New cash could save Scottish canals
REGULAR readers will be aware of the problems of the Scottish Canals but an injection of cash could save them.
At present both the Forth & Clyde and Union Canal are plagued by problems, with two broken bridges having closed the Forth & Clyde Canal for many months, Alan Tilbury reports.
Help in sight
But help is in sight in the form of £5.35m from the Scottish Government for much needed maintenance to repair not only the broken bridges but to replace gates on the Caledonian Canal that are in a sorry state of repair.
The two closed bridges at Bonnybridge (pictured) and Twechar will benefit from the extra cash and see the Forth & Clyde Canal open again for boats.
Struggled with funds
A spokesman for Scottish Canals that runs the waterways told that it had 'struggled to meet the challenge of an antiquated Scotland-wide system with its existing funds'.
The extra cash will not only go towards the repairs but will be used for new much needed dredging equipment.