Who are we? 

We are the Lichfield and Hatherton Canals Restoration Trust - a group of citizens fighting to reinstate the historic Lichfield and Hatherton Canals for the benefit of the community. The natural wildlife corridor from Huddlesford to Hatherton will provide a valuable amenity for walkers, cyclists, boaters and visitors to use and will bring prosperity to the area. 

But we have come up against a significant barrier: Council Planning Officers, in our Barrister's opinion, not adhering to planning law, misleading Councillors and so the developer allowed to avoid its responsibilities to the health and well being of the wider community.

We are launching a legal action fund to ensure that a crucial canal bridge is built which is critical to the reinstatement of these historic waterways. But we can't do it without your help! Please contribute whatever you can but most importantly share with your friends, family and on social media. 

Background

This is a complicated case - but in simple terms: we are arguing that a housing development being built adjacent to the canal should contribute financially to the building of a canal bridge. 

We thought we would have the council's support in this but unfortunately Lichfield District Council followed the applicant's solicitor's advice and not our barrister's advice (he is a national expert in planning law) and the council have approved a 475 housing development which means they don't have to take any responsibility for the bridge. 

This is bigger than Lichfield and Hatherton

This is about more than our local area. We believe that this case will provide an important precedent for historic waterways around the country that need to be protected. 

Increasingly these beautiful green corridors are going to become more and more valuable to developers and they need to know they can't get away without fulfilling their obligations to the community.

How much are we raising and why? 

We have already raised significant funds but need to raise more to cover legal costs and future funding for legal action. Initially, we will be raising £12k but then maybe going on to raise a further £45K to establish a legal fund for future action.