HERITAGE LOTTERY BID FOR THE MONTGOMERY CANAL RESTORATION

The restoration of the Montgomery Canal has moved a step closer this month with a bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund for help in drawing up a management plan.

British Waterways, which owns and manages the canal, has submitted the application on behalf of the Montgomery Canal Partnership, which includes representatives from Shropshire County Council, Powys County Council, Oswestry Borough Council, Shropshire Wildlife Trust, Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust and Montgomery Waterway Restoration Trust.

With many diverse groups, such as boaters and wildlife enthusiasts, all having an interest in the Montgomery, the Partnership wants to put together a workable Management Plan for the sustainable restoration, management and afteruse of the waterway.

British Waterways manager for the Border Counties, Julie Sharman, said: "The Partnership wants to generate a clear vision for the future of the canal corridor and create a framework for future restoration. We need to ensure a co-ordinated approach is taken to planning and management of the waterway corridor and that the canal is not looked at in isolation but integrated with surrounding land uses and initiatives".

"The canal has important wildlife habitats and we want to guide development plans and other strategy documents being produced by different agencies, so we can conserve the canal environment for recreation and as a haven for wildlife".

Once the Management Plan is in place, it will be used as a basis for future bids to the Heritage Lottery Fund and other funding agencies.