A A 15 million bid to bring boats and businesses back to the canals of Stroud was launched on Thursday May 14. The Cotswolds Canals Partnership plans to bring Stroud, Stonehouse, Eastington and Whitminster within reach of Britain’s 2,500 mile network of waterways by restoring the Stroudwater Navigation with the Gloucester & Sharpness Canal at Saul Junction. Ken Burgin, chief executive of the Cotswold Canals Trust, said: “This is the start of a launch for a bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund for a major grant to help restore the four miles of canal.