A FORTY-year wait could be drawing to a close after a planning application has been finally submitted for the restoration of Droitwich's canals.
The application was submitted by British Waterways on behalf of the Droitwich Canals Restoration Partnership on Thursday, April 26 and, along with the supporting documents numbering 1,000 pages.
It marks the culmination of decades of work after volunteers first began restoring the town's canals in 1963.
If approved, a two-year project will begin to restore the Barge Canal from Hawford on the river Severn just north of Worcester to Vines Park in the centre of Droitwich and the Junction Canal from the centre of Droitwich Spa to Hanbury Wharf on the Worcester and Birmingham Canal.
Although the majority of the seven-mile length of the canals already exists a 500 metre (547 yard) stretch between the M5 and Hanbury Locks will be completely rebuilt and the canals will be re-opened in 2009.
People will have a chance to find out more about the application during a consultation period in May when they will also be able to submit formal comments to Wychavon District Council.
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