Council accused over slipway

PEOPLE living by the restored Stroudwater Navigation are angry that the local council, that is pushing for the restoration, ignored their objections to the construction of a dangerous slipway.

Regular readers of narrowboatworld will realise that Stroud District Council, part of the Cotswold Canals restoration is behind the restoration [Massive cost of final link] within its jurisdiction, but according to locals it is ignoring concerns about a slipway

Dangers to children

Those living by the side of the waterway are greatly concerned about the dangers of a slipway that is being constructed near their houses, are worried about the dangers to their children from the four by four vehicles and their trailers manœuvring to launch and pull out their boats, especially as many are not conversant with reversing with trailers.

The council received 50 letters concerning the slipway, many of them from worried people who maintain their objections were ignored and that the consent for the slipway was granted by council planning officials who used their delegated powers to allow it, against strong opposition.

Two schools

The slipway is in Strachans Close, that is close to the waterway, and means the vehicles will be manœuvring in the street. There are also two large schools nearby.

As the council is leading the Cotswold Canals Project to restore the waterway, many residents felt their opposition was ignored.

The work was undertaken by the Stroud Valleys Canals Company that is linked to the Cotswold Canals Trust, but its chief executive Ken Burgin, who is a leading figure in the restoration project maintains we will 'find that the entire planning process has been followed to the letter by Stroud District Council'.