Victoria has praised the work of the Louth Navigational Trust in Parliament for their campaign to restore the Louth Canal.
Victoria visited the Trust in October of this year to learn more about their campaign to restore Louth canal to a navigation.
Only a week later Victoria raised the issue directly with the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Environment and rural affairs, Rory Stewart MP.
Victoria’s question and the Minister’s response can be found below:
Victoria Atkins (Louth and Horncastle) (Con): “Water adds value.” That was the conclusion of the Canal & River Trust when it studied the economic, social and environmental benefits of waterways restoration projects over the past 20 years. Will the Minister join me in praising the hard-working volunteers of the Louth Navigation Trust, who for the past 30 years have been working hard to restore the Louth canal to its full glory?
Rory Stewart: I pay real tribute to the work of the Louth Navigation Trust. We are at an exciting moment with the Louth canal, with the potential removal of the Phillips 66 pipe. If we are able to deal with some of the land ownership issues and, in particular, work with my hon. Friend to talk with Merton College, Oxford, which appears to control access to the canal, then we can get what she and the Louth Navigation Trust have fought so hard for. I thank her for her interest.
Victoria said,
“I am very impressed by the Louth Navigational Trust’s long campaign to restore Louth Canal to its full glory.
I am pleased the Minister responded with such enthusiasm for this project and I look forward to working with him and the Louth Navigational Trust to achieve this goal.”