Empty!

IT'S THE Regent's Canal alongside Victoria Park, drained for essential maintenance to stabilise its wall, and is closed until the 26th of March.

The first stage of this eight week project was to drain the 1km section of the canal, which took three days. Now areas of original waterway wall, which date back to the 1800s, have been exposed, enabling the maintenance works to be carried out.

Nearly 200 years old

The canal was originally constructed between 1812 and 1820 and runs east to west across London, from Limehouse to Little Venice, where it links to the Paddington Arm of the Grand Union Canal.

Once the canal is drained the works team will further inspect the canal wall before undertaking the task of stabilising it. The team will also take this opportunity to remove some of the rubbish that has been thrown into the canal.

We are told the draining has exposed everything from motorbikes, to tyres and shopping trollies that people have dumped without care as to the damage they cause to passing boats and wildlife, and without thinking of the expense it costs to remove their rubbish.

British Waterways' Waterway Manager, Simon Bamford explains:

"It's great to see that this historic waterway is getting the care and attention it deserves. Over a hundred thousand people enjoy the Regent's Canal every year, for boating, walking, cycling, jogging and just getting away from the hustle of the city streets for a while.

"I hope that the draining will also remind people that the canal isn't a deep, black hole for people to tip rubbish. British Waterways has to divert vital resources from preserving these historic waterways to tidying up after a minority of the community who seem to think it's appropriate to treat the waterway as their local tip."