Nothing to do with dogs, but everything to do with water!  As night follows day, a restored canal needs water, but since our canal line acquired the protected status it has in planning terms, other things have moved on and it turns out that Environment Agency regulations on water abstraction have, unsurprisingly, become much tighter.  Under current rules, we would simply not be able to fill and maintain the canal.  It would seem that the only way forward is to approach that body and ask them, politely, to make us an exception.  There is good reason why they should, not least  because our canal's water requirements comprise around 0.1% of the average water flow in the River Thames.

Therefore we have formed a Water Access Group, comprising a number of our volunteer experts, with the aim of presenting our case at the highest possible level, probably DEFRA.   Our Vice-President, Robert Buckland QC MP is supportive of this aim and has expressed a willingness to broker a meeting with that Department.

WAG has had four meetings so far - virtual, obviously.  A lot of fascinating information has been gathered and we are close to finalising a briefing document for Ministers, with numerous references to detailed background supporting papers.  We are optimistic that a way forward will be found.