The closure of the Glasgow-to-Edinburgh canal link has resulted in dozens of cancelled boat trips and neglects one of Scotland’s “tourism treasures troves”, the Scottish Conservatives have said.
Two bridges along the waterway are currently closed, with no clear plans to reopen them. That means the dozens of boats registered to travel the length of the Union and Forth and Clyde Canals have been forced to abandon at least 35 bookings ahead of this summer, research has found.
Central Scotland MSP Alison Harris said the death of the direct link between Scotland’s two biggest cities, which was made possible by the multi-million pound construction of the Falkirk Wheel, is a huge wasted opportunity. The link is currently closed at the canal sections in both Bonnybridge and Twechar.
Mrs Harris tabled a series of Parliamentary Questions on the issue, but has yet to receive any confirmation from the SNP government that the canal corridor will reopen in full.
A Freedom of Information request by the Scottish Conservatives has revealed 35 cancellations by holiday hire fleets had been submitted since the bridge closures and campaign group Keep Canals Alive have also raised a series of concerns about the state of both canals, and a lack of investment in maintenance.
Scottish Conservative Central Scotland MSP Alison Harris said: “The Union Canal and the Forth and Clyde Canal could be a tourism treasure trove for Scotland. In theory, they are supposed to be an artery joining Scotland’s two biggest cities, and a unique boating experience. Instead, that route has been left to rot, meaning it’s impossible to get the boat from Glasgow to Edinburgh.
“One of the driving forces behind building the Falkirk Wheel was to enable that journey, but the Scottish Government hasn’t bothered maintaining that route.
“This is a woeful missed opportunity for tourism, and a real slap in the face to communities in central Scotland who would benefit from a vibrant and active canal.”
Ronnie Rusack, of the Keep Canals Alive campaign and chair of the Lowlands Canals Volunteers Group, added: “We have deep concern about the progressive closure of the Forth and Clyde and Union Canals, upon which so much public money was spent reopening just a few years ago.
“Scottish Canals have not maintained the canals adequately and the lack of maintenance has driven away existing users. The policy of pursuing property development at the expense of keeping the canals open for navigation risks losing that community spirit and co-operation.
“It risks losing the social and environmental benefits that restoration of the canals brought about. And in the medium future it puts at risk the investment in canal-side property.”
Miles Briggs, Scottish Conservative Lothian MSP, said: “The Glasgow to Edinburgh canal link is an untapped resource that is not realizing its full potential.
“There are significant benefits to Glasgow, Edinburgh, and the surrounding areas in having the canal fully operational. The continued closure of the Union canal could have a negative impact on tourism within Lothian.”
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