THE Canal & River Trust has today (Monday) announced that Central Shires will go, its responsibilities 'being absorbed into the neighbouring East Midlands, West Midlands and Manchester & Pennine waterways.
This will take place in two weeks time on the 1st August, but the Trust tells that 'the change will have little or no impact on operational and customer service staff in Central Shires and adjacent waterways, with teams continuing as before'.
Fazeley to close
However, early next year it plans to close its Fazeley office and open a new base in central Birmingham, with its staff at Fazeley being transferred to Cambrian House in Birmingham, from where it will operated its front-of-house services. The boaters' facilities of the water point and rubbish facilities will still be available at Fazeley.
Stuart Mills, Property Director, explained:"Birmingham has the greatest concentrations of canals in the country, and lies at the heart of our network; and yet we have limited presence in Britain's ‘canal capital'. Moving our main Midlands base from Fazeley, with its poor public transport links and a building in need of investment, surrounded by residential properties, into central Birmingham will give us greater flexibility, more connectivity and the opportunity to create a new national base—for both our Midlands and central teams."
New office
A new office will be opened that will overlook the Birmingham & Fazeley Canal, is within two minutes walk of Birmingham Snow Hill Station and less than 10 minutes from Birmingham New Street Station.