TW initially said canal enthusiasts could rebuild at their own expense along a diversion round the dam. There will be an open channel for emergency rapid drawdown to lower the reservoir by a metre a day, but now say this 3km link could be built as canal from the reservoir to the Thames and used as haul road during construction, including crossings of the B4017, A34 and new site approach road.

It would need to be in deep cutting at the A34 crossing, overcoming a major restoration obstruction.

Two locks are needed for this section, possibly built as weirs for later conversion. TW oppose narrowboats crossing the reservoir because of potential wave size but will not complete the line across their site.

Canal restoration to the former line would have grounds for being near the top of the list of 152 amenity projects considered. This would include a further 6km of cut and crossing of a minor road diversion and a reservoir toe channel.

TW is proposing to build a canal sized dry culvert on the canal line at the road crossing and could possibly use the canal as part of that channel.

It would seem sensible to have the canal dug as part of the landscaping, using skilled labour and plant already on site.