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First section of the Bedford to Milton Keynes Waterway could be cut late 2009.

A great step forward in the development of the Bedford to Milton Keynes Canal

The Bedford & Milton Keynes Waterway took a major step forward towards becoming a reality when Bedford Borough Council voted unanimously in favour of allowing construction company Balfour Beatty to use clay from a local wood in exchange for cutting channel for the canal.

The Mayor of Bedford, Frank Branston, championed a motion at a full Bedford Borough Council meeting to approve an innovative deal that would see a section of the waterway (potentially up to 10% of the route) constructed in parallel with the new A421.

The scheme approved by councillors will involve the creation of a stretch of the Waterway and a new lake, and for the duration of the road works, a 'borrow pit' for the import and export of soil. By exploiting the synergies between the Waterway and road developments, the Council will also substantially reduce the carbon footprint of the road construction by avoiding the need for the bulk movement of material along the public highway and regenerate an area of woodland to create a new country park, open up new public access routes, and take Sustrans Route 51 off-road.

Bedford mayor Frank Branston described the decision as "a big step forward". "Getting it done will require the Bedford-Milton Keynes waterway group to get planning permission and technical details approved by 30 September next year. By Christmas 2009 the first length of the first new canal to be built in Britain in 200 years could be cut."

Commenting on the decision, the Chair of the Bedford & Milton Keynes Waterway Trust, Jane Wolfson said: “This is a pivotal moment for the project; it takes us a real step closer to the first section of the Waterway being dug. Of course, there is a great deal of work still to be done - but by continuing to work in partnership I know we can achieve this. We're delighted that the Mayor of Bedford and Bedford Borough Council have shown their continuing support for the project in this very practical way. Hopefully next year we will be able to talk about first sections in Central Bedfordshire and Milton Keynes too!"