Crowds gather as Grand Western Canal reopens

Local people, schoolchildren and Council Members all joined together on Wednesday (19 March) to celebrate the re-opening of the Grand Western Canal near Halberton.

Narrow boats made their first journey in over a year as the ribbon was cut by  Council Chairman, Bernard Hughes OBE.

Cheering crowds welcomed the flotilla as they made their way under the bridge at Halberton.

The Canal suffered a serious breach of its northern bank near Swing Bridge  in November 2012, after water spilled over the top of the embankment during torrential downpours and flooding.

Councillor Hughes paid tribute to residents and landowners who came together following the immediate aftermath of the disaster as well as the emergency services, council members and Devon County Council itself.

The Council allocated £3 million to help re-build the section and to carry out further works to ensure the long term future of the whole canal.

As well as repairing the breach, This has included inspections of all infrastructure along the canal, the installation of a water level monitoring and alarm system, as well as additional and improved stop boards.

The embankment has been rebuilt within its existing footprint, but is slightly higher in order to provide protection against future overtopping at this location.

Since the breach, half a mile of canal channel had to be closed between Greenway Bridge and Rock Bridge, with a half-mile long towpath diversion in place between Swing Bridge and Watton Bridge.