Work starts on Grand Union Canal at Apsley

Work to restore and repair the Grand Union Canal at Apsley which started at the weekend is still ongoing. Locks 65 and 66 at Apsley on the Grand Union Canal were drained and scaffolded to allow visitors to go down inside one of the lock chambers last weekend where Canal & River Trust staff and volunteers will be on hand to explain the works and answer any questions. The hidden history is being opened to the public this winter as part of the Canal & River Trust’s schedule of winter works to repair and restore hundreds of historic waterway structures including iconic lock flights and bridges, as part of its five-month, £45 million programme of work to look after 2,000 miles of canals and rivers across England and Wales. Richard Parry, chief executive of the Canal & River Trust, said: “Every day thousands of people visit or cruise on our waterways without ever seeing all the hard work that goes on behind the scenes, and below the waterline, to look after this historic and remarkable infrastructure.  This winter we are spending around £45 million on essential repair and restoration works and routine maintenance to our canals and rivers. “By showcasing this work to the public we can give them a glimpse of the craftsmanship of the waterways’ original 18th Century design and the scale of the work we do to care for it.  We hope this will inspire more people to get involved to enjoy and help support their local canal or river navigation.” Kier is sponsoring this year’s programme.  Eddie Quinn, operations director, Waterways, said: “We are incredibly proud to sponsor the Trust’s essential work to preserve the canals and rivers of England and Wales.  Repairing and maintaining the waterways is a huge task requiring traditional materials and methods to be used to maintain this vital part of our heritage.  As well as historical importance, the waterways are now widely recognised for being crucial for wildlife and are a well-loved leisure resource for millions of people every year.” To find out more about the winter maintenance programme and other open days happening across the country go to www.canalrivertrust.org.uk/restorationandrepairs