Emily Cater

The River Lea, stretching from Hertfordshire to London is engrained in centuries of historical importance, originally being one of the main transportation links for a variety of industries that were located on its banks. As the technology improved, the Lea Navigation became less and less used until it was almost unnavigable. More recently, the canal has become owned and managed by the Canal and River Trust, which have spent millions of pounds salvaging and restoring the canal. However, their headquarters for the whole of the southeast is located in Milton Keynes, subsequently restricting their influences and knowledge for this historical area. As the Trust is striving to encourage the use of the canal and to celebrate its history, the charity has established its own Business Licence to regulate boating holidays which ensures that the public can enjoy the water without damaging the canal and its surrounding wildlife in the process. This, combined with the rise of stay-cations in the wake of Covid-19, has increased the necessity to have a head office for the Trust located in the area which would allow the canal, and the surrounding canals, to be enjoyed, controlled, and preserved for the future.