Councillors fund weed cutter

THREE county councillors are helping to keep the River Stort free of weed and litter by helping to fund a weed cutting vessel for a period of five years.

Councillor Colin Woodward (Bishop's Stortford West) and Councillor John Barfoot (Bishop's Stortford East) have given £1500 each and Councillor Leanda Newlyn (Bishops Stortford West) has given £2000 from their locality budgets to British Waterways to moor the weed cutter which has been named Pride of Bishop's Stortford.

Olympic site

This funding will contribute to the running costs of the boat which may also be called upon to work near the Olympic site in Summer 2012, when Canal & River Trust comes into operation.

The councillors agreed:

"We recognise and value the historic and current environmental importance of the waterway, and we wish residents and visitors to enjoy it at its best and for it to be a pleasant prospect for all. The craft will also be used in the Olympic Park area further promoting the name of the town."

A total of £10,000 is available to each of the 77 members of Hertfordshire County Council to spend on worthwhile community projects in their area, and the three chose to support the running costs of the weed cutter.