The Melton Mowbray Navigation and the Oakham Canal was formed when the River Wreake in Leicestershire, England, was made navigable upstream from its junction with the River Soar and the Leicester Navigation near Syston to the Melton Mowbray basin. Then following of from Melton Mowbray through the villages finally terminating at Oakham. 

Opening up in 1797 and finally closing totally in 1877, at which point the proprietors finally admitted defeat.  The act of abandonment was passed that same year, and the Wreake closed as of 1 August. 

Now fast forward to the present day The Melton and Oakham Waterways Society (MOWS) was formed to campaign and actively work for the preservation and restoration of the Melton Mowbray Navigation and the Oakham Canal. So far we have Worked with The Ramblers Association and landowners to create the Wreake Valley Way, forming a continuous waterside walkway on the line (wherever possible) of the Melton Mowbray Navigation towpath.
Worked with the Waterways Recovery Group and Melton Mowbray Town Estate to create a slipway, providing easy access to the “Melton Ring” waterway.
Designed, had built, and regularly operate river clearance vessels to maintain the waterways in Melton Mowbray.
Worked with SUSTRANS, Leicestershire County Council and British Waterways to ensure the design of the replacement footbridge at Syston met all waterway restoration criteria.
Built the foundations for a sustainable future for both waterways.

The benefits a restoration of the Melton and Oakham would provide huge benefits and opportunities for the local communities. Businesses who could connect with the waterway would benefit from the extra tourism and attractions it would bring.We all want to feel a sense of wellbeing. Life can be tough and we all need a space where we can get away from the noise, pressure and pollution of every day life. We want to see more people taking advantage of the many different activities and opportunities they offer on a daily basis. Boating, walking, canoeing, angling and cycling are all great ways of enjoying our waterways.

We need your help and support to go forwards. By signing this petition it will mean we have the support of the general public, business owners who could benefit from an open waterway, land owners and environmentalists. 

We want local councils and land owners to get involved in this restoration and recognize that this is actually 1 achievable, and 2 very good for the local economy. 

This put forward to the government, county councils, the inland waterway association would give us the leverage to move forward and turn then redundant waterway into something that locally people could be proud of. Not only commercially but an open waterway has benefits to the environment  the enhancement of wildlife; and water transfer including better drainage and less flooding. 

To make this petition successful we need YOUR support. Only then can this waterway be saved for future generations.