£250,000 study into restoring lake at Kenilworth castle

A feasibility study into plans to resurrect a medieval great lake around Kenilworth Castle could cost taxpayers £250,000.



The proposal to flood the Mere and restore the castle to its Tudor past has been branded a “vanity project” and a waste of money by Kenilworth Liberal Democrat John Whitehouse.

He says it is “mere madness” and would wipe out a vast swathe of precious green belt behind the castle, popular with walkers. He accuses backers of the plan, including Conservative district councillor Michael Coker, of being driven by commercial development that would be out of keeping with the town’s character.

A study by Warwick Business School students in Coventry concluded the lake would only be economically viable if a commercial partner could be attracted to build a hotel, holiday village, or leisure complex.

But Mr Coker said the plan had received popular backing when mooted at various times over at least two decades. He added: “To lever in the funding we would have to have a study into its viability, and the £250,000 would be an outside figure. I accept it’s a lot of money. But this would make the castle something different altogether, with the mere as it was in medieval times complemented by what I envisage would be a tremendous visitor centre.”

Coun Coker accepted it would have to incorporate a hotel or other developments for visitors to stay, but he said the plan could make a large contribution to the town’s “economic regeneration”.

Warwick District Council is set to decide in the new year on whether to press ahead with the feasibility study at a cost of £250,000. The vision would form part of Kenilworth’s contribution to an overarching “local plan” to shape the district for the next 15 years.

Coun Whitehouse said: “It was a major surprise to discover the district council was serious about funding a feasibility study, given the huge cost. The issue is the sheer scale of it, with commercial development encroaching on precious green belt.”

He said a Lib Dem leaflet distributed to homes in Kenilworth asked residents if they thought spending money on recreating the Tudor mere at the castle was a good idea. About 85 per cent said ‘No’, out of an initial 60 responses. Others are now being invited to have their say on Coun Whitehouse’s website.

One estimate has put the total cost of the project at around £16 million. Coun Whitehouse said the costs could not be justified amid heavy council cuts – with government funding to local authorities being reduced by a quarter over four years to 2015.

Kenilworth Castle moat flood plans put on hold



Plans to flood land around a castle in Warwickshire to recreate its moat have been put on hold because of cost fears.

In June, Warwick District Council voted to spend £25,000 on a feasibility study into £20m plans to recreate the lake around Kenilworth castle.

Those proposals have now been sent back to council leaders to look at again after complaints about the cost.

A Kenilworth town council consultation in 2012 found local people were in favour of the moat being re-created.

Councillor Andrew Mobbs, who is in favour of the scheme to increase tourism to the area said: "This is about making Kenilworth Castle an even greater tourist attraction so we get the payback from that £25,000 and any future investment."

Ann Blacklock, chair of the council committee which called for plans to be reviewed, said: "This is not the time for the council to be considering something so speculative.

"I can't see how the income would justify such an expense, the district has got more pressing priorities in terms of helping people and creating jobs now."

The castle is owned by the town of Kenilworth but has been managed by English Heritage since 1984.

The moat was created by King John in the 13th century as a defence around the castle.

The water was drained out in the 17th century after an Act of Parliament was passed to make sure the castle's defences were destroyed.