Hales Owen Abbey Trust bid to restore canal at the Leasowes, Halesowen

A failed restoration attempt in the 1990s has left the section of the Lapal (Dudley No 2) Canal with very little water.

It stands on the top of the embankment above Leasowes Park and Hales Owen Abbey Trust is keen to restore it for boating and fishing, to boost wildlife and enhance the landscape.

Trust member Mick Freer, currently co-ordinating the restoration of Leasowes Walled Garden, said the two projects could be run in tandem and would complement each other.

Fellow trust member and canal man Roy Burgess will take the lead on the restoration of the section, which he estimated would cost £400,000 to £500,000.

A linear lake would be created, enabling boating to return and it would be navigable so that eventually it could be reconnected to the canal network.

The section of canal from Mucklow Hill was cut off from the network by because the Lapal tunnel became impassable in 1922.

Pleasure boats ran on it until the 1940s and after Halesowen Borough Council bought it from British Waterways and had it dredged in the 1950s it was once again popular for rowing boats and fishing.

The coming of the M5 in the 1960s meant more infilling and the smaller section at Leasowes was reduced to fishing only.

It was damaged by further dredging and the £200,000 restoration by Dudley Council - with 50 per cent European funding - using pond liner in the 1990s was unsuccessful as the water started leaking into the embankment.

Mr Freer said: “It has been in its current state for 15 years at least and we want to hear from individuals, organisations and businesses to find out their views.

“Funding is available for such projects, providing there is support and we need to know people are on board.”

The plan is to use traditional puddle clay to make the canal watertight and sheet piling to re-inforce the bank.

Anyone wishing to give their views can do so by emailing mick.freer@leasoweswalledgarden.co.uk