Moss Naylor Young are project mentors for the Heritage Lottery Fund, and are currently overseeing the renaissance of the Cotswold Canals in Stroud, a project being managed by Stroud District Council. Moss Naylor Young also mentored the successful restoration of the Droitwich Canals and advised on the partial restoration of the Itchen Navigation.
The Cotswold Canals project requires Moss Naylor Young to oversee the technical aspects of the restoration and ensure that they comply with the approved purposes, that work is compatible with heritage objectives and that due process is followed. The work has include advising on structures and operational equipment and has led to a bespoke design of paddle gear on the locks that reflects the historic design used during the canals working life. The five miles and six locks within the scheme are part of a wider canal restoration scheme and contribute to the regeneration of the Stroud Valleys.
The Droitwich Canals form part of a 22 mile cruising ring based around Worcester, the reopening of which has brought significant economic benefits to Droitwich as a result of tourism. MNY’s role was to oversee all technical and financial aspects of this restoration and we were proud to be present at the opening ceremony.
The Itchen Navigation is isolated from the main network and is not proposed to be reopened for navigation – rather the restoration before HLF was for wildlife and informal leisure including walking and canoeing. Patrick Moss provided a technical overview of the proposals from a heritage perspective and commented on the proposed methods of implementation.