal Trust has commissioned a canal completion strategy report from independent consultants WS Atkins plc of Epsom. Completion Strategy Project Manager, Christopher Harrison says that "it is the most significant study to date undertaken by the Trust" as it will deal with environmental and community issues in great depth. One of the reasons why we selected Atkins was the strength of their team, and the knowledge of waterways from their team leader is very impressive".

The report is expected to take approximately six months to complete and will give the Trust and a wide range of external stakeholders invaluable independent advice on restoring the final sections of the canal.

At present 9 locks, 22 bridges and an aqueduct have been restored or rebuilt by the Trust. Well over half of the canal has been worked on, and some 2 miles of the waterway from Loxwood High Street is enjoyed each year by passengers on the public boat trips.

Anthony Woolhouse, Chairman of the Canal Completion Strategy Steering Group (CCSSG), said that "it is perfect timing to produce a Completion Strategy now following the success of the consultation with the community in Bramley last year on options for a new route through Bramley. The new Completion Strategy will reflect changing legislation, such as the requirement for a Strategic Environmental Assessment and build on the excellent work produced by Halcrow in 1993 and 1995 which proved the feasibility and viability of restoring the Wey & Arun Canal.

Atkins were chosen after a long and thorough process undertaken by the CCSSG which includes the following stakeholders: SEEDA (South East England Development Agency), Horsham District Council, Surrey County Council, Waverley Borough Council, Chichester District Council, The Inland Waterways Association, Environment Agency, English Nature and West Sussex County Council. "It is vital for the new Completion Strategy to reflect the interests of these stakeholders" Anthony Woolhouse continued.

The initial 15 contenders were submitted to a pre-qualification exercise and whittled down to 6 who were invited to tender. After careful analysis a short list of two was identified. Both made detailed presentations to the CCSSG.

Atkins emerged as the winning tender and the contract was signed on 27th November 2005.

Anthony Woolhouse continues "The Completion Strategy is being funded by the Trust and the stakeholders in the region. This is a critical stage in the creation of an exciting new water based leisure asset for the communities in our region."

BACKGROUND INFORMATION ABOUT THE WEY & ARUN CANAL

• 1.The canal was built in two sections - in 1785/87 the Arun Navigation of 4 miles from the River Arun at its tidal limit, Pallingham (about 2 miles north-west of Pulborough), to Newbridge on the A272 bewteen Billingshurst and Wisborough Green. Then the Wey & Arun Junction Canal, built in 1813/16 linked the Arun Navigation at Newbridge to the River Wey at Shalford (about 2 miles south of Guildford) a distance of 18 miles, thus giving access to the River Thames, London, and thence to the Midlands and North of England.
• 2.The through route opened in 1816 and provided the only outlet to the English Channel from the country's inland waterways system - which will again be the case when the Wey & Arun Canal's current restoration is completed. Trading was mostly in farm produce, chalk, coal, etc. and the canal was never very profitable. The arrival of the railways sealed its fate and in 1871 the Junction Canal was formally closed. The Arun Navigation was not formally abandoned until 1896.
• 3.Restoration of the waterway was started by the Wey & Arun Canal Society, founded in 1970, which became the Wey & Arun Canal Trust three years later.
• 4.To date, the Trust has restored or built 9 locks and 22 bridges as well as numerous culverts and weirs. It opened the 1 miles of the Loxwood Link to navigation, and a trip boat commenced operations here in 1994 - a facility now enjoyed by over 5,000 passengers annually. The Drungewick Aqueduct, opened on 31st May 2003, extended this navigable section to just over two miles.
• 5.The Trust's biggest challenge thus far has been the Drungewick Crossing, near Loxwood, which carries the canal over the River Lox and under Drungewick Lane. It took over ten years of planning, negotiation and fundraising to establish this crossing at a total cost well in excess of 600,000. The current major project is the crossing of the B2133 Loxwood High Street, which will pen the way for the canal's restoration northwards. A new lock started to be built this year together with the necessary bank reinforcement work ready for 2006.
• 6.The Trust's working parties operate throughout the year at many sites along the 23 mile canal and there are between 25-30 parties each month.