Wey & Arun Canal - Press Release - Canal restorers visit Sussex waterway project.

	THE WEY & ARUN CANAL 'London's Lost Route to the Sea'

Press Release

Canal restorers visit Sussex waterway project.

The Wey & Arun Canal Trust played host to the Southern Canals Association (SCA) on Sunday 18 October.

The Southern Canals Association is an alliance of waterway restoration societies mostly from the southern half of England and Wales. Societies from all over the South and West were represented at the get-together, along with the Inland Waterways Association (IWA) and British Waterways (BW).

The day began at Loxwood, West Sussex, with a walk, under the road tunnel opened earlier this year, past Devil's Hole Lock, due to re-open next April, up to the next major project to extend the navigable section, the site of Southlands Lock. The work currently in progress and planned for the near future on this section was detailed by project manager Eric Walker. Following lunch onboard the 60-seater electrically-powered trip boat Wiggonholt, the visitors were taken along the canal as far as the Drungewick aqueduct. On the return to Loxwood, the societies present each presented a brief progress report.

The day concluded at the nearby Church Hall in Loxwood, where the meeting heard reports on the work of the IWA Restoration Committee and the role of volunteers on waterways in the eyes of BW.

The day was a great success, thanks to the excellent weather. The next SCA meeting is scheduled for February 2010, and will be a conference session hosted by the Kennet & Avon Canal Trust at Devizes in Wiltshire.

Further information about the Wey & Arun Canal Trust is available from the Trust's office, on 01403 752403.

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Notes to Editors

A photograph to accompany this press release is available from WACT Press Officer Bill Thomson, bill_thomson@weyandarun.co.uk, 01403 210347

The Wey & Arun Canal Trust

The Wey & Arun Canal, "London's lost route to the sea" was originally opened in 1816 between the River Wey at Shalford, near Guildford, and Pallingham, near Pulborough, the head of navigation of the River Arun. It closed in 1871, due to railway competition. Since the 1970s the 23-mile waterway has been the subject of a campaign by volunteers led by the Wey & Arun Canal Trust to restore the route to navigation. Work has been undertaken in a number of locations, most notably the stretch near the Sussex/Surrey border at Loxwood. Over two miles in length, this includes four working locks, two public road crossings, an aqueduct, two farm bridges, and numerous minor works, all built or rebuilt through voluntary effort. Boat trips are available on this stretch, onboard several craft, including the new 60-seater Wiggonholt.

Last updated Thursday, 22 October, 2009

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