Grand Union Canal Transfer – launch of public consultation
We would like to inform you of the launch of our first public consultation for the Grand Union Canal Transfer. This is a vital new scheme to move water from the Midlands to the Southeast. It is needed to secure future drinking water supplies. The scheme will also help to protect the environment, ensure future water availability for canal navigation, and unlock investment in our communities.
Consulting with our communities is a central part of the planning process and we encourage people to share their thoughts and opinions on this ambitious and transformative project. These comments will help us understand the local area, and any potential impacts our proposals may have on the community and the environment.
The consultation will launch at midday 11 September and run until 25 October.
What is the Grand Union Canal Transfer
The scheme is a joint water transfer project between two water companies, Severn Trent and Affinity Water, and the charity Canal & River Trust (‘the Trust’) who care for 2000 miles of canals and navigable rivers in England and Wales.
It will use a combination of new pipelines, water treatment plants and other infrastructure, as well as the canals themselves to transfer water from one region to another.
To help people identify the main areas of the scheme, we have split the project into three key sections:
Northern section – transferring water from a proposed new Advanced Water Treatment Plant at the existing Minworth Wastewater Recycling Centre, to the Coventry Canal at Atherstone via underground pipeline
Canal section – using the existing canal network to transfer water by building some new infrastructure such as pumping stations and gravity bypasses, alongside adapting some of the existing structures
Southern section – transferring water into a proposed water treatment works and water storage, before it is transferred by underground pipeline to Affinity Water’s customers
You can find out all about the proposals and where we might need new infrastructure on our website: www.guctransfer.co.uk
The consultation
Local communities and interested parties can take part in our consultation in the following ways:
Online: complete and submit a feedback form on our website: www.guctransfer.co.uk/haveyoursay
Email: email your feedback to [email protected]
Freepost: post a hard copy feedback form or a written response to Freepost GRAND UNION CANAL TRANSFER (no stamp required).
We’ll be holding a series of consultation events and pop-up events at various locations which will provide opportunities to talk to us and find out more:
Date
Type
Location
Saturday 21 September
Consultation event
Atherstone
Owen Street Community Arts Centre, Owen Street, Atherstone CV9 1DG
11am-3pm
Monday 23 September
Consultation event
Slapton
Elizabeth Griffin Memorial Hall, Church Rd, Leighton Buzzard LU7 9BX
4pm-8pm
Tuesday 24 September
Consultation event
Eaton Bray
Eaton Bray Methodist Church, Totternhoe Rd, Eaton Bray, Dunstable LU6 2BD
4pm-8pm
Wednesday 25 September
Consultation event
Chaul End
Lyons Community Centre, 33a Mallard Cres, Caddington, Luton LU1 4FG
4pm-8pm
Friday 27 September
Consultation event
Curdworth
Curdworth Village Hall, 70 Coleshill Rd, Curdworth, Sutton Coldfield B76 9HH
4pm-8pm
Saturday 28 September
Consultation event
Daventry
Daventry Community Centre, Ashby Rd, Daventry NN11 0QE
11am-3pm
Saturday 28
September
Pop-up
Fenny Stratford Junction
Opposite side of the canal from the Red Lion, 11 Lock View Ln, Fenny Stratford, Bletchley, Milton Keynes MK1 1BY
9.30am-12.30pm
Saturday 28
September
Pop-up
Grove Lock
Opposite side of the canal from the Grove Lock, Grove, Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire LU7 0QU
2.30pm-5.30pm
Wednesday 2 October
Consultation event
Hurley
Hurley Village, 41 Knowle Hill, Hurley, Atherstone CV9 2JD
4pm-8pm
Thursday 3
October
Pop-up
Stoke Bruerne Lock Bypass
Near the Canal Museum, Stoke Bruerne, Bridge Rd, Stoke Bruerne, Towcester NN12 7SE
10.30pm-13.30pm
Friday 4
October
Pop-up
Braunston Junction
Near Union Canal Carriers, Dark Ln, Braunston, Daventry NN11 7HJ
10.30am-1.30pm
Friday 4
October
Consultation event
Leighton Buzzard
Astral Park Community Centre, Johnson Dr, Leighton Buzzard LU7 4AY
4pm-8pm
Saturday 5
October
Consultation event
Great Brickhill
Great Brickhill Community Centre, Rotten Row, Great Brickhill, Milton Keynes MK17 9BA
11pm-3pm
Saturday 5
October
Pop-up
Hawkesbury Junction
Near the Hawkesbury Junction Pump House, opposite side of the canal from The Greyhound, Sutton Stop, Coventry CV6 6DF
9.30am-12.30pm
Saturday 5
October
Pop-up
Hillmorton Locks
Opposite side of the canal from the Canalchef Cafe, Badseys Wharf, The Locks, Hillmorton, Rugby CV21 4PP
2.30pm-5.30pm
Get in touch
If you or a local resident have a question about the scheme, if you need hardcopy documents or have any other queries, please do get in contact at any time by emailing [email protected], or calling us on 0121 270 5920.
We look forward to sharing the outcome of the consultations and updates on the project with you and the communities you represent as the scheme progresses.
Kind regards
Grand Union Canal Transfer engagement team