British Waterways has made savings in the order of £5.6 million in its capital projects as a result of the reduction in its grant in aid. Details of these savings are provided in the following table:
Project Saving details (£) Rowington Embankment, Grand Union Canal 250,000 reduced investment: Reduced investment into refurbishment—there will still be a winter stoppage Shenton Embankment, Ashby Canal 540,000 deferred: Piling works to embankment deferred Long Horse Bridge, River Trent 544,000 deferred: Construction of a new pedestrian bridge deferred to 2007-08 Ribble Link 464,000 reduced investment: Temporary stability works to bywash—there will still be a winter stoppage Trub Farm, Rochdale Canal 586,000 reduced investment: Installation of a bridge and associated approach road—will go ahead, however it will be funded with alternative money—there is a winter stoppage currently in place Cloughside Farm, Peak Forest Canal 75,000 reduced investment: Rebuilding of a section of towpath wall—there will still be a winter stoppage Coates Lane Retaining Wall, Leeds and Liverpool Canal 208,000 deferred: Rebuilding a collapsed section of wall deferred to 2007-08 with a revised, cheaper solution Roddlesworth Embankment, Leeds and Liverpool Canal 300,000 deferred: Stemming of leakage through embankment and raising the height of the wash wall both deferred Bridge 177a, Grand Union Canal 174,000 deferred: Refurbishment of a footbridge deferred to 2007-08 Stop gates, in the London area 278,000 deferred: Projects deferred and requirements being reviewed Denham Culvert, Grand Union Canal 174,000 deferred: In-depth investigation into the integrity of the structure deferred Milton Keynes Culvert, Grand Union Canal 176,000 deferred: Repairs to two culverts deferred River Severn Dredging 150,000 deferred: Dredging the Upper Partings to Haw Bridge deferred Burghfield Lock Refurbishment, Kennet and Avon Canal 158,000 reduced investment: Refurbishment of lock - reduced scope of works—there will still be a winter stoppage Aston Locks 9 and 11, Birmingham and Fazeley Canal 252,000 deferred: Refurbishment deferred Tividale Aqueduct, Old Main Line 133,000 deferred: Aqueduct repairs deferred Vale Royal Lock, Weaver Navigation 592,000 deferred: Refurbishment deferred Calverley Wood Embankment, Leeds and Liverpool Canal 485,000 deferred: Embankment refurbishment deferred—reduced scheme planned for 2007-08
British Waterways’ engineers have confirmed that the failure of a culvert brought about the breach in this canal. Estimates for the repair costs are in the order of £500,000 and British Waterways aims to complete the work before Easter.
British Waterways has assessed the cost to be over £100,000 and makes provision for these types of events within its budget. The Government provide grant in aid which reflects a range of eventualities and look to British Waterways to manage its priorities within its overall budget.