This operational plan forms the bridge between our overall strategy and the projects and programmes taking place across our sites and behind the scenes, helping to restore the historic Lichfield Canal and Hatherton Canal through volunteering, fundraising, partnerships and engineering projects.
It sets out our priorities, objectives and activities for the coming year as we continue our work to restore the Lichfield Canal and safeguard the Hatherton Canal.
Our overall aim for 2025-2026
Our overarching aim for 2025-2026 is to get as much of the Lichfield Canal into water as possible and do this in a logical, progressive way, extending out from Borrowcop Locks Canal Park and Darnford Moors, ultimately enabling us to secure a reconnection to Huddlesford Junction.
Priority sites in 2025-2026
Darnford Moors (semi-complete)
Tamworth Road east of Cricket Lane (semi-complete)
Tamworth Road west of Cricket Lane (in progress)
Darnford Park (no active construction)
St John’s Grange (no active construction)
Falkland Road (no active construction)
Enabling and pipeline priorities:
- Submit and secure, where required, planning applications and/or discharge conditions.
- Identify, apply for and raise sufficient funding.
- Define and secure volunteer resources.
- Hold and optimise monthly construction, operations, green and grounds planning meetings.
- Ensure good quality, empowered and proactive site leadership to make best use of our resources.
- Plan ahead for water.
Benefits of the operational plan:
- Gives clarity on what we will do and won’t do in the next two years.
- Breaks down our strategy into manageable chunks.
- Makes the most of our resources.
- Focuses on fewer things and demonstrates more tangible progress.
- Builds and consolidates our credibility.
- Streamlines some of our supporting activities.