from the Society archives - 1975 AGM Report

Compulsory Purchase Orders An unexpected report from Mr Cranley Onslow, MP for Woking, at the Society's AGM in April 1975, made an exciting end to the Society's eighth year. Mr Onslow's address came a couple of days after a Parliamentary debate on the Basingstoke Canal and in the same week that the Government confirmed the County Council's Compulsory Purchase Orders (CPO). Since the public enquiry nearly eighteen months ago, Mr Onslow has been urging the Government to reach a decision on the CPO applications. Finally, after their self-imposed deadline had not been met, Cranley Onslow asked for an adjournment debate. Two interesting points emerged. Firstly, the Minister of Sport, Mr Denis Howell, indicated that the Sports Council and the Countryside Commission could consider making a grant towards the cost of restoring the canal. And secondly, now that the CPOs have been confirmed, the canal owners might be well advised to reach a voluntary price agreement over the sale of the Surrey section in view of proposed new legislation on the sale of land. This would place a considerably lower value on land to be used for recreation. In Hampshire the CPO was little more than a formality; the County Council already had possession. But in Surrey the situation remains complicated. As the Surrey Daily Advertiser reported on 22 February,     "Although the compulsory purchase order of the canal has been confirmed the present owners of the canal are holding out for a price which may be well beyond the means of the Council,, or the ratepayers, and no money means no canal. The New Basingstoke Canal Company, owners of the canal, claims the stretches of water and surrounding land have considerable development potential, and has appealed to the Secretary of State".     In fact, the Canal Company is appealing against Surrey CC's refusal to grant an Alternative Development Certificate which, if granted, would increase the value of the canal, and the asking price. "This might mean we may not be able to afford to pay the price" a SCC spokesman was reported as saying. The Council is still hoping an agreement can be reached with the owners before the hearing later this year. But if not, and the Company continues with the appeal, the outcome will not be known until 1976. Mr Onslow told the Society that he would do all he could to expedite public acquisition of the Surrey section of the canal, and he hoped volunteers would be allowed to start work in the meantime. The Canal Society's Chairman, Mr Robin Higgs, said that we are "ready, willing and able to start work, but voluntary support cannot be guaranteed". He reminded the meeting that the Society had pledged its active support and participation only on the understanding that the canal is restored to a fully navigable condition and as a continuous waterway from New Haw to Greywell.

"Although the compulsory purchase order of the canal has been confirmed the present owners of the canal are holding out for a price which may be well beyond the means of the Council,, or the ratepayers, and no money means no canal. The New Basingstoke Canal Company, owners of the canal, claims the stretches of water and surrounding land have considerable development potential, and has appealed to the Secretary of State".     In fact, the Canal Company is appealing against Surrey CC's refusal to grant an Alternative Development Certificate which, if granted, would increase the value of the canal, and the asking price. "This might mean we may not be able to afford to pay the price" a SCC spokesman was reported as saying. The Council is still hoping an agreement can be reached with the owners before the hearing later this year. But if not, and the Company continues with the appeal, the outcome will not be known until 1976. Mr Onslow told the Society that he would do all he could to expedite public acquisition of the Surrey section of the canal, and he hoped volunteers would be allowed to start work in the meantime. The Canal Society's Chairman, Mr Robin Higgs, said that we are "ready, willing and able to start work, but voluntary support cannot be guaranteed". He reminded the meeting that the Society had pledged its active support and participation only on the understanding that the canal is restored to a fully navigable condition and as a continuous waterway from New Haw to Greywell. In his closing remarks, the Chairman referred again to the confirmation of the Compulsory Purchase orders and emphasised that this now gave Surrey County Council the opportunity to show itself to be as progressive in its attitude towards the provision of leisure and amenity facilities as had Hampshire County Council, and to this end the Society will devote itself to ensuring that the necessary measures are taken to fulfil complete restoration of the canal.     [from: BC News 61, March-April 1975]     Following the announcement of the CPOs, the next edition of BC News contained this significant item -     Canal Company decides to sell! 22 July 1975 - It has just been announced that the canal's owners have decided to sell the 15-mile eastern end in Surrey to the County Council for £40,000. SCC's Policy and Co-ordinating Committee and the Finance Committee have already approved the scheme which includes an expenditure of a further £172,500 on restoring the canal to a fully navigable condition, over a 5-year period. The cost is expected to be shared on a 50-50 basis between the County Council and the four riparian District Councils - Woking, Runnymede, Guildford and Surrey Heath.     [from: BC News 62, August 1975]   BACK

Last updated December 2001