Stourbridge Canal Is Officially Re-opened
19 December 2008
In just over 100 days British Waterways West Midlands has completed essential repair works to the Stourbridge Canal following a dramatic breach last September.
In an official ribbon cutting ceremony attended by local waterway groups, British Waterways chairman, Tony Hales and Lynda Waltho MP for Stourbridge, formally re-opened the Stourbridge Canal to local people and the waterway community.
Over the weekend of 6-7 September 2008, extreme weather conditions caused the River Stour to flood in the area of the Stourbridge Town Arm terminus. Surges in water levels were experienced on the canal causing 20 metres of bank to give way and a two mile stretch of canal to be de-watered from Stourbridge Locks, to the top of Stourton and the Stourbridge Town Arm.
British Waterways West Midlands immediately set plans in place to re-instate the canal at the earliest opportunity. Dams were built and water was pumped from the River Stour to re-water the sections of canal where boats had been left stranded, allowing them passage back onto the network.
With the full works package costing £650,000, British Waterways and contractor Morrison Construction delivered the project ahead of schedule. The works included:
• two clay dams installed and canal re-watered either side of breach
• canal re-profiled (back to it’s original shape) and re-lined with clay 20 metres either side of the breach gap
• 80m3 concrete block installed at the bottom of the embankment
• geotextile lining and 3000 tonnes of fill to be installed behind the concrete to build up embankment
• canal to be re-built and re-lined over new embankment
• canal wall repairs from Stourton Locks to Wordsley Aqueduct
• dams to be removed and canal re-watered
• embankment where breach occurred re-seeded with local grass seed
British Waterways West Midlands, general manager, Tony Harvey said:” Our top priority was always to get the canal re-opened in time for Christmas and it’s a real achievement that the works have progressed well, and have been delivered ahead of schedule in a fantastic example of partnership working with our contractors.
“A huge vote of thanks must go to everyone who has been involved with the project, especially to our customers for their understanding support and to those members of staff who responded so quickly to the emergency situation who are a real credit to British Waterways, it’s a great way for us to end 2008.”
Notes to Editors:
1. British Waterways cares for and maintains the nation's 2,200 mile network of canals and inland waterways, working in partnership with private companies, local authorities, voluntary groups and other government agencies to protect and enhance the waterways and benefit the communities through which they run.
2. For more information about all aspects of UK waterways, visit www.waterscape.com