Oxford Canal has conservation status

A LOCAL council has brought in the action to make a 33 miles stretch of the Oxford Canal into a conservation area.

This has been brought about by Cherwell District Council consulting with residents living by the canal, with it agreeing the stretch of waterway through Cherwell and Banbury 'should receive a level of care reflecting its importance to the area'.

Preserving the canal

A spokesman for the council explained:

"As well as preserving the canal, this status ensures that anything built along it does not detract from its setting so everything has to complement the canal."

Rob Kinchin-Smith, Chairman of Banbury Civic Society, expanded:

"Our countryside, our old buildings and our canal are what make Cherwell special—they are why people choose to live here."

Transport link

The council is expecting that the move move will be the start of a Heritage Partnership Agreement while enabling it to be a working transport link within the district.

It seems this has all been done by the council, but as to what it means when any structures need repair, is not known, and using the canal as a 'working transport link', seems rather ambitious.

Our thanks to Peter Lloyd for directing us to the information.