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Buckingham Canal Society (BCS)

BCS was founded in January 1992 and is a registered charity number 1072924.

The Buckingham Canal Society (BCS) is affiliated to the Inland Waterways Association and has a membership of around 150 people all over the UK.

The BCS is also a member of the Milton Keynes Heritage Association and actively participates in the local community with, for example, membership of the Buckinghamshire Local Area Forum and the Buckinghamshire Green Infrastructure Consortium.

Buckingham Canal Society (BCS) The Society would like to see the Buckingham Canal re-opened, using the original line wherever possible. The waterway to Buckingham ran a total of 10¾ miles from the Grand Union Canal at Cosgrove Lock (pictured left) along the Stony Stratford and Buckingham Arms; it was officially abandoned in the 1960s, though it has been effectively closed since 1944. It was originally completed in two arms; the first to Old Stratford was opened in 1800 and the remaining section on to Buckingham in 1801. It was originally used to transport bricks, coal and manufactured goods and other local goods as well as imports from the London Docks. The canal was transporting around 20,000 tons per annum for a period of fifty years. The original route from Cosgrove to Buckingham passed through Old Stratford, Deanshanger, Thornton, Leckhampstead Wharf, Thornborough Mill, Maids Moreton Mill and Bourton Meadow.

The restoration of the canal would bring new life, new recreational opportunities and new, environmentally-friendly businesses to the countryside and towns and villages between Cosgrove and Buckingham. Restoration projects elsewhere in the UK have overcome much greater obstacles than any found on the line of the Buckingham Canal. The Society recognises that restoration is a long-term project which will involve major investment but when restored will bring considerable benefits to the areas through which the restored canal passes.

The Society has commissioned Halcrow to prepare an initial engineering feasibility study, with grateful thanks for financial support from the IWA Restoration Committee and David Polhill, County Councillor for Buckinghamshire County Council. The main conclusions of the report, issued in May 2010, are:

 Restoration of the Buckingham Canal is a feasible project, although there are a number of issues to address.
 Restoration is likely to have a positive social and economic impact on the area as well as being of environmental benefit.
 Obstructions in Old Stratford and Deanshanger are such that reinstating the line though the villages is regrettably not really feasible in this section.
 It may be possible to achieve a route which makes use of the River Great Ouse, by-passing Old Stratford, though this would introduce operational issues to be overcome.
 Utilising sections of the river will obviously need the agreement of the Environment Agency. There will be benefits in terms of water management and environmental enhancement. The interaction of the canal with the rivers and floodplain will need to be addressed in some detail with the EA and alternatives also evaluated
 Much of the rest of the old line is visible and construction would be relatively unrestricted. Extensive consultation and agreement with landowners will be needed along with relevant local authorities.
 There is a possibility of crossing the A413 into Buckingham, again utilising the river, or a terminus basin could be constructed outside the ring road and used as a focus for a new development.
 Public engagement/consultation will be needed to ensure the backing of all the communities in the local area and to understand their concerns and aspirations.
 Significant funding will be required to undertake the engineering studies required and subsequently to carry out the project. It is likely to require short, medium and long term planning and a phased approach that will leverage other initiatives.

Buckingham Canal Society is actively seeking additional members and welcomes participation at all levels from the community. For more details please visit:

Web: www.buckinghamcanal.org.uk

email: info@buckinghamcanal.org.uk

or write to 16 Mallard Drive, Buckingham MK18 1GJ