Farmer vows to halt restoration

A prize-winning beef farmer today today vowed to block plans to restore the Shrewsbury & Newport Canal, declaring he would never sell his land for the "pie in the sky" project.

Bob Lane, of Windy Meadow Farm, Edgmond, has been an outspoken opponent of the £86 million proposals since they were first unveiled in 2004. His fields are the first to be crossed by the route of the canal after it leaves Newport.

Therefore, his support could make or break the scheme.

Grandfather Mr Lane, 60, spoke out today amid speculation that the Shrewsbury & Newport Canal Trust is on the brink of a deal to buy historic wharf buildings at Wappenshall for its headquarters and a canal heritage centre.

Trust officials believe Wappenshall would be the first step in their ultimate dream of reopening the full 25 miles of largely filled in canal all the way to Shrewsbury.

But Mr Lane said: "It's absolutely pie in the sky.

"They may think I'll come round but I won't.

"There is no way they are coming across my land and it would be impossible for them to get a compulsory purchase order.

"The only other thing they could do is go across the land next to mine - owned by Prince Charles - and effectively build a completely new canal.

"I want to be left alone to get on with my life and breed my pedigree herd of Aberdeen Angus."

He added: "These cows have been with me for nearly 30 years - I think the world of them - and I will not get rid of them for a stupid canal.

"We live in a free country and it's staying as grassland on my property, full stop."

Mr Lane added: "I like boats but please don't force them on people who don't want them.

"If people want to go up and down a canal in boats, do it on an existing canal - not in my back garden," the farmer said.

Dennis Rogers, canal trust engineer and project manager, said his group still had "one or two things" to be cleared up but hoped to be in a position to make a public announcement on Wappenshall within the next couple of weeks.

Supporters of the canal hope work could soon start on a short-term scheme to reopen the canal between Wappenshall and just west of Newport High Street.

But Mr Lane's opposition to the canal could scupper this proposal.

By Peter Johnson