Visitor Centre opens on Devon's Grand Western Canal
Grand Western Canal visitor centre Credit: Devon County Council
A new visitor centre for the Grand Western Canal has opened its doors today in Tiverton. Visitors to the 11 mile attraction, which stretches from Mid Devon to Lowdwells near the Somerset border, will be able to learn about the canal's heritage and wildlife.
The opening comes as repairs are underway to fix part of the historic canal wall, which gave way under flooding in November. The force of the water carved a gorge into the hillside and swamped local fields.
Devon County Council has pledged £3 million to restore it. It's hoped the repairs will be finished in time for the 200th anniversary of the canal next year.
Parts of canal were destroyed in winter floods Credit: ITV WestcountryDevon County Council has pledged £3 million to repair canal Credit: ITV WestcountryEmbankment near Tiverton burst after torrential rains in November Credit: ITV Westcountry
A pledge of £3 million has been made by Devon County Council to repair a canal that was destroyed in this winter's floods. It's hoped it will reopen in time for the waterway's 200th anniversary.
The embankment of the Grand Western Canal near Tiverton burst after torrential rains in November.
Engineers are determined that it will not happen again. John Andrews reports
The empty canal at Halberton after the embankment collapsed Credit: ITV Westcountry
People living near a collapsed canal bank in Devon are being asked to help with investigations into how it happened. Nearly two miles of the Grand Western Canal near Tiverton emptied into surrounding fields last month when the embankment gave way.
A fact-finding meeting is being held in the village hall at Halberton next Thursday, December 20th. Devon County Council officials are appealing for information and photographs before the breach occurred. The drop-in session runs from 4pm to 8pm.
Volunteers have been helping rescue fish displaced when a bank of the Grand Western canal collapsed two weeks ago. The Environment Agency says it's been one of the most difficult fish rescues its attempted, because of the thick mud and the icy conditions.
Local anglers and The Environment Agency are working together to save fish. Credit: ITV Westcountry
A rescue operation to save fish stranded after a canal bank collapsed in Mid Devon has begun.
The 200-year old embankment at Halberton completely gave way after a two mile stretch of the Grand Western Canal near Tiverton drained into the surrounding fields.
It's left hundreds of fish stranded in a lagoon. Local anglers and The Environment Agency have now started pumping the lake and will transfer the fish to tanks before returning them to the canal.
A large pike is fished out of the lagoon. Credit: ITV Westcountry
Villagers have set out their determination to rebuild a canal embankment which collapsed in the recent floods draining the Grand Western Canal near Tiverton.
The village hall at Halberton was packed for a meeting to kick-start the restoration.
A shot from the police helicopter showing the collapsed bank and flooded fields Credit: Devon &Cornwall Police
A 100ft long section of the Grand Western Canal has collapsed. It happened at Halberton, near Tiverton this afternoon. A section of the raised bank measuring approximately 100 feet across on the north side collapsed causing water to flood into fields.
A short while later a 100 foot section on the south bank collapsed. Devon County Council engineers and emergency services are assessing the damage. The water in the canal is being restricted by temporary dams which is reducing the impact of the flooding. No homes are reported flooded.
Canal rangers in Tiverton are trying to lift a sunken barge in the Grand Western Canal. It's used for maintenance tasks along the waterway and began sinking near Tidcombe Lane last week. They tried to plug a leak in the barge at the end of last week but it sunk again over the weekend.
The barge is used for maintenance and began sinking last week Credit: ITV Westcountry
