Parish Council Statement – Public Information Regarding Recent Online Content
The Parish Council is aware that a video relating to the canal has recently been circulated on social media and shared within a number of community groups. The video contains a number of inaccuracies and does not represent the full or factual position of the Parish Council or its ongoing work.
The Council wishes to reassure residents of the following:
* The Parish Council has not yet made any decision regarding the future management of the canal.
We are currently reviewing a range of options, including partnerships with recognised professional organisations, grant-funded models, and community-based approaches. Meetings have already been held with established environmental bodies to explore viable and responsible solutions.
* Any decisions involving the canal must comply with legal, financial, environmental and statutory requirements.
These matters cannot be rushed or made on the basis of public pressure, incomplete information or online commentary. The Council has a duty to ensure due diligence and long-term sustainability in all its actions.
* Councillors are unpaid volunteers who carry out their roles alongside work and family responsibilities.
They continue to dedicate significant time to Parish matters, including the canal, while also handling other essential and time-sensitive responsibilities.
* The Council is currently preparing for the Development Control Committee meeting on 2 December,
where it will present the parishes position on planning application S.25/1011/FUL (Solar Farm at Epney, Framilode). This, along with other statutory obligations, must also be given appropriate attention.
We ask residents to rely on official Parish Council communications for accurate information.
We remain committed to transparency, professionalism, and acting in the best long-term interests of the entire Parish and its community.
A formal update on the canal will be published once the Council has completed its assessments and is in a position to present a full and factual report.
Thank you for your understanding and continued support.
The Stroudwater Canal Community Project
Working to improve the section between Upper Framilode and Saul Junction
Historical Background
The Stroudwater Canal was built between 1775 and 1779 from Framilode on the River Severn to Wallbridge, Stroud. It was built as a branch canal from the Severn to bring coal and other merchandise to the industry centred Stroud. The canal was a local canal, built by local men and paid for by local money. Old Stroudwater is a term that has been used to describe the section of the canal between Saul and Upper Framilode. The entrance to the canal from the River Severn at Framilode was close to the mouth of the River Frome which had long been a dock for trading vessels. Before the opening of the Gloucester & Sharpness Canal, this was the route taken by the Stroudwater Navigation to connect into the River Severn.
Initially, there was just a lock that could be used by vessels around the time of high tide on most days. A basin and connecting warehouse were also built in the 1790s to cater for visiting ships that did not want to continue up the canal.
The Canal Company also built a house beside the bridge for their lock-keeper and toll clerk and they also owned other houses nearby. The long row of houses backing on to the towpath was built by the owner of Framilode Mill which produced tin plate and other metal products until it closed in the 1830s. Further along the towpath were two beer houses: the Bell and the Ship Inn which served the bargemen who had arrived from up the Severn or were waiting for the high tide so they could leave the canal. The Ship is still functioning as a pub.
After the Gloucester and Berkeley Canal opened in 1827, as well as the development of the railways this stretch between the junction and the Severn declined and in the 1920s, the section was blocked and fell into disuse. The right of navigation was withdrawn in 1954 and the bridge hole was filled in. The canal became semi-derelict.
Cotswold Canals Connected (CCC) is currently working to reopen 6km of the Stroudwater Navigation (SN), including restoration of derelict sections and the reconstruction of a ‘Missing Mile’ of former canal which was destroyed in the 1960s. This will result in 16km of restored canal and the reconnection of this canal to the rest of the UK’s canal network. However, the section between Familode and Saul has not been include in this restoration.
Below are some photos of the areas from the 1800s.
The restoration of The Stroudwater Canal
In 1979, this section of the canal was bought by the Fretherne and Saul Parish Council. There has been attempts over the years to maintain the canal, but much of it has become overgrown with reeds and the water level can be significantly reduced during dry weather conditions. Over recent years, a team of volunteers has started to worked on clearing out some of the dense reeds that have taken over and to improve the towpath. FwS Council are supporting these efforts and have joined forces in helping out.
Already, there are signs that some wildlife has returned (even a kingfisher has been spotted) and the ducks and moorhens are taking full advantage of the new spaces that are being cleared.
This work needs to be continued on a regular basis and if anyone would like to get involved please contact the clerk at the Fretherne with Saul Parish Council at fwsparishclerk@gmail.com
In 2023, Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust contacted the Parish Council as it was thought that there was a possibility of Water Voles being present on the canal. Water Voles are a protected species which if there is any endangerment to either the animal or their habitat comes with serious legal implications. Most of the work on the canal had to be suspended until a clearer picture of what work could be done and how to do it was understood. At the end of 2023, the Parish Council commissioned Wild Service to carry out a survey of the canal, you can read the report and their findings by following this link. Wild Service Stroudwater Canal PEA .
The report has been shared with the Canal Group, it is hoped that in the months to come a plan on how best to approach the work will be formulated.
In the report Wild Service referenced Azolla, a highly invasive plant, which is now seen on the surface of the canal. The Parish Council are presently taking advice from CABI (Commonwealth Agricultural Bureaux International) as to the best way in which to treat the weed.
What is Azolla: Azolla filiculoides has a remarkable ability to multiply. Fronds grow rapidly and elongate until fragments break off to form new plants. Mats that form on the water’s surface can be 30cm thick and can double in size in hot weather.
The mats block out light, kill rich and diverse aquatic flora and reduce available oxygen which can lead to the death of fish and invertebrates, impede flood defences and water-based recreation and block irrigation pumps.
Azolla has escaped from gardens into the wider environment, becoming a problem on ponds, lakes, rivers and canals throughout the UK. Azolla was one of five aquatic weeds banned from sale in the UK in 2014. (Taken from the CABI web site, www.cabi.org )
The recommended treatment of Azolla is putting North American Weevils into the water to eradicate the weed. This is a natural way in which to treat the Azolla and has been used effectively by Canal & River Trust in other parts of the country. The weevil can only feed on Azolla, it will not harm other plants. When used ‘en masse,’ the weevils consume large quantities of the weed and they can be targeted at very specific sites where the weed is considered a problem.
The Parish Council are working towards acquiring a supply of weevils and hope that the canal will soon be clear as soon as possible.
Weevils – On September 20th ’24, in the middle of the thunder storm, the weevils were put into the canal. The Parish Council have been told that it could take a few weeks before any visible sign of the weevils having any effect and weather conditions and temperatures play a big part in this. If necessary, a further supply may be needed in the spring of 2025 once the weather and water temperatures is beginning to warm.
As per the ‘Fretherne with Saul Parish Council and Community’ Facebook post issued on 10th November 2025 –
The Parish Council is committed to securing the long‑term well‑being of our community and its assets — including the disused section of the Stroudwater canal at Upper Framilode in it’s entirety — while also fulfilling our broader legal, financial and statutory obligations.
What’s happening with the canal?
The Parish Council are actively reviewing a series of options for the future management and maintenance of the canal. These include:
- the proposal for a Community Interest Company (CIC)
- partnerships with established organisations
- external grant funding and support
- community volunteer involvement
Recently, the Council met with the Stroud Valleys Project (SVP) — a highly experienced local charity specialising in environment, heritage and community projects. SVP have a proven record of managing these kinds of schemes and can provide expert advice on fundraising and grant applications, potentially unlocking significant financial resources for the canal’s upkeep.
Key context & constraints:
The Council must operate within legal, financial and operational frameworks. Decisions cannot be rushed: they must take into account environmental legislation, budget limitations, and practical delivery. While the canal is an important community asset, it is just one of many responsibilities the Council carries out on behalf of the Parish.
Other urgent and time‑sensitive business:
In addition to the canal, the Council is preparing for the upcoming meeting of the Development Control Committee (DCC) at Stroud District Council on 2 December, at which the PC will represent the view of the Parish as established at the Informal Ballot on the planning application S.25/1011/FUL for a solar photovoltaic farm at Land at Epney, Framilode. This requires detailed preparation — legal and planning considerations, reflecting community interests, and ensuring the Parish’s long‑term welfare is protected. The Council is also managing other ongoing statutory obligations that are legally required.
What this means for you:
The Council is committed to serving the community’s best interests, both regarding the canal and other Parish matters.
No final decision has been made on the canal; all options will be thoroughly considered to ensure the best long‑term outcome.
The PC values and records all community input. However, to remain effective, repeated correspondence on the same subject may not receive individual responses if it diverts resources from other critical work.
All Councillors are volunteers who carry out these duties alongside their own professional and personal responsibilities. Their commitment is to balance careful, informed decision-making for the Parish while managing other time‑sensitive obligations.
Next steps:
The Council will continue to evaluate canal‑management options and report back publicly once a preferred approach is agreed.
Meanwhile, the Council is focused on statutory duties, including preparation for the DCC meeting on 2 December regarding S.25/1011/FUL.
Thank you for your patience, understanding and support. The Council remains committed to acting transparently, responsibly, and in the long‑term interests of the canal, the Parish, and the entire community.