This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Funding for Scotland's canals
29/09/2005
Extra funding worth £3 million to help improve Scotland's canal network was announced today.
It will be spent on projects which include improvements to locks on the Caledonian canal, major renovation of a swing bridge on the Crinan canal and an outdoors activity centre on the Union canal at Falkirk.
Transport Minister Tavish Scott said:
"Scotland's canals make a major contribution to the regeneration of many areas across Scotland. Investment in our canal network benefits the local economy and our tourist industry.
"British Waterways are transforming and regenerating our waterways by providing improved facilities throughout the country's canal network.
"This further funding will help them deliver more benefits to the many people who enjoy our canals and their local communities. I want to encourage more people to use and enjoy our canal network."
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 British Waterways manage five canals: Caledonian, Crinan, Forth and Clyde, Union, and Monklands canals.
Caledonian Canal
Dochgarroch Lock stabilisation - £700,000 - will cover lock work completion at Dochgarroch, secondary grouting of locks at Banavie, Tomnahurich & Dochgarroch bank works, Corpach double lock embankments and Mount Alexander Aqueduct stabilization.
Inshore Survey of Loch Ness - £50,000 - for a Hydrological study of the shoreline to inform future decisions, navigation, maintenance and other works.
Crinan Canal
Ardrishaig Swing Bridge - £400,000 - to undertake a refurbishment of the operating equipment, a complete repaint and will include a temporary diversion during the works
Wet Dredging - £80,000 - to improve navigation for boaters in identified problem areas
Forth & Clyde Canal
Essential repairs to waterway walls at the Glasgow Branch - £250,000
Seal aqueduct at Possil Road - £220,000
Remove sunken wrecks at Bowling - £400,000 - to aid navigation
Mechanise sea lock at Bowling - £150,000 - to provide operational improvements.
River Carron economic study - £50,000 - to build on study on possible alternative access to Forth & Clyde canal from the Firth of Forth.
Union Canal
Contribution to the capital costs of the Waterways Trust Scotland's Action Outdoors Activity Centre on the Union Canal at Falkirk - £50,000
Union & Forth &Clyde Canals
Lowland Canals Freight Project - £50,000 - to develop freight movements on Lowland Canals
General
Mooring improvements and other works - £600,000 - this includes significant improvements to facilities for boaters and work on possible new canal developments.