Newts stop Montgomery restoration

AS WITH the Ashby Canal before it, newts have stopped an important part of the restoration of the Montgomery Canal.

There can be none of the long awaited planned restoration beyond Pryce's Bridge, as the newts come first, even though the Shropshire Union Canal Society has now secured the important funding to restore a further stretch, Alan Tilbury tells us.

Refused

Canal & River Trust has asked Natural England to issue a licence to enable it to relocate the newts, but narrowboatworld has learnt that this has been refused. The Trust applied many months ago, but Natural England took time before it decided that permission would be refused.

Natural England is now wanting more 'compensation habitat' for the newts from the Trust including information of 'newt compensation' for a further restoration at Crickheath.

Taking it further

It took Natural England over three months to inform the Trust of its decision, though its published target in 30 days, but the Trust is taking this delay and decision to the highest level, as it has learnt that it is not the only concern treated in such an atrocious way by Natural England.

The only work that can now proceed is improving towpaths, whilst the actual restoration of the waterway is at a standstill.