A CHARITY has completed major repairs to a section of canal bank with support from Leicester City Council.
The Canal & River Trust has repaired and strengthened a 100-metre section of Grand Union Canal bank that saw significant damage during storms last winter.
The non-navigable River Soar - which runs parallel to the canal near Blue Bank Lock, south of Leicester - overtopped and scoured away the canal wall and towpath during a series of flooding events. Storm Babet in October caused initial damage before Storms Gerrit and Henk‘s heavy rain and flooding saw the bank washed away.
A £500,000 programme of repairs has seen the Trust reinforce the canal wall with new steel piling backfilled with stone and a new towpath laid on top. Leicester City Council provided nearly £44,000 of funding from its Transport Improvement Works capital programme to reinstate the towpath, which is a popular route linking the Great Central Way and nearby Everards Meadows and an important part of the pedestrian and cycleway network.
The Trust has also carried out repairs on the approach to Blue Bank Lock, as well as installing new moorings for boats using the lock.
Linny Beaumont, regional director for the Canal & River Trust, said: “This is an example of the devastating impact climate change can have on our historic waterways and the work we have to do to protect them for future generations.
“It also emphasises the need for continued support if we’re to keep them open for boaters and local people, and we’re grateful to Leicester City Council for helping with the cost of reinstating the towpath which is a popular route with local walkers and cyclists.”
Assistant city mayor Cllr Geoff Whittle, who leads on environment and transport, said: “We’re very pleased to have supported the Canal & River Trust with funding for this project. We want to make it as easy as possible for Leicester people to access our blue and green spaces, because we know the benefits they offer for recreation, mental and physical health. Encouraging people to walk and cycle also helps our environment and air quality.
“Sadly, climate change is presenting us with increased challenges from flooding and extreme weather events, so that we need to conduct repairs like these to ensure people can continue to have access to the recreational spaces we know they value.”
To find out more about the Canal & River Trust, visit canalrivertrust.org.uk
More information about flooding and flood prevention in Leicester can be found at leicester.gov.uk/flooding
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