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(Canal mostly owned by BW, but the most northern parts in various ownerships)
The northern part of the Lancaster Canal became derelict following the building of the M6 motorway in the mid 1960s, which severed the canal, from Tewitfield Locks through to its terminus in Kendal. At this time, this northern part of the canal was still navigable, but the savings in motorway construction costs by not building navigable crossings were deemed more worthwhile than the amenity lost, despite a campaign of protest by IWA and Lancaster Canal Trust. Much of this cut-off northern part of the canal still remains in water, acting as a feeder to the rest of the canal; only the most northern section has been filled in. A consortium of local authorities, IWA, BW, The Waterways Trust and Lancaster Canal Trust, is now the main channel for promotion of restoration of the canal. A study in 2003 by consultants appointed by North West Development Agency indicated that the restored canal would bring over 970 net new additional jobs, additional tourist revenue of £2,100,000 per annum, an additional one million visitors to the area each year, £45 million of private investment. IWA’s National Trailboat Festivals, held alongside the Canal at Westmorland Show Ground, near Kendal, over the Easter weekend in 2006 , was a resounding sucess and added to public support. Two historic bridges across the line of the canal in Kendal were restored during 2006.
