THE ambitious multi-million pound project to restore Droitwich's canals to their former glory is about to take a big step forward.

The final planning application for the £11.5 million restoration is being submitted to Wychavon District Council after months of preparation.

Plans to submit the final detailed application were revealed by Mid-Worcestershire MP Peter Luff at Saturday's launch of the Wych Barge project - a life-sized replica of a traditional salt barge installed in Vines Park as a seating and recreation area.

The canal project will see restoration work carried out on the Barge and Junction Canals, as well as improvements to the towpaths and the replanting of reed beds.

Funding for the project was secured last year and it is now hoped that the application will be passed without any hitches so the eagerly awaited work can begin later in 2007.

Work, including seed collecting, tree clearing and general tidying, has already been carried out on the waterway by volunteers to prepare the area for the main scheme.

Margaret Rowley, chairman of the Droitwich Canals Trust, said: "This is great news. The finer points of the application are now being sorted and the document completed. It will then be submitted to the council very soon.

"This is wonderful news for Droitwich. It has been a bit of a cliffhanger and there have been various hold-ups for various reasons. Hopefully, this will mean that the final application is impressive and the plans won't get delayed.

"It is great news. It shows everything is online and means themain work is ever closer."

Mr Luff was delighted with the news. He said: "Today is the day the last lingering doubts can be dismissed - it is now just a matter of time."