Hanwell Flight project is part of £50m works programme which will form solid foundation for new national waterways charity
 
British Waterways has completed a two week programme of repair and maintenance work on the Grand Union Canal’s historic Hanwell Flight in west London. The work to the locks 91 and 92 involved replacing and repairing parts of the locks’ mechanisms to stop them leaking, making them easier and safer for boaters to use. Repairs were also made to the locks themselves and the fabric of the canal. The project is part of British Waterways’ long term programme of work on the Hanwell Flight which ensures that this Scheduled Ancient Monument is protected and preserved for boaters, local people and visitors to enjoy today and for years to come.
 
This work on west London’s Grand Union Canal is part of national, £50 million programme of work which British Waterways completes at sites across its 2,200-mile network each winter. The work done this season is of special significance because it is the last that will be completed by British Waterways in its current state. In just five months the Government will put its network of canals and rivers into trust for the nation through the creation of a new charity: the Canal and River Trust. This winter many of Britain’s canals and rivers will be receiving a pre-transition makeover to make sure the new charity gets off to a ‘flowing’ start.
 
British Waterways are also organising a series of behind-the-scenes tours of canal worksites this winter. Members of the public can see what’s going on on their local waterway, meet engineers, construction teams and heritage specialists, see how canal infrastructure works and find out about the future of Britain’s waterways in the charity sector. A list of events, including a London open day, is on British Waterways’ leisure website: www.waterscape.com/canalopendays
 
Vince Moran, British Waterways’ operations director, said: “Britain’s canals and rivers are set to become a new waterways charity next year so this year’s maintenance programme marks the end of an era for the nation’s historic waterway network.”
“We look after the third largest estate of listed structures in the country, including many iconic examples of the nation’s industrial heritage such as the Hanwell Flight.  I hope that by opening up the repair works this winter, we can give people a chance to see the scale of the work we do to ensure that the waterways are preserved for today’s users and future generations.”
 
May Gurney are the sole sponsor of this year’s winter works campaign.  Eddie Quinn, framework manager for the British Waterways at May Gurney stated: “We are incredibly proud to play our part in British Waterways’ essential work to preserve Britain’s canal network. Few people realise that many canal locks, buildings and structures are listed monuments and that the canal network is one of the finest, living references to Britain’s industrial revolution.

“Repairing and maintaining the canal network is a painstaking task, which requires traditional materials and methods to be used to preserve this vital part of the UK’s heritage. However the canal network is more than just a historical monument, it’s also a vital wildlife refuge and well-loved leisure resource. We strongly encourage people to support British Waterways and to visit a winter works open day.”
 
The canal and river network British Waterways cares for is a haven for people and wildlife, visited by nearly 13 million people each year, and regarded as a much-loved national asset that showcases our industrial heritage. The investment into the 2,200-mile inland waterway network is currently funded through a combination of Government grants and income from commercial activities such as property and boat licenses.  When British Waterways transfers to a charity, scheduled for April 2012, funding will be delivered through the combination of a long-term Government contract, commercial revenue and growing charitable income.
 
For more information on behind-the-scenes tours and open days at canal work sites this winter visit www.waterscape.com/canalopendays