MORE than three decades of community-led campaigning will come to fruition this summer with the official opening of Droitwich’s newly restored canal.

A celebration marking the completion of the £12million project, which connects the Worcester and Birmingham Canal to the river Severn, will take place over the first weekend in July to coincide with the annual Droitwich Music Festival. Restoration works are now in the final stages along the river Salwarpe in Droitwich and this last phase will connect the Droitwich Barge Canal and Droitwich Junction Canal to create a 21-mile cruising circuit, which will be known as the Mid-Worcestershire Ring.

British Waterways senior regeneration manager Jason Leach said the restored canals would bring a major long-term boost to the local economy.

“The project is the culmination of more than 35 years of community-led campaigning to restore these canals and create a legacy which will be enjoyed by all for years to come,” he said.

“The canal restoration will create a sustainable legacy, providing an ideal opportunity for communities, individuals and for interest groups to play an active role in maintaining, developing and improving the waterway corridor.

“Community engagement is set to play a fundamental role in developing and maintaining our canals for future generations, as British Waterways moves towards a new future within the charitable sector.”

Droitwich Canals Trust’s acting chairman Vaughan Welch said the organisation, whose members campaigned tirelessly for the work to be carried out, could be justifiably proud of the achievements.

“Our members and volunteers have made a significant difference not only to the canals, but to local people, the region and to the country,” he said.

Roger Hanbury, chief executive of the Waterways Trust, said: “Members of the public from across the county have got behind this restoration project giving their time and money to make it a success.

“It has involved the whole community from schoolchildren creating the design for a new play area to businesses which helped create a new reed bed. Older residents of the town came forward with their memories of the canal and the general public generously supported our fund-raising appeal.

“Thanks to this support, and that of our funders, the Droitwich Canals are now inviting and inspiring place that everyone can enjoy.”

Droitwich Canals’ Restoration Partnership was established in 2000 between British Waterways, the Droitwich Canals Trust, the Waterways Trust, the Wychavon District and the Worcestershire County councils in order to further the restoration project, creating a canal park and a 21-mile cruising circuit.

Funding for the project was secured from Advantage West Midlands, the Heritage Lottery Fund, Wychavon District Council, Worcestershire County Council and from the Inland Waterways Association with additional money coming from Welcome to our Future, National Lottery Awards for All and the Dulverton Trust.

More details of the programme of events will be announced nearer the time.