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In 1970 a few enthusiastic individuals formed the Wey & Arun
Canal Society. More supporters were quickly gained, and in 1973
the Society was re-formed as a charitable Trust Company, the Wey
& Arun Canal Trust Limited. (Registered Charity No. CC265331)
The aim of the Trust is to achieve the restoration, as a public
amenity, of the navigable link between the Rivers Wey and Arun,
and so recreate the direct water link between London and the South
Coast. The Trust has reached agreement with landowners that restoration
work could take place on over half the 23-mile total length. Already,
twenty one bridges have been reconstructed, two aqueducts reconstructed, eleven locks restored, culverts
rebuilt and several miles of canal bed cleared and dredged. Work
has been carried out in the Bramley, Run Common, Loxwood. Billingshurst
and Pulborough areas.
The Trust has an agreed Conservation Policy. Its aims
are to identify, restore and maintain essential features of the natural and
manmade landscape affecting the waterway and to maintain and enhance the
diversity of habitats of nature conservation value.
The Trust is an entirely voluntary organisation, relying on the
support of its members and friends, as well as the generosity of
local businesses and the goodwill of local councils. The Trust is
fortunate to have the services of volunteer professional engineers
to design and supervise its restoration work. The work is carried
out by the Trust's own work force, volunteers who meet every weekend,
with the help of visiting voluntary groups on both long weekends
and two-week summer camps.
The Trust employs professional contractors.
Materials, plant and sub-contractors are financed by the Trust's
own fund-raising operations. The money is raised mainly from sponsored
events, recycling of waste paper and materials, lotteries and donations.
Full restoration involves the solution of many problems which the
Trust would be the last to underestimate. More landowners need to
be won over, water supply problems need to be overcome, local authorities
need to be persuaded of the benefits to justify expenditure on raising
road bridges etc.
The Trust has prepared a full feasibility study and commissioned
an independent cost/benefit analysis which gives it confidence that
the obstacles can be overcome, as they have been already on canal
restoration schemes elsewhere.
Fully restored, the Wey and Arun Canal would rate among the most
scenic in the country.
Join the Trust
By becoming a member you will be supporting one of the most exciting
schemes to restore a major asset for recreation and nature conservation.
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