WRG to repair bridges

THE Waterway Recovery Group has launched a new 'Building Bridges' project, that will maintain and repair waterway bridges, relieving Canal & River Trust of the work.

The Building Bridges Project is a joint initiative by the Waterway Recovery Group (WRG) and the Trust, that means unpaid volunteers will carry out minor repairs to canal bridges.

Desperate need

It tells that it will carry out more major, repairs to canal bridges that are in desperate need of restoration, 'giving local people and communities the chance to come together and look after a structure on a section of canal or waterway.'

A spokesman for WRG explained it is encouraging local organisations such as community groups or residents' associations to undertake more technical restoration work along their local waterways, under its new scheme 'Building Bridges'.

Using volunteers

Richard Parry, Chief Executive of Canal & River Trust, is of course very much in favour, remarking:

"Our partnership with WRG makes a positive impact on both navigable waterways and those still under restoration. Since the launch of the Trust we have been developing new ways of working together, and have placed the role of volunteers at the centre of our approach. This document is a superb planning tool that will help both our own teams and the wider waterways community when working on more complex and ambitious projects."