Date: September 17, 1997 Immediate Release

MONTGOMERY CANAL CELEBRATION POSTPONED

The Inland Waterways Association (IWA) and Waterway Recovery Group (WRG) have taken the difficult decision to postpone the October 11th event at Aston Locks on the Montgomery Canal.

The pound below the bottom lock at Aston has complex technical and ecological issues that make immediate navigation difficult and despite considerable discussion with British Waterways and English Nature these issues remain unresolved. One particular disappointment was the failure of an ERDF funding application that would have enabled the capital works to bring the pound up to navigation standard.

Mike Palmer, Chairman of WRG, said "Restoration is not simply about building structures. There are key environmental and financial issues which affect the long term success of a restoration. By ensuring that all the factors are being adequately addressed we hope to demonstrate that Aston Locks are seen as a prime example of all user interests - be they navigation, wildlife or recreation - being considered."

Without the Aston to Maesbury pound being available there would have been difficulties for boaters. IWA believe that it is not appropriate to celebrate the completion of the works at Aston without navigation being immediately available.

Mike Palmer said "The decision to postpone was very difficult to take, especially as we can see that construction works are now complete and the locks themselves are ready to use. However, we thought that a celebration without a guarantee of immediate navigation would not be appropriate or acceptable to the many IWA and WRG volunteers who have selflessly given their time and money throughout the history of the Montgomery restoration."

IWA National Chairman, Audrey Smith, said "Given that the IWA have always campaigned for full restoration to navigation, it seemed appropriate to wait until the complex issues which affect navigation are resolved rather than open up and rely upon promises and hopes. IWA and WRG will continue to work closely with BW, the local authorities, nature conservation interests and other members of the Montgomery Waterway Restoration.

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Notes:

For 50 years the Inland Waterways Association, and its thousands of members, have campaigned in the face of Government indifference for the retention, restoration, conservation and development of Britain's navigable canals and rivers.

The IWA believes that canals and rivers should be used for commercial and leisure boating and many other activities including educational activity, canoeing and towpath walking. It seeks to preserve the ecological, heritage and architectural aspects of the country's inland waterways for all.

Waterway Recovery Group is part of the IWA. Its was formed in the 1960s by Graham Palmer to provide voluntary labour to restore derelict canals. WRG volunteers have worked on every major canal restoration project in the country and have played a significant part in the re-opening of some 500 miles of canal to date, with a further 500 miles currently being worked upon. The group continues to be entirely voluntary, but has built up an extensive base of professional skills.

In recent years IWA has funded and WRG volunteers have restored the flights of 4 locks at Frankton and 3 locks at Aston as well as creating the extensive Aston Nature Reserve. The total value of these works is estimated in excess of 1 million.