HC Deb 30 June 1959 vol 608 c224
16. Mr. Gower

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what consideration he has given to the case for a national water grid involving the Grand Contour Canal Project, submitted to him by Mr. J. F. Pownall, of Cardiff; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. H. Brooke

This project, as I understand it, would involve construction of a canal system based on London and extending to Bristol in the West and via Manchester to Newcastle-upon-Tyne in the North, with branches to other large cities. It appears that the total length of canal would be some 1,300 miles, and it would require some 26,000 acres of land. Apart from technical difficulties, the value for water supply purposes would be small in relation to the cost in land and money, which would be prohibitive.

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