Works starts on Dudley No 2 restoration

THE Mayor of the West Midlands, Andy Street, has started the project to build a new winding hole to enable boats to enter the restored Dudley No 2 Canal.

Andy Street, who has supported the project for many years, was welcomed by Dr Andrew Hardie, Chairman of the Lapal Canal Trust, who recently signed a £300,000 contract with Land & Water, to build the first Selly Oak section of the Dudley No 2 Canal, Roger Fox reports.

Three months project

This is the start of a three months project, and despite the rain there was an excellent turn out of helpers including John Hudson, Chair of the Advisory Board, Barry Toon, Chair of the Community Partnership for Selly Oak and Mike Palmer, Chair of the Inland Waterways Recovery Group. whose volunteers help to repair the canal walls and are scheduled to return in August to build a disabled compatible turn-over path in Selly Oak Park.

The new water feature section completes the development of Whitehouse Wharf and forms part of the Selly Oak Shopping Centre owned by M & G Real Estate, and provided as a public amenity. The area includes a bridge linking the new shops to Selly Oak town centre, the remains of a lime kiln and a new public square.

Soon to be restored

The large water area is designed to enable boats to turn and enter and exit the soon to be restored Dudley No 2 Canal. It will be an attractive calming water feature in the heart of Selly Oak, to be enjoyed by all canal users with  Canal & River Trust agreeing to maintain the new water space.

The work is only possible because of the generous support of the 50 charities, companies, and individuals who have helped to fund the project. The larger funders are Veolia,Garfield Weston, Headley Trust, Landsec, Unite Students, the Cadbury Family Trusts, Jabbs and Rowland Trust.

The Lapal Canal Trust is now focused on raising the further funds required to complete the restoration to Harborne Lane Bridge, which must be completed by 2025.