Concerns on Aldermaston Wharf development

THERE are concerns about the plans by British Waterways and specialist developer Bloc to build houses at Aldermaston Wharf on the Kennet & Avon Canal.

The wharf includes two Grade II-listed buildings, one used as the Kennet & Avon Canal Trust visitors' centre and an original toll house, but the developers want to build 13 houses on the site, Alan Tilbury tells us.

On show

The plans for the development will go on show in Aldermaston later this month, but there are already concerns, with the Chairman of the Reading branch of the Kennet & Avon Trust, David Copley,  complaining:

"To be honest we would prefer it if there were no more development at this site, but of course we realise British Waterways has to find funds. Our concern is for the car parking. We have made a number of suggestions to British Waterways because these plans have been around for some time. One of our concerns is with the car parking area.

"It is very important to us that canal users would be able to park their cars and get to the canal—all canal users, pedestrians and dog walkers and not just boat users."

A carrot

However the developers have offered the trust the carrot of  restoring the visitor centre and toll house as part of the deal.

"Profits from the development would be enough to fund five sets of new lock gates or maintain over 85 miles of towpath for a year."

No money invested

Yet readers of NbW well know that from an investigation by our Allan Richards  into its actual accounts British Waterways have invested no money from its property sales, revealing:

In recent years, BW made over £200 million profit from property sales. How much of that money was invested discharging BW's primary duty of maintaining the waterways? Not a single penny!

The public consultation takes place on Monday and Tuesday, 12th and 13th July at Aldermaston Wharf Visitors' Centre between 5pm and 8pm each day.