Canal clean-up restores pride in Stroud’s waterways

Stroud District Council has been carrying out a targeted clean-up operation along sections of  the Stroudwater Navigation to remove graffiti and repaint areas where marks cannot be safely cleaned away. The work is helping to improve the look and feel of this much-loved local space for residents, walkers and waterway-users. 

The operation is being led by the council’s Community Officers and partly funded by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC) for Gloucestershire, recognising the role that well-cared-for public places play in reducing anti-social behaviour and supporting community safety. The council is also working closely with the Cotswold Canal Trust and volunteers, whose time and expertise are central to keeping the waterways welcoming and well used. 

Graffiti that can be safely removed is being cleaned off, while areas where removal would risk damage are being carefully painted over to restore a tidy, well-maintained appearance. Volunteers are also introducing new planting where possible along the canal to make the wall surfaces more difficult to access, using species known to discourage graffiti. 

Head of Community Services at Stroud District Council and Chair of the Stroud District Community Safety Partnership, Angela Gillingham said: “Anti-social behaviour is a clear priority for the Stroud District Community Safety Partnership, and maintaining well cared for public spaces forms a vital part of that work. When places like the canal feel clean, safe and respected, people are far more likely to enjoy them and take pride in them. This project shows what can be achieved when partners and volunteers come together with a shared focus on safety, prevention and community wellbeing.” 

The restoration of the Stroudwater Navigation is being led by Stroud District Council and  Cotswold Canals Trust as lead developer partners, and will create a new fully accessible towpath connecting Stroud to Saul and on to the Gloucester and Sharpness Canal, as well as creating a vital wildlife corridor linking habitats from the east to the west.  The project has, so far, been awarded more than £16m from The National Lottery Heritage Fund and has involved more than 750 volunteers in the last four years. 

To report graffiti or damage in our district, please visit www.stroud.gov.uk/report-it