AFTER nearly a decade in the planning system, the project to create a new waterway from Semington through Melksham is making progress again.
The Link will be the southernmost section of a fully restored Wilts & Berks Canal connecting the Kennet & Avon Canal at Semington to the Thames at Abingdon and Cricklade.
The line of the old canal can’t be restored through Melksham because of existing development in its path so the scheme includes a new line of canal from Semington via Berryfield to the River Avon, then uses the river as a navigation through the town.
Paul Lenaerts, Project Manager for the Trust explains, “We are close to resolving the Environment Agency’s outstanding objections which concern the river ecology and then, hopefully, Wiltshire Council will grant planning permission within the next few months.
“This will enable the Trust and its expert partners to embark upon the next stage which will be working out agreements with landowners and securing the funding to deliver the project.”
In order to finance the plans, the Trust has had to think ‘outside the box’ because grant funding has not been possible. Their ambitious idea is to see if they can harness some of the new housing development already earmarked and destined for the Melksham area and use the proceeds from gaining planning permission for a ‘masterplan’ for the good of the community and local area.
This would create enough funds to pay for the canal, a new school, medical centre, recreation grounds and the wetlands nature reserve, including a visitor centre.
Ian Britton, Masterplan Facilitator for the Trust explained, “We feel that there is a great potential here to direct resources from inevitable local development into facilities that the whole of our community can benefit from for generations.”
The people of Berryfield were consulted about their preferred route of the canal 10 years ago but the Wilts & Berks Canal Trust would like to give locals another opportunity to comment on this and their masterplan idea at a ‘Drop-in’ consultation day on Thursday 18th November at Berryfield Village Hall.
