A NEW BOLLARD AND TOWPATH WORKS AT FENNY STRATFORD

NEW CANALSIDE LANDSCAPING AND MOORING OPENING
22 May 2025
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A new canalside facility for residents and boaters was launched today in Fenny Stratford.

Over 40 volunteers have worked over the last year to install a new electricity bollard, and landscape the canalside at Fenny Stratford, including a community herb bed and signage.

Bletchley and Fenny Starford Town Council Chair Ethan Kelly-Wilson unveiled the project sign, alongside MK City Mayor James Lancaster and Wolverton Town Council Mayor Bridget Lewis.
This news has been welcomed by the Buckingham and Bletchley MP Callum Anderson, who said “This project is a great example of what can be achieved when charities, local government, and civil society work together. Our waterways are something to be really proud of, and they make a real difference to the wellbeing of local people”.

David Wolfson, Chair of local charity Milton Keynes Canals said: “We’re celebrating today this three-phase partnership project. We started last year with the installation of a new electric bollard and water point for boats. This year we’ve seen the redevelopment of this derelict and unloved plot of canalside. And next year we’re widening access to electricity and installing innovative mooring bollards to help boaters with limited mobility tie up safely.

It’s been a very energetic and hardworking project involving many partners and volunteers, some of whom are here today. It couldn’t have been done without the financial support of the Canal & River Trust and the Bletchley and Fenny Stratford Town Council, and project management from the Bedford & Milton Keynes Waterway Trust.”

Milton Keynes all-electric community boat Electra was there to celebrate the event. Electra will use the Fenny location site as a starting point for great canal trips in the south of the city.
Attending the event were over forty partners and volunteers, including Ros Daniels and Matthew Symonds, senior managers from the Canal & River Trust.

The project is in three phases
Installation of electric bollard to be used by Electra, Milton Keynes' all-electric community boat and other boats at later date. Volunteers from Buckingham Canal Society, Inland Waterways (Waterways Recovery Group) and Electra dug up the canal towpath and laid electricity and water pipes.

1. A landscaping project to clear a derelict site of litter, scrub and wild vegetation. Volunteers from Bletchley Green Gym worked alongside Electra and other volunteers and local residents to create a more biodiverse landscape and community herb bed. This phase includes installation of a new canalside sign celebrating the project.
2. In 2025-2026 the same volunteers will work with Accessible Waterways groups to install a series of innovative, easy-to-use mooring bollards for all boaters. These are currently being designed and built by students working with Canal & River Trust.
3. MK Canals’ next project will be creating a new accessible and electric boarding point in Wolverton Park in 2025-26, working with local partners there.