MP leads campaign to bring Town Centre Canal Back to Life with New Moorings

Local MP, John McDonnell, has launched a campaign to bring the Grand Union Canal in Hayes Town centre by bringing residential moorings into the heart of the town.
For some years John has had the idea of establishing residential canal boat moorings along the canal in Hayes Town Centre in order to improve the canalside area and assist in regenerating Hayes town centre. John has been lobbying British Waterways, the body responsible for our canals, and the council to work together to bring canal barge moorings into the town centre.

John arranged a visit earlier this year to the town centre for Mark Benstead, the chief executive of British Waterways London Region, and from that meeting detailed plans attached have been drawn up. These plans will be discussed at a meeting of officers from British Waterways, the council, members of Hayes Town Centre Partnership and John on 19th August.

John said “It has taken a lot of effort lobbying both British Waterways and the Council to take up this idea but I am now hopeful that we will see barges moored along our local canal. This will introduce a lively and interesting attraction into our town centre. Not only will this help improve the canal area it will also provide additional alternative accommodation for local people who would like living on the canal. The canal in Hayes is an undiscovered jewel which could be such an asset to our town. I also want to revive the Hayes Canal festival which I used to organise with Arthur Bennett of Willow Tree Marina. The festival had to be halted because of all things it became too big for the marina venue. I am now looking to see if we can hold it in the town centre canalside area. I will be reconvening a meeting of the Hayes Canal Society and local community organisations to see if we can plan the festival relaunch.”

submitted by John on 02 Aug 2008 at 15:52