Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Slough basin revamp on the cards plus festival goes ahead

According to the minutes of the latest meeting of the Friends of the Slough Canal (yes, there are a few), £50k has been set aside by the council and BW for a development study and preparatory work. The actual revamp of te basin area could start as early as next year!!! Blimey. Well about time too. Perhaps when its done people will actually find it worth cruising the arm again.

They are still doing further work on the idea for a through route from the basin at Slough to the Thames at Windsor. However, the good old EA has put a spanner in the works by asking for a boat lift rather than a lock at the point of entry to the Thames. That won't be cheap, so don't hold your breath.

Lastly it seems that there will after all be a Slough Canal Festival "of some description" on 12/ 13 September. It looks like facilities for boaters will be improved after last year's poor preparation, including booking a nearby hall for a Saturday evening boater's social. I wonder how many people will give them the benefit of the doubt. I could be persuaded if a few others care to join us.

7 comments:

Simon said...

this indeed could be the year I ake it to the Slough festival - count me in.

saltysplash said...

Its only a week before the wedding of the year so we will have to see if all preparations are complete and if im off work of course. Would be good to give it as much support as poss

saltysplash said...

oops silly me, actually it starts the day after the wedding of the year so we wont be there. :(

Vallypee said...

Good luck..hope it goes ahead!

Anonymous said...

Alas, we'll still be up north so we won't be able to make it. It's great news that Slough is finally going to make something of the basin - the arm will definitely be worth a cruise when there's a worthwhile destination.
Sue

Halfie said...

Saltysplash, I don't know what you mean. The wedding of the year has already happened!

gazbee said...

if it was not for ici paints last years festival would not have taken place. Slough borough council are only there because the event is held on their land, the event would not exist otherwise. In my opinion the event is held at the wrong time and should be rsinstated to its original location and time of year. I have campaigned constantly for this, it is the only way that tha arm is to see any forward movement. The friends of slough canal are useless and are only interested in the seaction of canal which passes through their estate,which is only afew yards.............I have plenty more info if needed