Page "Thames and Severn Canal" Paragraph 16

In order to provide a suitable structure to drive the restoration forwards, the Cotswold Canals Partnership was established in 2001, drawing together people representing the Proprietors of the Stroudwater Navigation, the Cotswold Canals Trust, councils at district and county level, and a number of other interested parties.

In 2002, the waterway was identified as being of high priority in the Association of Inland Navigation Authorities report entitled Vision for Strategic Enhancement of Britain's Inland Navigation Network, and was one of several new projects highlighted at British Waterways ' Unlocked and Unlimited conference held in March.

The estimated cost of the project was £ 82 million.

Having raised £ 100, 000, the Trust lodged the money with the Waterways Trust, in the hope that it could be used as match funding for any grants that might be received.

Andy Stumpf became the full-time Regeneration Programme Manager, working on a major bid application to the Heritage Lottery Fund ( HLF ) to finance the restoration, and the canal was visited by Charles, Prince of Wales, in his capacity as Patron of the Waterways Trust.

A Heritage Survey, which cost £ 60, 000 and was funded by the Inland Waterways Association, was carried out, as was a Community Development Plan and a Visitor Management Strategy, costing another £ 30, 000, all of which were pre-requisites for the main HLF bid.