Grand Union Main Line

In 1949 the question of pollution of the Grand Union Canal from the waters of the River Gade were highlighted.

In March 1955 the Board of Survey reported and recommended the disposal of 771 miles of waterway including some canals that had already been abandoned and closed to traffic. These were called "Group 3" waterways "Group 2" was 994 miles of waterways that were to be retained but if traffic did not increase they were to be downgraded to Group 3. "Group 1" at just 336 miles was the smallest group. These were waterways to be developed and consisted of the Aire & Calder Navigation (including the Ouse Lower Improvement), Gloucester & Berkeley Canal and the River Severn, Grand Union Canal below Berkhamsted, Sheffield & South Yorkshire Navigation, River Lee (below Enfield Lock), River Trent and the River Weaver.

In response IWA advocate a National Waterway Conservancy to look after all our waterways and point out that it is cheaper to restore and use waterways than to eliminate them.

In 1963 it was reported that the Warwick (Saltisfield) Branch, or the upper part of it, was probably to be closed. According to British Waterways: ‘This part of the Branch is now of no practical use and the banks leak. It is expensive to maintain and the Board feel it would be best closed’. There is talk of the lower portion, below the railway bridge, being converted into pleasurecraft moorings. The Warwick Council add that closure of the upper part would enable them to make a new entrance to the racecourse. This case and that of the threat to the Regent’s Canal demonstated how closely the pleasure boating community is concerned with the survival and recovery of waterborne trade.

The Grand Union Canal Society was formed in 1967.

The British Waterways maintenance backlog was made worse in 1977 by several major structural failures including closure of Blisworth Tunnel on the Grand Union Main Line, which was opened again later in the year.

In 1978 Braunston Tunnel on the Grand Union Main Line was closed for major engineering works.

In 1981 Blisworth Tunnel on the Grand Union Main Line was closed because of major problems with the tunnel lining.

In 1982 British Waterways undertook several major engineering projects including the works on Blisworth Tunnel.

IWA Council Members were taken in a truck through Blisworth Tunnel in 1983 to see the new concrete cylinder lining that was being installed.

An event was held in 1985 on the Grand Union Saltisford Arm to mark its restoration (see photograph) and formed part of what was known as the "National IWAterways Summer" of over 150 events, as well as a series of IWAalk sponsored walks across the country all held to publicise the waterways.

A total of 514 boats and nearly 30,000 people attended the 1985 IWA National Rally held at Milton Keynes on the Grand Union Main Line.

As part of a Milton Keynes facelift the IWA mural at Wolverton was painted by local Artist Bill Billings - both shown in the photograph.

As befits the fortieth anniversary year there was an 1986 IWA National Festival (instead of the usual rally) held at Brentford on the Grand Union Main Line. Around 450 boats attended and on the previous weekend about 70 boats cruised the London Ring.

The 2001 IWA National Waterways Festival was held at Milton Keynes on the Grand Union Main Line and attracted 25,000 visitors, 347 boats and 320 caravans.