The restoration of the Lichfield canal has taken a huge step forward with the
opening of the final part of the city's Southern Bypass on 15th October 2021.
A section of the canal runs parallel to the bypass alongside a housing
development, and Lichfield and Hatherton Canals Restoration Trust are hoping
for permission in the next few weeks to begin work.
A great deal of preparation of the site has been completed, courtesy of
Persimmon Homes, who are constructing St John's Grange housing
development, and Amey plc, who constructed the bypass, including the
installation of bridges over the line of the canal connecting the estate with the
bypass.
LHCRT volunteers will build a new Lock 22 and restore a modified Lock 23 in
this section, which has been named St John's Reach.
The Trust's engineering director Peter Buck, who attended the official opening on
October 15, said:
“It's another great day for us, handing over another large section for us to get on
with restoration.
“A good portion of the restoration has already been done and it actually looks a
bit like a canal now.
“We've had a long, long challenge over seven, eight, nine years working with
Persimmon over the details of this and this is the day when the bypass is open
and the canal is just about to be handed over to us to complete the restoration.”
Designers have had to overcome a major problem at a pinch point near London
Road, having to get the bypass and the canal through a section only 18.2 metres
wide, between the road and existing cottages.
The solution was to modify the heritage Lock 23, which will be built with a bend in
it, probably the only lock of its kind in the country, according to Peter.
The restoration of this section of the Lichfield Canal will take it close to another major obstacle, the Cross-City railway line, which the canal has to go under, and an appeal to raise the huge amount of money needed to build the tunnel has been ongoing for several years.
More information on the canal restoration and ways to contribute to the Tunnel Vision Appeal can be found on our website - https://lhcrt.org.uk/tunnel-vision.html.
