Slough Canal Basin

Image: © Des Blenkinsopp Taken: 14 Mar 2013

Looking at how some other towns have turned their canal waterfronts into attractive venue areas, Slough seems to be lagging a bit. The towpath has been upgraded into a good quality waterside way, and these visitor boards put up, but as long as the surrounding land remains in privately owned commercial use it's hard to see what else can be done. Look at this from 20+ years ago. Image. Not much difference. The water is clean, the canal is navigable right up to the end, and hard line canal enthusiasts do come up here, but it's hardly a big lure for holiday cruising. While I was here a British Waterways workboat came up hooking out the worst of the garbage, but judging by the number of beer and cider cans in the water some of the canal's biggest fans are drinkers who find it marginally more appealing than the surrounding streets.

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