6 min read
Britain’s historic canals set to move water from the Midlands to help meet water supply needs in the Southeast
Britain’s historic former industrial canal network is set to play a pivotal role in creating a sustainable and resilient water supply for 750,000 people in the Southeast.
Plans currently being consulted upon could see the historic Coventry, Oxford and Grand Union canals transform water supply by transferring millions of litres of water each day from Severn Trent’s water supply in the Midlands to Affinity Water’s customers in the Southeast.
The project is an exciting collaboration between the two water companies together with the Canal & River Trust charity, and will bring important environmental benefits, including lessening Affinity Water’s demand on water from chalk aquifers, whilst helping to increase resilience, and meet future water supply targets for the region.
The Grand Union Canal Transfer scheme will begin at the Minworth Wastewater Recycling Centre near Birmingham, where water will be treated before being transferred via a new pipeline to Atherstone in Warwickshire. It will then begin its journey along the Coventry, Oxford and Grand Union canals. Once it has been transferred through the canal network, the water will be piped from the canal, stored, and treated again at a new water treatment works, before being transferred as clean drinking water to an existing reservoir near Luton.
It is hoped that the scheme will be in action by 2032. Public consultation opened today, 11 September, to gather the views from those living near to the proposed route, canal users and others who may be interested in the scheme.
Clare Carlaw, head of engagement, land & consents at Affinity Water, tells us: “This scheme is crucial in ensuring we can supply our customers with drinking water in the future, but it goes further than that; we will also use this scheme to help wider water supplies across the east of the country. The scheme supports our commitment to reduce taking water from the precious chalk aquifers, and working collaboratively with our partners on this scheme has meant we are developing an innovative and environmentally responsible solution. We want the local communities, local authorities, canal users and businesses to get involved in our public consultation and help inform how we deliver this vitally important resource for the future.”
Peter Walker, head of strategic infrastructure projects, Canal & River Trust, explains: “Britain’s canal network was built hundreds of years ago as the freight arteries that fuelled the industrial revolution.
“Still used and navigated by boats today, canals have also been repurposed to serve modern society; ensuring thousands of jobs in leisure and tourism, and supporting biodiversity and the wellbeing of millions of people. The Grand Union Canal Transfer will invest in the network ensuring it can move water for domestic supply alongside its day-to-day role for navigation, and thereby helping to play a vital part in meeting one of the major challenges faced by society today.”
The consultation is open for 6 weeks until 25 October and the partners behind the scheme will be holding consultation events across the region throughout this period. More information can be found on the scheme website http://www.guctransfer.co.uk
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Note for editors
The scheme not only supports Affinity Water customers but will also support customers of Cambridge Water.
The consultation opens on 11 September and runs until 25 October 2024. People can take part in the following ways:
- Online: complete and submit a feedback form on the Grand Union Canal Transfer website: www.guctransfer.co.uk/haveyoursay
- Email: email your feedback to contact@guctransfer.co.uk
- Freepost: post a hard copy feedback form or a written response to Freepost GRAND UNION CANAL TRANSFER (no stamp required)
To find out more about the scheme and the consultation, please visit www.guctransfer.co.uk, or call 0121 270 5920 to talk to a member of the team.
A number of consultation events and pop-up events will be held at various locations close to the scheme, which will provide the opportunity to talk to the team and find out more. The full list of events can be found below, or on the scheme website at www.guctransfer.co.uk
| Date | Type | Location |
| Saturday 21 September | Consultation event | Atherstone Owen Street Community Arts Centre, Owen Street, Atherstone, CV9 1DG 11am-3pm |
| Monday 23 September | Consultation event | Slapton Elizabeth Griffin Memorial Hall, 12 Church Rd, Leighton Buzzard, LU7 9BX 4pm-8pm |
| Tuesday 24 September | Consultation event | Eaton Bray Eaton Bray Methodist Church, Totternhoe Rd, Eaton Bray, Dunstable, LU6 2BD 4pm-8pm |
| Wednesday 25 September | Consultation event | Chaul End Lyons Community Centre, 33a Mallard Cres, Caddington, Luton, LU1 4FG 4pm-8pm |
| Friday 27 September | Consultation event | Curdworth Curdworth Village Hall, 70 Coleshill Rd, Curdworth, Sutton Coldfield, B76 9HH 4pm-8pm |
| Saturday 28 September | Consultation event | Daventry Daventry Community Centre, Ashby Rd, Daventry, NN11 0QE 11am-3pm |
| Saturday 28 September | Pop-up | Fenny Stratford Junction Opposite side of the canal from the Red Lion, 11 Lock View Ln, Fenny Stratford, Bletchley, Milton Keynes, MK1 1BY 9.30am-12.30pm |
| Saturday 28 September | Pop-up | Grove Lock Opposite side of the canal from the Grove Lock, Grove, Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire, LU7 0QU 2.30pm-5.30pm |
| Wednesday 2 October | Consultation event | Hurley Hurley Village, 41 Knowle Hill, Hurley, Atherstone, CV9 2JD 4pm-8pm |
| Thursday 3 October | Pop-up | Stoke Bruerne Lock Bypass Near the Canal Museum, Stoke Bruerne, Bridge Rd, Stoke Bruerne, Towcester NN12 7SE 10.30pm-13.30pm |
| Friday 4 October | Pop-up | Braunston Junction Near Union Canal Carriers, Dark Ln, Braunston, Daventry NN11 7HJ 10.30am-13.30pm |
| Friday 4 October | Consultation event | Leighton Buzzard Astral Park Community Centre, Johnson Dr, Leighton Buzzard LU7 4AY 4pm-8pm |
| Saturday 5 October | Consultation event | Great Brickhill Great Brickhill Community Centre, Great Brickhill, Milton Keynes MK17 9BA 11pm-3pm |
| Saturday 5 October | Pop-up | Hawkesbury Junction Near the Hawkesbury Junction Pump House, Sutton Stop, Coventry CV6 6DF 9.30am-12.30pm |
| Saturday 5 October | Pop-up | Hillmorton Locks Opposite side of the canal from the Canalchef Cafe, Badseys Wharf, The Locks, Hillmorton, Rugby CV21 4PP 2.30pm-17.30pm |
