PRESS RELEASE
21 October 2013
VOLUNTEERS AND LOCAL BUSINESSES HELP
TRANSFORM THE GRAND UNION CANAL
Thanks to the dedication of a group of volunteers and investment from local Councils, a
stretch of the Grand Union Canal in Watford and Three Rivers has been transformed.
Over the summer, volunteers from the Waterway Recovery Group (WRG) helped restore
one of England’s most attractive canal bridges while, just to the south, contractors working
on behalf of behalf of Three Rivers District Council and Watford Borough Council spent
three months resurfacing a three mile section of towpath.
Working alongside the Canal & River Trust, WRG volunteers spent nine days bringing the
Grade II listed Lady Capel’s bridge, named after the wife of a Grand Junction Canal
Company board member, back to its former glory. They cleared debris from the 200 year
old bridge, carefully repointed the brickwork and then repainted using specialist white
paint.
Jenny Black, WRG’s volunteer coordinator, said: “We had a tremendous time helping to
restore Lady Capel’s bridge and thanks to our efforts it has been taken off the ‘heritage at
risk’ register. Restoring this wonderful piece of the nation’s history was really
satisfying. This is the second project we have done with the Canal & River Trust in the
south east and we are all delighted with a job well done.”
Whilst the bridge was being restored this popular stretch of towpath was also receiving
some much needed improvements. Thanks to funding of over £400,000 from the Canal &
River Trust, Hertfordshire County Council, Three Rivers District Council and Watford
Borough Council, the towpath from Hunton Bridge down to the Iron Bridge Lock in
Cassiobury Park has been resurfaced, transforming this much loved waterway route for
the many walkers, cyclists, joggers and boaters who use it every day.
James Clifton, enterprise manager for the Canal & River Trust, said “I want to thank the
volunteers from WRG for helping us restore Lady Capel’s bridge. They have done a great
Canal & River Trust, Toll House, Delamere Terrace, London, W2 6ND
T: 0203 3204 4514 E: press.office@canalrivertrust.org.uk W: www.canalrivertrust.org.uk Twitter: @CanalRiverTrust
Patron: H.R.H. The Prince of Wales. Canal & River Trust is a charitable company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales
with company number 7807276 and registered charity number 1146792, registered office address: First Floor North, Station House, 500
Elder Gate, Milton Keynes MK9 1BB
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job. The substantial investment from the local councils has also significantly improved the
towpath alongside, which now looks fantastic.”
Cllr Terry Douris, Cabinet Member for Highways at Hertfordshire County Council, said:
“We’re really lucky in Hertfordshire as we have many miles of canal right on our doorstep
just waiting to be explored. Having easy access to the outdoors is very important to local
people and the waterways are a great link connecting communities and bringing people
together and I am delighted with what we have achieved.”
Cllr Ann Shaw, from Three Rivers District Council, said: “Towpaths provide wonderful
green routes, linking busy towns and cities with the countryside, and thanks to this
improvement it ensure that everyone can enjoy and have easy access to the waterways.”
Dorothy Thornhill, Elected Mayor of Watford: “This is a very popular stretch of Grand
Union Canal, so I’m pleased that we have all come together and invested in the canal and
new towpath. I know that it will give many people enjoyment over the years to come.”
ENDS
For media enquiries please contact Sarah Rudy on 01908 302 584 / 07788 691 219 or
email sarah.rudy@canalrivertrust.org.uk
Notes to Editors
The Canal & River Trust contributed £50,000, Hertfordshire County Council, £270,000,
Three Rivers District Council, £70,000 and Watford Borough Council contributed £15,000
towards the towpath resurfacing project.
The Canal & River Trust is the guardian of 2,000 miles of historic waterways across
England and Wales. We are among the largest charities in the UK, maintaining the
nation’s third largest collection of Listed structures, as well as museums, archives,
navigations and hundreds of important wildlife sites.
We believe that our canals and rivers are a national treasure and a local haven for people
and wildlife. It is our job to care for this wonderful legacy – holding it in trust for the nation
in perpetuity and giving people a greater role in the running of their local waterways
www.canalrivertrust.org.uk
Waterway Recovery Group has supported restoration of derelict inland waterways by coordinating volunteers and providing expertise and equipment since its formation in
1970. Waterway Recovery Group organises weekend restoration events and week-long
Canal Camps on the inland waterways throughout Great Britain. Each Canal Camp
usually runs for seven days, each volunteer is asked to contribute £56 for the week (or £8
per day) towards the cost of their accommodation and the three meals a day that are
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provided. Most accommodation, which is best described as basic, is in sports centres,
schools or village halls.
Anyone is welcome to volunteer for a Canal Camp; the only restriction is that they must be
over 18 and under 70 years of age. No previous skills or experience are required.
Waterway Recovery Group is almost an entirely voluntary organisation, but has built up an
extensive base of professional skills. An information pack covering opportunities to join in
the waterway restoration work all over the country, including the 2014 Canal Camps
brochure, is available free of charge from Waterway Recovery Group, Island House, Moor
Road, Chesham, HP5 1WA Tel: 01494 783 453 –E-mail: enquires@wrg.org.uk
Alternatively you can refer to our website www.wrg.org.uk for further information, and a
look back at what WRG has already achieved.