Cotswold Canals - Restoration? Not on my land!

[@radio-su6lh]

That's a fair point about property being higher in value next to waterways. Near us we have some run down mills near canals that have been renovated and now cost a bomb to rent or buy. They've also knocked down disused factories next to the canal and built new housing complexes which also cost an arm & leg.

[@daejavue69]

Seems John Peel has never heard of accomadation bridges the original way the the canal was crossed , also the ignorance of this pressure group who readily grabbed the canal land for a pittence I suspect

[@labarone8910]

Oh bless! I feel so sorry for these 'underprivileged' landowners. Canals were the arteries of the nation carrying it's lifeblood. These posh gentlemen farmers with their huge EU subsidies should get behind the restoration program, not hinder it. Not so long ago they would have been grateful for the ability to have their produce shipped direct from farm to market. A classic NIMBY scenario.

[@paulthomas3841]

Farmers can't think, but you give them "Money", they the Farmer would say yes,

[@tomkent4656]

"Were" is the correct tense!

[@colinsvid]

I'm getting my boat ready now, I can't wait to potter past some of these lovely places

[@grahamhall8249]

Serves the landowner right for filling in the canal and putting his garden on it!

[@theoldhobbit3640]

Such a pity to see those who have benefitted from the dereliction of the old canal fight so hard to keep it for themselves. Oh dear, my rear access security would be gone....... get real, you will see your property value increase as a river/canal front property and once again reap the rewards of those who will do all the hard work.

[@jliquorish]

Who owns the canal property? If its not the land owners then they are lucky they have been able to use it in the meantime. There will have to be new bridges built for the farmers.

[@harveysmith100]

The lady that said security will diminish if they open up the canal at the bottom of her garden. Has she never heard of moats? Security will increase, unless she is suggesting canal boat owners are all burglars? The very fortunes made by these land owners ancestors started because of the canals.

[@tyrus0872]

The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few.

[@NicholasChilton]

When canals were originally planned they had similar problems with land owners - look into places like the "Tixall Broad" where the canal was made to look like a lake to not spoil the view of the landowner when he looked out of his Hall.

[@raymondbland8521]

whoever filled in the canal should pay to clear it, to be fair if you have a hand in causing a problem then you should have a hand in putting it right.

[@johnortmann3098]

I wonder, does the guy who filled in the canal actually own that ground, or does it still belong to some entity?

[@iangascoigne8231]

John Ortmann That’s a good question.

[@tech4pros1]

@@johnortmann3098 it will depend upon what the deeds of the land say, the canal may well have an easement in the deeds.

[@rm55555]

2:10 - What an ignorant old man; Suggesting that boaters would not want local services. What about shops for supplies? What about takeaways and other amenities? Plus it's not just about boaters. Waterways benefit the wider community and that's evident even today. Don't know why he's protesting, he will likely be dead by the time it opens if he isn't already!!

[@dmwi1549]

Valid points to all, I wouldn’t want disruption to my farming. It’s tough enough as is. And a canal in my back yard where there was none, probably not. HOWEVER: if you filled in a previous right of way or didn’t check on whether this canal was officially shut down for all time before buying or improving property, that’s on you. I’d say go look at current restoration projects and speak to those land owners before making up your mind. Since it’s years later I’m interested to see how this is going.

[@OceanRailroader]

I would want to have a abondoned canal that was in my back yard restored.

[@MsVanorak]

a waterway boundary on a qroqerty can add 10% to it's value.

[@shrubbie1]

Selfish Toffs...the countryside is for all of us to enjoy - bring on the canal...

[@JohnSmith-zv8km]

I love the canals and think restoration activities are wonderful. However, I can sympathize with people who are effected by it too.

[@southjerseysound7340]

You wont feel so bad when you see how it drives the property values up.I just looked at a tiny lock house that sold for 1.5 million Pounds

[@lewis72]

How does the guy know that people on canal boats don't go to restaurants? Has he asked them all? Has he seen the Gas Street Basin since the canals were restored there? There are a few restaurants and pubs there now and they're often quite busy. What a muppet. "It's like German propaganda during the war" No it isn't. That bit of the canal could always be rerouted a bit.

[@merlinonline67]

It's all a bit Vicar of Dibley!

[@lewis72]

These complaining old duffers will be dead by the time they get round to opening this canal again.

[@chrish2685]

I will lose a 1/4 of my garden,will only only be left with 10 acres

[@jonleonard538]

Goodness the land owners are so short sighted. There are many KZbin videos showing excellent revitalization due in part to boat owners coming through an area. Boat owners in these times are not the same as former years. And the populations in other parts of the UK need this as an option in opposition to land ownership. We have this type of life in the USA on boats and in RVs.

[@jamesrivis620]

The wealthy snobs make me sick.

[@dobstaable]

Moving on to 2019, does anyone know if the Trust is going ahead with the restoration.

[@MarkKempsford]

The restoration in Stroud is virtually complete. Work is now beginning to link this section to the Gloucester & Sharpness Canal. It is believed that this will take 5 years to finish. Once that is done then focus will turn to the Eastern End of the Canal! I live in Kempsford - I have lived here all my life and I for one am firmly in favour of the restoration seeing only good things for ALL of our community not just the privileged few.

[@philipbaker8707]

Having lived at Brimscombe from 1958 to 1974 ( childhood to teenager) , l witnessed the neglect of British waterways mistaken for the land grabbing that took place during that time. The canal was establish in the late 18thC long before the dissatisfied grandiose incomers who gained their residence by contribution elsewhere have looked down on the public getting anywhere near their dream properties in the idealic Golden Valley, quick to protect their own property rights and desirous to ignore everybodyelses. They have closed rights of way broken private property boundries and taken over land not belonging to them There interest is purely selfish and in some cases to head off potential charges of land theft. The T&C developed the Golden Valley in the 17th & 18th centuries. The villages only exist because of its past presence. If it had not been built there would be NO RAILWAY, STROUD, MILLS, DANEWAY

[@paulthomas3841]

You flash "Money" in front of them Farmers, they would say "yes yes"

[@finscreenname]

Have the canal build in a privet docking spot next to your house as compensation and your house will be worth a fortune.

[@middleageddad]

Some things never change.

[@Woodbug-b7t]

Begs the question, did the rich elite hasten the dearth of the canals in favour of the railways because they had all invested in Rail, or to spite the 'Boaters', or perhaps both? Would luv a POV from an Historian.

[@spinaway]

any updates on this canal?

[@anthonywhitehouse2295]

Its simple.house value goes up.the canal was there 1st .if they don't like it .tough.

[@wobblydangly]

I don't think it's a given that being close to a waterway is automatic increase in property value. Trying getting building insurance in a flood zone.

[@anthonywhitehouse2295]

@@wobblydangly very very rare that that canals flood.

[@foreversingle1975]

Who owns the land? If its owned by the canals trust, no permission is required and it can simply go ahead.

[@danny117hd]

Wouldn't The real estate value and a lease to a marina keep your family in money for generations?

[@jonny7491]

How was it closed?

[@scarletmoon777]

so what happen in the end did the Restoration move forward or not?

[@charleneknighton]

Yes, it did. There are videos showing the work being done. I believe they are listed under The Cotswold Trust if you want to watch them.

[@petejohnson1724]

all rich people not wanting poor people to have a nicer life

[@soundhobo]

Crack on with it...👍

[@stephenharris8152]

Why did they have to close the canals hundreds live on them once some more are opened more will be living on them my mate has to live on the canal now he's said it's cheaper than living at home

[@iliketojumplargeobje]

yeah, restore it! Many more would enjoy this land than them.

[@brucenichols9153]

How sad it is for these landowners to have no sense of the romance of canals

[@MsVanorak]

Don't quote me on this but I think that 'custom and qractice' makes the tow qath a qublic right of way. So the man moaning the loss of his garden and ms. lockett could have had footqath walkers traiqsing through there gardens all these years. Same aqqlies to disused railway track beds.

[@johndavies9270]

Unless the law has been changed, if a footpath is used unopposed for a period of 25 years then it should become a 'right of way'. Canals though are a little bit odd - it depends a lot on their original Act. I grew up alongside the Trent & Mersey (not far from Tixall Wide, mentioned above) and the towpaths on both the T&M and the Staffs & Worcester have been public footpaths since the cuts were built. Indeed, when the fledgling British Waterways tried to close them off to the public in the early 1950s my late uncle, Ernest Shelley of Colwich fought them in the courts and won on just this point. But in the 1970's, in Birmingham, the towpaths were closed to the public, gated and padlocked. Disused railway tracks were, and are a different matter completely - usually they were sold off to the farmers or landowners whose property they crosses and so became theirs, with no public right of access. Now of course, post Brexit and post EU subsidies - which a lot of farmers apparently supported, they may be singing a slightly different song?

[@Mercmad]

If i were Mr Peel I would be building a Bridge and using the water for irrigation in Dry weather. He couldn't see beyond the fact he was going to lose access to free land he gets while the canal is dry.

[@labarone8910]

Er, using canal water for irrigation is a no-no. You would empty the canal between locks. They are not rivers, they are mainly artificial watercourses that are sometimes topped up by natural streams but quite often artificially maintained by pumps. Navigation would be impossible if you pumped water out.

[@kevinu.k.7042]

We really need to update the laws surrounding land ownership. I took years for walkers groups to get some of the Derbyshire moorland opened upto walkers. In Scotland it is an inalienable right to walk accross any land. We should have access to our own Country.

[@johndavies9270]

Scottish law is unfortunately different in many respects, particularly land access and rights of way, to English law. So much for our being a United Kingdom........

[@willfriar8054]

dont build a bridge build a basin and a barge then you can charge dockage and have room for turning.

[@tonybutcher4762]

''I want to get my combine harvester and tractor across the field', Cut to him piddling around in a tiny Skoda.

[@AndyCutright]

Upper class gits.

[@merlinonline67]

Most of the objectors are dead now, Canals take many years to restore!

[@labarone8910]

Good answer!

[@merlinonline67]

@@labarone8910 The man complaining about his garden will be 90 now if he is still alive!

[@Doubledig]

Pompous NIMBYs! Restore the Cotswold Canal!

[@AlongtheRiverLife]

I totally understand the landowners point. If the canal users respected others' land maybe, but they will not.

[@oscarwildeghost]

Complaining about security concerns from a canal in the peaceful English countryside?

[@petejohnson1724]

they let them go into disrepair on their land well now you should pay towards the repair as i suspect you have been filling the canal over the years

[@tomkent4656]

Canals have long since served their original purpose. These proposed restorations are only for the benefit of the leisure industry.

[@keithmoore5224]

people with money go to restaurants poor people go to puds says it all

[@Josh26231]

Sauber.....;-)

[@mikkie444]

Farming is more important than a few dozen boats a week

[@finscreenname]

Did you say that about every road built?

[@FreezyAbitKT7A]

The canals were not built for pleasure boating. They were made for repetitive trips of materials and fuel. If folks want to adhere to the history of the canals, they should be satisfied with that. Buy a caravan if you want to see new places on public easements.

[@thelastengineer2315]

Typical selfish greed of the wealthy.

[@petejohnson1724]

i am rich i can have the beauty of the countryside you can not your poor

[@Ken-ps6zf]

Will probably end up like the Kennet and Avon canal. Awash with Gypo's living on board crapping in the cut, paying nothing to the community letting the bulldogs and rotweillers loose in the farms. A canal, yes, bargees no.

[@spencerwilton5831]

Ken Yes the K&A and the regents canal in London do seem to attract a certain type- namely freeloading hippies with a sense of entitlement. It's a problem almost unique to those locations though - in canal terms at least. They seem to think they should be able to completely ignore the terms of their licence, and live in some of the most expensive parts of the country for next to nothing, ruining it for genuine visiting boaters.