The State of the Canal in Swindon
In latter years, the Wilts & Berks Canal and North Wilts Canal in Swindon became so stagnant that the local authorities demanded that they improve or face closure. Eventually, it was Swindon Corporation that obtained an Act of Parliament to close the canals in 1914.
Outside of Swindon, however, these canals did serve a useful purpose in land drainage and water supply long after canal transport ceased, and there were fewer voices calling for their closure on sanitary grounds; indeed, there were calls to nationalise the canals to keep them open.
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