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Facelift for Grantham Canal bridge

An old bridge over the Grantham Canal is being revamped by Leicestershire County Council.

The Grantham Canal bridge at Langar Lane, Harby, is undergoing an £80,000 overhaul. Improvements will include strengthening, widening to incorporate a new footway and the capability to add a hydraulic system, which will enable the bridge to be raised and lowered as boats need to pass beneath.

The Grantham Canal was originally opened in 1797 and was one of the main waterways of the Midlands for the transport of goods and materials between Grantham and Nottingham.

It runs for 33 miles from the River Trent at West Bridgford, Nottinghamshire, through the Vale of Belvoir to the market town of Grantham in Lincolnshire.

The canal was formally abandoned in 1936 and several highway improvement schemes since then have led to the replacement of the original arched hump-backed bridges, such as the one at Langar Lane.

Several local residents groups including The Grantham Canal Society are keen to restore the Grantham Canal to its former glory to enable boats and barges to use it again as they once did many years ago.

Lesley Pendleton, Leicestershire County Council Cabinet Lead Member for Highways and Transportation, said: “It was important that the aspiration of the local residents’ groups were incorporated within the proposals for the replacement bridge at Harby.

“This is why our engineers have cleverly designed a bridge that will initially sit at existing road level but has the capability of being hydraulically raised and lowered in the future, to an appropriate height, to enable the passage of boats and barges.”

Mike Stone from the Grantham Canal Society said: ”The aim of the society is to restore the canal as a fully navigable waterway, not just for commercial use but for all leisure boating including canoes, trail boats and narrow boats to add their own colour and vitality to the rural setting.

“Since 1990, one road-bridge, three farm-bridges and one footbridge have been restored to navigable height and five locks have been restored. In addition, 22 miles of the canal now have an all-weather tow path which enables access by many users including walkers, cyclists, anglers and bird watchers. The canal is a linear country park.

“We welcome input from the public to help us in our quest to regenerate the Grantham Canal, whether this is expertise or even just lots of enthusiasm. Residents can visit the website for more information.”

All work is expected to be completed before Christmas 2009.

For more information on roads and transport in Leicestershire, visit: LCC - Roads and Transport.

For details on the Grantham Canal or the Society, visit: Our information Grantham-Canal-Society.html page or www.GranthamCanal.com