WILTS & BERKS CANAL TRUST

The following articles were published in text form and are reproduced here with the permission of the original publisher:  Originally published by Western Daily Press on 23rd March 2006. Re-printed with permission

It is a sight that only survives in grainy photographs from a sepia-tinted era, but boats chugging through the heart of Swindon could once more become a reality. The town may be famed for its railways but, for a few brief decades before the arrival of steam, barges were the main form of industrial transport.

Now Swindon councillors are keen to see a return to the days, 100 years ago, when the Wilts & Berks Canal threaded through what has since become a bustling, modern town centre.

It was always thought that the UK's largest canal restoration scheme would go around Swindon, rather than follow the original course through the middle of town.

Some of the old canal route, dating back two centuries, has been built over, while the rest survives as footpaths or cycle tracks. But moves are afoot to see the canal dramatically reinstated as a stunning and integral part of central Swindon's much-vaunted regeneration.

The council is discussing the possibility with the Wilts & Berks Canal Trust, which would love to see the 52.4-mile canal, from Semington, near Melksham, to Abingdon, pass through Swindon again.

A key supporter of the idea is deputy council leader Rod Bluh who said: "I think it would be fantastic. This is probably the last chance to make Swindon a canal town once again." Councillor Bluh, who will become leader of the Swindon Tory group in May, believes a town-centre canal would bring many advantages.

He said: "We need to make the town centre a destination of choice. Water is a missing ingredient in Swindon and canals are a major item for regeneration because of the canal-side development they attract." He said costs were an issue, but the economic benefits could be huge. Councillor Bluh, who is pushing for a feasibility study, added: "The only thing stopping it is the will to make it happen."

Chief executive of the Wilts & Berks Canal Trust, Ken Oliver, said: "I would be behind this 110 per cent. The canal will be restored - that's not in question any more - but to re-route it back through Swindon would be tremendous." Built between 1793 and 1810, the Wilts & Berks, and its North Wiltshire off-shoot between Swindon and Cricklade, prospered for three decades before it was killed off by steam.

In recent years short lengths of Swindon's original canal, in the Kingshill area, have been restored and are used for fishing and boating.

Originally published by Western Daily Press on 23rd March 2006. Re-printed with permission