Save Our Waterways Blog  Monday, 4 February 2008  Blow to
Cotswold restoration  Cash-starved British Waterways has
withdrawn from its involvement in the Cotswold Canals
Partnership (see our news report). This follows the diversion of
significant funds for the urgent repairs to 16 miles of the
Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal in Wales.  "Our existing
waterways must take priority" says Robin Evans and, while that
is undoubtedly true, it hardly explains why BW is walking away
from the Cotswolds scheme. BW has already re-directed the money
earmarked for the rebuilding of Vale Royal lock to the Mon and
Brec. A large number of other repair and maintenance works
scheduled for this winter were also put on hold to save money.
Why is BW pulling the plug on the Cotswold Canals at this stage?
Could it be that the flattening of the housing market has
reduced the expected income from BW's property interests?  This
news is very alarming for all waterway restoration groups. But
the cutting back of maintenance and repairs is al