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The Hollinwood Canal Society has narrowly missed out on scooping part of a major grant to restore part of the waterway! As part of the Inland Waterways Association's celebration of its Diamond Jubilee in 2006, a grant of up to £100,000 was offered to a suitable waterway restoration scheme. There were a total of 34 projects which submitted applications for this grant. A scheme put forward jointly by the Hollinwood Canal Society and Oldham Council was one of the nine that were shortlisted. After extended deliberations, it was announced that the winning project was one submitted by the Wilts and Berks Canal Trust for the first section of a new link to that canal from the River Thames near Abingdon. The Hollinwood Canal scheme would have made a mile of canal navigable between Crime Lake and Bardsley Bridge, involving parts of the Hollinwood and Fairbottom branches. The work would have included removing the infill above Valley Aqueduct and carrying out repairs to that Aqueduct and the one over Crime Lane. It would also have involved dredging, vegetation clearance, towpath improvements and a slipway. This section of canal is owned by Oldham Council and council officers took part in the preparation of this bid. Hollinwood Canal Society's Ed Mortimer said, "While we are disappointed not to be awarded this grant, we are pleased with the enthusiasm shown for this scheme and the positive feedback received. As a new society, we did well for our bid to reach the shortlist. Putting the bid forward has helped to raise the profile of the restoration potential of this canal. Preparing the bid was a useful exercise involving the canal society working closely with Oldham Council. We will keep this scheme on hold for now and look for other possible sources of funding." |
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