The Wey & Arun Canal Trust has recently appointed Bernard Ashley to the post of Development Officer, a task that will progress the long-term future development of the canal restoration project.

Bernard, who retired last year after more than 30 years with the airports operator BAA, has long experience in transport, local planning and environmental matters. His most recent post was Transport Strategy Manager at Gatwick Airport, where he was responsible for ensuring passengers and staff could get to and from the airport in the most efficient manner while mitigating the environmental impact of their journeys.

"Partnership was the key word in that job," says Bernard. "We had to work with local authorities and other influential stakeholders to identify how the development and growth of the airport could be encouraged while at the same time providing benefits to the local and regional communities.

"There are therefore strong synergies with the development of the Wey & Arun Canal, where a major objective is to build on relationships with local authorities and the other partners and stakeholders. I hope that this in turn will facilitate the future development of the canal in accordance with the strategic plan set out in the study commissioned from WS Atkins."

Bernard expects the new role to focus on the long term strategic development of the route, promoting the canal in its own right and also the wider social and recreational benefits to be gained from a long distance 'Green Corridor' through Surrey and West Sussex.

Bernard lives near to the canal, in Horsham, and is actively involved with one of several regular working parties. He acknowledges the strong foundations and good relationships built by the Wey & Arun Canal Trust over the years, but believes that as the project grows, it will need more co-ordination.

"There are a number of important local planning events in the pipeline that we need to be ready to respond to in order to ensure that WACT's voice is properly heard and logged in the system", says Bernard. "In short, the job is about raising WACT's profile at local and regional planning level."

Notes for Editors

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 electrically-powered Wiggonholt. See www.weyandarun.co.uk