MP launches canal and river talks

Local MP Gideon Amos has launched discussions aimed at increasing the leisure and tourism potential of the historic Bridgwater and Taunton Canal and the River Tone for the county town.
Opened in 1827, the picturesque canal extends for 14.5 miles between the two towns and joins the River Tone for onward access to the town centre at Firepool Lock.
Mr Amos visited the Somerset Boat Centre which runs popular canal boats in and out of Taunton from its North Newton moorings and met with owner Ryan Chorley, along with East Deane Liberal Democrat chair, David Crabbe, and Cllr Phil Stone.
The centre offers a variety of ways to get on or be near the water including canoes, kayaks, self-drive motorboats and a chartered narrowboat.
Mr Chorley told the group: “We want to keep growing and getting visitors down to the canal to see the work we are doing.
“It’s a fantastic asset and, if we all work together, we can secure the canal for generations to come.
“We have some exciting plans for next spring which will see a more diverse offering of boating opportunities.
“We've got a vision to continue improving the canal and get more visitors to Somerset.
“This will help secure and create jobs, not only in the rural economy but in Taunton itself.
Mr Amos said afterwards: “It's amazing work the Somerset Boat Centre is doing, bringing our waterways in Taunton to life.
“I’m convinced we now need a big effort to restore access through Firepool Lock so that narrow boats can come right into the heart of Taunton once again.
“I’m reaching out to all the agencies and authorities concerned to see how the lock can be both repaired and dredged and back in business once again, maybe as part of a wider project to improve our waterways more generally”.
Mr Amos said the boat centre used to run trips into town centre turning around at French Weir, the highest navigable point on the river, until the gates at Firepool Lock seized up.
“Older residents remember canal boats mooring in the town centre including a floating restaurant at Goodland Gardens.
“Our garden town is graced with beautiful waterways – it’s now time to make them usable again to attract more and more people to our town centre,” he added.
Cllr Tom Deakin, Leader of Taunton Town Council, said: “The town council knows how important our waterways are for the residents we represent.
“That's why the River Tone was at the heart of our Taunton Together celebration earlier this year and why many recipients of grants and sponsorship from the council utilise our blue spaces.
"We are hopeful that our expression of interest to receive significant grant funding to support Taunton's Waterways Strategy will be positively received.
“We are committed to doing all we can, working in partnership with our MP and others, to ensure everyone is able to enjoy the beauty and tranquillity which comes with our rivers, canals and streams."