The Battle for Mann's Bridge - Photoshoot this Saturday

The Grantham Canal has been defunct now for some decades, but is still in water in many places and is navigable for a few miles at the Grantham end. Although much work would have to be done, there is a realistic expectation that the canal will be re-opened one day in the future.
Unfortunately this has recently been put in jeopardy. The A46 trunk road to the east of Nottingham is to be made dual carriageway. Where the new road crosses the canal (near Cotgrave) boats will be able to pass under the bridge, whenever the canal becomes navigable. This is excellent! However, the plans do not include similar modifications to another bridge (Joshua Mann’s Bridge) a few hundred metres to the west of this new bridge. In order to allow future navigation, all that is required is the raising of this second road by 1.7 metres. By not factoring this into their plans the developers have ensured that future navigation will be blocked forever. The cost of raising the bridge now is minute considered against that of the overall project, and it is miniscule compared with what it would cost if the bridge were to be raised at some later date.
As cyclists, this does concern us: at the moment, sections of the canal towpath at the Nottingham end are cyclable, others at the Grantham end form part of the National Cycle Network and – if the proposed developments of Cotgrave Country Park take place – several new greenways will be constructed. Quite simply, waterways make a wonderful leisure facility.
The Grantham Canal Society and others have already done a lot of campaigning to reverse the current decisions and they are awaiting the outcome of a representation made a few days ago to the Highways Agency, but there is still something that we can do to help make our case. As many supporters as can be assembled are asked to attend a PUBLICITY PHOTOSHOOT THIS COMING SATURDAY, 23 JAN, AT 0900 AT MANN’S BRIDGE, STRAGGLETHORPE RD, OFF THE A46. The photos and story will be given to local and national press. BBC East Midlands Today are proposing to be there, as are the Nottingham Evening Post and The Grantham Journal. For more information, go to this link: http://www.granthamcanal.com/
Please be there on Saturdayto give your support!
Thanks, Clyde