Event is set to besunk by repairs

A waterways heritage event, which attracts thousands of visitors to the Black Country, could become the latest casualty of reservoir repairs, it has emerged.

Stourbridge Navigation Trust could be forced to pull the plug on its 25th anniversary Open Weekend in October following an announcement by British Waterways.

Canal water levels will be reduced across the Midlands network as maintenance work is carried out at the Chasewater reservoir, near Lichfield, this year. SNT spokesman Chris Dyche says the disruption to the network could mean the event at the Bonded Warehouse, Stourbridge, does not go ahead.

The trust will meet representatives of the waterways authority on Friday to make a decision on the future.Mr Dyche said: "It will be a real shame if it does not go ahead especially because it is the 25th anniversary year.

"It is an important event in our calender. We use it to try and publicise the work we do and show off the waterways.

"We still carried on in 2008 when the problems with the burst canal banks up at Bells Mill so it would be a shame if it did not happen this year."We aren't blaming British Waterways though. It is not their fault."

Mr Dyche says the event usually attracts around 10,000 people, bringing in around £1,000 to help boost the trust's coffers.Billions of gallons of water are being drained out of Chasewater Reservoir, to allow essential £2.5million safety improvements to take place to avoid flooding in the future.

It could have a knock-on-effect on canals it serves because water levels could become too low for boats to navigate.