Montgomery Canal Conservation Management Strategy (1.2MB PDF)

11. THE WAY FORWARD: WHAT HAPPENS NEXT
The Montgomery Canal Partnership represents a very wide cross section of interest, and will continue to
work together to guide the future management and restoration of the canal. In order to meet the wide
objectives and proposals in this strategy, and deliver change for the benefit of all, the partnership will consult
and involve on a wide and regular basis.
This strategy will be used, together with the economic study from Rural Solutions, and accurately
researched costs, for preparing and submitting a series of funding applications in the coming months and
years. We believe that the key to successful funding will be a process that touches and delivers on all the
themes of:
Conservation of the natural heritage
Conservation of the built heritage
Rural regeneration
A community facility and access for all
Involvement and participation of all stakeholders.
The future restoration will follow a twin track approach of delivering improved local facilities and increasing
links to the communities, and also seeking the major resources required to restore the canal to navigation.
Restoration will require major external funding and grants, but future running costs will need to be met from
income generated from a re-opened canal, and commitment from organisations within the Partnership.
The restoration started over thirty years ago, and has continued, despite setbacks, due the efforts of many
local groups and individuals. We believe that this strategy maps out a clear vision for the future, and a
framework that will guide all future management. We must now move on together, and seek to turn words
and policies into a phase of action and delivery.
Partnership organisations have made a commitment to action for some immediate key works, which are
listed in Table 11.1.
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