Made possible by a £75,000 grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund, the project will see volunteers revamp the disused lock to tell the story of Gloucestershire's canals.
Already one of the most popular sections of the Gloucester & Sharpness Canal, Saul Junction is home to the Cotswold Canal Trust visitor centre, as well as a marina and café. However, since the closure of the Stroudwater Navigation, the historic listed lock at the heart of the site has been left derelict. This new project will ensure the structure is removed from English Heritage's ‘Buildings at Risk' register, and is safeguarded for generations to come.
New facilities and habitats
While the plans won't bring the lock back to operational use, new lock gates, interpretation boards and improved disabled access to the area will open the historic site up to visitors, schools and the local community. It's hoped that the creation of new facilities and wildlife habitats will also be made possible at the popular location.
Nick Worthington, waterway manager at the Canal & River Trust, said: “We've got ambitious plans for the site, and we're hoping that lots of people from the local area will help us out. As the project gets going, there will be loads of different ways people can get involved, from clearing vegetation to joining our education team. Whether you've got lots of time or just a little, if you enjoy being outside we'd love to hear from you.”
Anyone interested in getting involved in the project is invited to come along, meet the team and find out more on Wednesday 10 February at Saul Village Hall between 6 – 8pm.
