Historic canal bank repaired after water vole damage

A historic canal is having part of its crumbling bank restored by volunteers after water voles burrowed into it for about 30 years.

The Wilts & Berks Canal Trust is repairing a 260m (853 ft) stretch of the towpath between Westleaze and Kingshill, in Swindon, which was last restored in the 1990s.

Swindon branch chair and trust advocacy director, Chloe Ford, said the canal bank was "leaking", which meant the towpath - currently closed daily between 09:00 and 15:30 BST for works - had become "quite bumpy".

Swindon councillor for the area, Janine Howarth, said she was "really pleased" works were taking place on what was a "green corridor" and it was a "breath of fresh air" for town residents.

The Wilts & Berks Canal crosses Wiltshire, Swindon and Oxfordshire. It was opened in 1810 and operated for nearly 100 years until an act of Parliament in 1914 when it was abandoned.

But trust volunteers have worked to have bridges, locks and towpaths restored across 70 miles (112 km) of canal in recent years.

Phase two of the Swindon refurbishment is currently under way, which involves adding blue clay to create a watertight bank.

"In essence, we seal the canal, so there's no more leaks," Ford said.

"And then, once the bank is stable, we're able to replace the towpath as well."

Ford said the charity wanted to repair this particular stretch of the canal in Swindon to make people feel "more confident" using the towpath, to create a "new water vole habitat" and protect the bank for another 30 years.

"We're very lucky in this part of the country that we have a high proportion of water voles. Hence they're protected, but they love burrowing into the canal bank and over a duration of nearly 30 years there's nowhere left to burrow," she said.

"It's a wonderful stretch that gives a blue green corridor for a really urban space," she added.

Howarth said the Westleaze to Kingshill section of the canal was "one of those places" where you feel you "could be anywhere" and it really cleared the mind.

"Swindon Borough Council want to see more and more of the canal opened up because we know how vitally important it is to people," she added.

The towpath will remain closed for works daily between 09:00 and 15:30 BST until mid-November.

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