IWA Supports Restoration of Bude Sea Lock . . . IWA Press Release
(Inland Waterway Association)

The IWA has confirmed the importance it attaches to Bude's historic sea lock with the announcement yesterday of a £3,000 grant from its Larger Grants Fund towards a project to repair and restore the lock.

The lock, featured on many postcards, is a scheduled ancient monument and is one of a number of engineering features remaining on the Canal. The lock was badly damaged by storms in 1997, when rough seas destroyed the outer gates rendering the lock inoperable and leaving the inner gates to keep water in the canal basin.

The European Regional Development Fund and English Heritage have recently awarded substantial grants to the project, which is estimated to cost £500,000. Bude-Stratton Town Council is also supporting the project, as is North Cornwall District Council (NCDC) which has just confirmed that it will meet the balance of project costs.

Councilor John Lugg, Chairman of NCDC's Housing & Environmental Services Committee, said,

We are very grateful to the Inland Waterways Association for their significant support of this project. At one stage we were worried that we might not be able to raise all the money we needed but thankfully we have managed to secure all the necessary funds to protect this outstanding historic feature for future generations."

Bob Dukes, South West Region Chairman of the IWA, said yesterday, "The Bude Canal is a unique waterway and one that members of the Inland Waterway Association have campaigned to repair and restore for may years. Repairs to the sea lock are vital and the Association is pleased to contribute towards this important project."

Repair work will begin with the construction of a temporary dam inside the canal to retain the water whilst the works are in progress. The project has already been put out to tender and Sea Structures, Ltd., of Plymouth has been appointed as contractor. Consultants W. S. Atkins will be managing the project on behalf of NCDC and English Heritage will be keeping a close watch. It is estimated that the project will take about six months to complete.

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