Prince Charles will visit Stroud today (02.02.18) to officially open the newly-restored Wallbridge Lower Lock.
Prince Charles
The 69-year-old royal will stop by the market town in Gloucestershire, England, to unveil the plaque to commemorate the completion of the canal restoration between Stonehouse and Thrupp and the reconnection of the Stroud Navigation and the Thames & Severn Canal.
While he's there, Charles will meet the workers who have been involved in the project and board the narrowboat Perseverance at Wallbridge Upper Lock before cutting the ribbon and entering the lock.
Councillor Gary Powell told the Stroud News and Journal: "We are honoured that The Prince of Wales has agreed to mark this historic event. His visit marks the completion of the first major phase of canal restoration but more importantly, it is a thank you to the hundreds of volunteers who have turned the project into reality. It is also a thank you to the organisations which have funded it, especially the Heritage Lottery Fund."
Charles' decision to open the Lower Lock won't come as too much of a surprise as he has a long-standing interest in the waterways because he is the patron of the Canal & River Trust - a charity which protects over 2,000 miles of waterways in England and Wales.
Sir Peter Luff said: "We are impressed with the tremendous achievement in restoring the canal channel and its structures. Together with the work accomplished by volunteers, this project would not have been possible without money raised by National Lottery players. It's fantastic to see the impact of that investment and the benefits it is having for communities, wildlife and heritage. Congratulations to everyone involved."
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