Stroudwater 'missing mile' canal plans approved

The "missing mile" is a section of the Stroudwater canal that was filled in between the 1960s and 70s

Plans to restore a section of canal that was filled in to make way for the M5 motorway have been approved.

The so-called 'missing mile' of the Stroudwater canal in Gloucestershire will be reinstated after plans were signed off by councillors.

It means new locks, a canal basin for mooring boats, a café and car park will also be built.

It's the final stage in a series of works to reconnect the canal in Stroud with the national waterways network.

The 'missing mile' is a stretch between the A38 at Whitminster and Eastington.

Stroud District Councillor Chloe Turner said: "[This is] fantastic for bringing people in to Stroud, giving people lovely spaces to walk through and cycle along.

"It's really great for the community and the economy, and also it has a huge environmental benefit."

The 'missing mile' is the final stage of works to restore Stroud's canal network, after work to feed the canal under the A38 at Whitminster and replace the Ocean Bridge at Stonehouse.

Project director for the Cotswold Canals Connected project Chris Mitford-Slade said: "The planning application has been five years in the making.

'A critical project'

"The main reason for the time it's taken is to satisfy the Environment Agency requirements and do all of the flood modelling.

"It's a really critical project because without restoring this lost mile, we wouldn't be able to connect to the national network.

"The majority of work will be led by volunteers and the first part of work will be around the new lock around the A38 junction.

"This is much more about connecting communities, it will create a wildlife corridor, but it will also bring in new business and open up new economic opportunities."

Construction work on the project is due to start at the end of the year.