WEEKLY COLUMN by Stroud MP Dr Simon Opher 

Early in the summer I was invited to be part of a celebration at the beginning of the work on the ‘Missing Mile’, from the bridge near Eastington to the other side of the motorway, so that the Stroudwater Canal will again be linked with Gloucester and Sharpness Canal at Saul junction.

The Cotswolds Canal Trust is an impressive organisation.

Since they were founded in 1972 they have made a huge difference, not only to the canal (it’s basically one canal, but has different names at different points), but to the communities and environment along its route.

The Cotswold Canals Connected initiative is very important for our local health as well as for biodiversity and also the restoration of our heritage and our shared culture.

The work on the Missing Mile will also create an area of wetlands and ponds for wildlife, with new feeding grounds for migratory birds.

There will be a towpath with multi-user access, so that everyone can enjoy the newly created wildlife corridor – which will in time stretch from Brimscombe Mill to the River Severn.

Volunteers are the backbone of the project, and especially the creation and maintenance of the towpaths.

Those I spoke to that day had spent weeks pulling out Himalayan Balsam, an invasive species that spreads rapidly.

It has spread across the district since it was first introduced here in 1839, preventing many indigenous plant from growing.

The best way to get rid of it is to go ‘balsam bashing’, uprooting the plants before they seed in June/July.

The engineering involved is, frankly, beyond me, but thankfully it is not beyond Rob Benson (Cotswold Canals Connected Chief Engineer), who is doing an exceptional job steering the project forwards.

I was also struck by the level of co-operation between the different organisations involved. Stroud District Council (where Chief Executive Kathy O’Leary and leader Catherine Braun are great supporters), Stroud Valleys Project, and Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust are really focused on making it all happen. It’s a great model.

I’m really looking forward to my next visit and to see how things are getting on.