An ambitious plan to link mid-Essex to the national canal network has been backed by councillors.
Last month, the Evening Gazette reported that the WithamTown Strategy Group had floated the idea of extending the Chelmer and Blackwater Navigation from Maldon to Witham, Braintree and right across Essex to link with the Stort Navigation at Sawbridgeworth.
The Inland Waterways Association is carrying out a feasibility study into the possibility of extending the Chelmer Navigation and the results are expected in a few weeks.
Speaking at the Witham Area Forum on Monday night, strategy group spokesman Paul Ryland sought backing from Braintree Council for the idea.
He said: "Smaller towns like Maldon, Witham and Braintree will never catch up with Chelmsford and Colchester and should specialise. We're looking for ways to move this area into the 21st century and I think this would be a good one."
He added that such a resource would be a boom to tourism and even to commercial and commuter transport in the area. The existing canal transported heavy goods from Chelmsford to the sea at Maldon until 1972.
The area forum voted to support in principle a feasibility study on the canal link, on the proviso that no taxpayers' money goes towards it at this stage.
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Published Wednesday December 19, 2001
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