Restoration of the Canals

The results of the Engineering Feasibility Study into the possible restoration of the canals, conducted by the consultant engineers Atkins, were officially launched by Ed Balls, the Labour MP for the Normanton constituency, at the Waterton Park Hotel (Walton Hall), on Friday 3rd November.

The primary recommendations of the 250+ page report are as follows:

• The Barnsley, Dearne and Dove Canal should be restored to full navigation from the Aire and Calder Navigation to the Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation.
• The line, as identified in the report, should be protected in all development plans.
• The route should be provided for in the event of new infrastructure crossing it, as required in Government planning guidance.
• There are decisions to be made about the gauge of the canal and the form of the canal at two major obstacles, Wath and Rexam. These decisions do not need to be made now to protect the line of the canal.
• The Barnsley Canal to Barugh should form part of this restoration.
• The Elsecar Branch should be protected as an historic feature while a decision is made as to whether to include it within the restoration project.
• The route of the Worsborough Branch should be protected to allow provision of a water supply channel and multi user route should the branch not be restored to navigation.
• A parallel cycle track and multi-user trail should be provided at an early stage — this could be done within two years.
• The restoration should be phased as outlined in the report.
• The future of any lengths of canal that survive but are not used in the restorations scheme should be reviewed — these may present opportunities for environmental mitigation.

In order to fulfil these recommendations, the following should be undertaken:

• A project officer (who may be the canal manager) should be appointed to push the restoration proposals forward.
• A full environmental assessment of the restoration scheme should be prepared. On the basis of the work undertaken in this study it is not envisaged that any insurmountable problems would be encountered, but it would be at this stage that area specific and site specific mitigation may be provided.
• Preliminary Design Studies should be undertaken to determine the required corridor width at all locations.
• Negotiations should commence with land owners with a view to assembling the route of the canal.

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