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Appendix 5 to Herefordshire & Gloucestershire Canal Trust representations

1. History and Heritage

The route of the Herefordshire & Gloucestershire Canal runs for 34 miles from the River Severn near Gloucester (at Over) to Hereford. It has the distinction of being a waterway that was commenced in the early canal building era (being opened as far as Ledbury by 1798 with a branch serving the short lived Newent coalfield) but also by being one of the last major canal routes in the UK to be completed (reaching Hereford in 1845). Indeed since completion of the canal occurred in the early railway era its latter build was designed for conversion to a railway. That conversion occurred with acquisition of the canal by GWR in 1870, construction commencing in 1881 and the railway opening in 1885. That railway closed in 1964, the track being lifted thereafter.

Unlike most other canals that were closed in the 19th century or early 20th century whose routes have been lost, the use of the route of the canal as a railway has preserved that route in a largely undeveloped state with few obstructions (and none of a nature that have not been overcome in other restorations). There are some 60 archaeological features of the canal survivingi notwithstanding construction of the railway. The most significant of these is the Oxenhall Tunnel (6575 feet; 1.245 miles) that was bypassed by the railway.

2. Restoration to date

Since 1983 there have been a number of successful restoration projects in Gloucestershire, which are as follows:

 the restoration of the canal between the southern portal of Oxenhall Tunnel and Oxenhall Lock;  restoration of the derelict Lock Cottage (now Grade II listed);  restoration of Over Basin and the Vineyard Hill section of the canal at Over;  the rebuilding of the Ell Brook aqueduct;  protection of Oxenhall Tunnel by diversion of the planned route of the strategic Milford Haven to England gas main; and  acquisition of part of the former Willows Nursery working with the highways agency (previous owners).

Restoration projects in Herefordshire are as follows:  restoration of the canal to navigable condition at Monkhide;  restoration of the Skew Bridge at Monkhide (now Grade II listed);  restoration of the canal at Yarkhill (now largely back in water);  partial restoration at Aylestone Park, including construction of a new by-weir; and  creation of navigable culverts as part of several new road schemes in Hereford, including creation and protection of a diversion route for the Canal along the perimeter of the Hereford Retail park.

These restoration projects have been achieved with co-operation and/or joint working from at least four public authorities.

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3. Current restoration activity

In Gloucestershire:  ongoing work on a large tract of land at Newent with the former railway platforms at its heart, which will see the former railway station restored and all it’s buildings reconstructed to form a major tourist attraction with the canal passing through the restored station.  new channel and towpath being cut at Dymock in association with a housing development;  further on-going works at Over, Llanthony, and Moat Farm and in Herefordshire:  at Holmer Trading Estate, a £3m canal restoration of the approach to Aylestone Tunnel to commence in association a residential redevelopment of the site very recently approved by HCC Planning Committee as well as on-going works by volunteer work teams at:  Aylestone Park,  Yarkhill, and  Kymin East.

4. Future restoration projects

A significant recent development was the purchase by the Trust of Llanthony Lock on the River Severn at Gloucester. Restoration of that lock will enable re-connection of the H&G Canal to the English navigable waterway network with through navigation from Over Lock to the non-tidal River Severn via Llanthony Lock.

This will in turn enable onward navigation to Gloucester Docks and the Gloucester & Sharpness Canal; and via the upstream River Severn to that river’s connections with the River Avon at Tewkesbury; the Worcestershire & Birmingham Canal at Worcester; the recently restored Droitwich Barge Canal at Hawford; and the Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal at Stourport-on-Severn).

The Llanthony restoration includes an innovative project to install a hydro-electric plant exploiting the head of water at Llanthony Weir. The entire project has the support of local MP’s; local authorities, and a major adjoining landowner, Peel Group, the owner of the Gloucester Quays Development. The entire project will provide the following:

 Hydroelectricity - Delivering maximum green energy capture

 Deliver a new lock - connecting the Canals to the network

 Lock with radial gates - flood relief channel

 Inflatable weirs - control and management of the River helping flood relief for Gloucester

 Improve navigation in the Parting and into Gloucester Docks - maximising tourism income for the City Representor ID 029

 Minimise tidal intrusion and silt load at the pumps into Gloucester Docks - dramatically reducing silting of the docks and the River channel reducing maintenance costs

 Provision of fish passes

 Considerable benefits to our partners developing Gloucester Docks and beyond in creating activity outside their premises

 A green electricity supply to Gloucester Quays, part of Peel Group

i Bick - The Hereford & Gloucester Canal (2003 revision), Appendix Two