An Examination will be held by an independent Inspector in April 2006 to hear the objections and to determine what changes should be made.

Someone who clearly appreciates the importance of this major weakness in the planning system is David Heyes, MP for Ashton-under-Lyne who on 30th November introduced a ‘ten minute rule’ Bill in the Commons on the protection of Abandoned Inland Waterways. His speech referred to planning issues encountered by the Hollinwood Canal Society but also to the problem of the Lichfield Canal. Michael Fabricant MP for Lichfield is one of the co-sponsors of the Bill. It seeks to make the present guidance in PPG13 for local authorities to consult waterway bodies and to protect the lines of disused waterways into requirements, which is clearly now needed given the current attitude of Staffordshire County Council. The speech also gave recognition to the work of volunteers including the Waterway Recovery Group and “Navvies”. The Bill was given an unopposed First Reading and the Second Reading was set for 12th May. Although we understand that such Bills are rarely enacted, it served the purpose of highlighting the problem that local authorities can act inconsistently and contrary to national policy, and it might just persuade the Government to incorporate the principle of strengthened protection into other legislation. The text of the speech in Hansard can be seen on the Parliamentary website at www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm/cmhansrd.htm. It could provide you with more facts for the lobbying of other MPs to lend their support.

The Abandoned Waterways Bill was a helpful background to our meeting with the Waterways Minister Jim Knight on 15th December, in the company of Michael Fabricant. We were able to brief him on the problems brought about by Lichfield District and Staffordshire County Councils’ granting planning permission for the new road and the restrictions and additional expense it would cause for the restoration of the Lichfield Canal. The Minister listened attentively and appeared sympathetic. We explained that our purpose was to seek his support and informal assistance with other departments.

Meanwhile, BW had arranged a high level meeting with the County for 20th December at which Central Shires General Manager Tony Harvey and Regeneration Director Derek Cochrane met the SCC planning director and transport and highways managers to try to find some pragmatic way out of the impasse. As a result SCC and BW have agreed that their engineers will jointly examine ways of accommodating the canal into the Bypass plans, which is a most encouraging development, although the financing of any construction work is yet to be resolved.