As well as IWA’s previously stated concerns about Canal & River Trust’s proposed implementation of its Restoration Development Plan, which so far has led to uncertainty and restoration schemes being delayed or even halted, along with reported inconsistencies between CRT regions, IWA has particular concerns for the situation on the Wendover Arm of the Grand Union Canal. Here, not only has CRT stopped all restoration work, and seemingly maintenance thereof, but it has closed, drained and fenced off the section of canal reopened amid much fanfare by Sir David Suchet in 2005. CRT also forbade any boats over 40 foot in length from navigating the section of canal from Bulbourne Junction to the Stop Lock, which had previously never been closed to navigation, a restriction which was only lifted when IWA complained about it.
The Wendover Arm was initially constructed as a feeder channel for the Grand Union Canal but was soon made fully navigable. It then closed from the Stop Lock just above Tringford Pumping Station in 1904 owing to leakage through the canal bed. In the 1980s, the South Bucks Section of IWA’s Hertfordshire Branch (later to become IWA Chiltern Branch) began to campaign for full restoration of the Wendover Arm, and some initial clearance work parties were held. An early campaigning success was a navigable culvert under the then-planned A41 Aston Clinton bypass where IWA appeared at the public inquiry. In 1989, Wendover Arm Trust was formed to campaign for full restoration of the Arm. An early aim was to restore the lowered Little Tring road-bridge, and in 2005 this was achieved with the first section of the canal re-opened from the Stop Lock through to a new basin for winding craft beyond the restored Little Tring Bridge. This work was enabled in part through fundraising by Wendover Arm Trust, and in part through a large donation by IWA utilising the proceeds of a substantial bequest by Tim Wilkinson, author of the post-war canal carrying book ‘Hold on a Minute’. The author’s bequest to IWA included copyright of the book.
Wendover Arm Trust then set about restoring the dry section of canal from Little Tring Bridge to Drayton Beauchamp, to specifications agreed by then British Waterways, and in recent years CRT, with a fabric liner and brick blocks, including rebuilding of wooden footbridges and other structures in brick, with various sections being tested for leaks, etc, as works progressed. A section of canal that had been infilled with household rubbish in the 1920s was excavated and most of the material, now deemed hazardous, was removed by contractors, funded by a substantial grant from Hertfordshire County Council. All this work was nearing completion, sections of canal rewatered and Wendover Arm Trust had expected to complete restoration and reopening of this section to the A41 bypass by about now.
About two years ago, local Canal & River Trust management cited some Health & Safety and environmental concerns and asked Wendover Arm Trust to cease work. Since then, there has been a dialogue between the Trust and CRT, with long delays by CRT to respond to matters, apparently because of ‘lack of resources’. All the restored sections have been drained down and now have a layer of vegetation growing across the restored lining. CRT has insisted that Wendover Arm Trust (now trading as Wendover Canal Trust), sign an onerous detailed licence agreement before restoration works can commence. The Canal Trust eventually signed this agreement in September 2025, but CRT has yet to agree to Wendover Canal Trust recommencing work. Meantime, a leak in the section of canal restored and reopened in 2005 was identified following notification by an adjacent landowner. CRT commissioned a report and concluded the leak would cost £300k to fix, although the report has not been made available. CRT’s response has been that fixing the leak is low priority, and so it has installed a rather permanent looking earth dam at the stop lock, drained the canal and erected what looks to be permanent wooden and mesh fencing around both sides of the drained canal for its entire section. CRT says it has no intention of even reviewing the matter until at least 2027.
Having closed and drained the previously restored section of canal, CRT sought to stop any boats longer than 40 foot from using any part of the Wendover Arm Canal – as stated in a notice that was erected at Bulbourne Junction. Whilst accepting that there had been some shortcomings by Wendover Canal Trust, which the Trust was keen to rectify, IWA believes that CRT has badly mismanaged the situation and failed to take the necessary leadership to ensure full and timely repairs and restoration. Rather, CRT has just put barriers in place, both physically and psychologically, thus demotivating local volunteers and supporters. CRT’s response is that it has insufficient resources to do all that it wants, and the Wendover Arm is not a priority. There is much damage to repair of CRT’s own making. Frustrated and disappointed by the situation, IWA has raised the matter with CRT’s senior management in hopes that the situation will be addressed in a more positive and productive manner.
