This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Highland canals
25/02/2005
The Executive has awarded British Waterways Scotland an
extra £3.7 million to repair and restore Scotland's
Caledonian and Crinan Canals.
Transport Minister Nicol Stephen said:
"The Caledonian and Crinan Canals are of immense value
to the Highlands. This cash will do much more than just
improve these canals for the present day - it will ensure
they remain safe and welcoming places to visit for
generations to come.
"We want to create more opportunities for people to
access and enjoy the canal network. The additional funding
will enable British Waterways to build on exciting
developments beginning to take shape on the Lowlands Canals
- benefiting the boaters and many visitors who enjoy our
canals.
"Investment in the canal network boosts the local
economy and tourism. Providing better facilities will
encourage more people to use our canals, making them lively
and attractive places to be."
The extra £3.69 million grant is from savings within the
intergrated transport fund and takes the total for the
financial year to BWS to £12.6m.
The additional funding will be allocated as follows:
- £2m will be spent on the Caledonian Canal sea locks
at Inverness
- £700,000 is for improvements to the Crinan
Canal
- Over £500,000 will be spent on the Lowland Canals
including customer facilities at British Waterway's new
marina at Auchinstarry near Kilsyth
- A contribution towards a feasibility study to be
undertaken by BWS to improve access to the Forth Clyde
Canal from the east via the River Carron.
- £200,000 for dredging to aid the passage of boats
on the canals
British Waterways is a cross border public corporation
sponsored jointly by the Scottish Executive and the
Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs
(Defra).
In Scotland BWS manage five canals - these are: the
Caledonian, the Crinan, the Forth and Clyde, the Union and
Monklands canals.