Birmingham and Venice are both strongly associated with their waterways, but the Canal & River Trust (CRT) knows that more has to be done to improve the condition of parts of the Birmingham network. It has been reported that the handbook of the CRT explicitly mentions the need for action near the middle of England.
Fogarty has claimed that the deployment of a special lock in the area of Camp Hill could have a positive impact on an area of the city, which is not functioning as he would wish. If changes were made in the way he recommends, then postcard printing in South Birmingham could be used to champion the regeneration.
Fogarty has told the Birmingham Post:
“You would replace six existing locks with one diagonal lock and you would then build a roof converting the canal section into a tunnel. It would be a massive construction, well-lit, with shops and pubs, 40 feet wide with a concrete roof on top.”
According to Fogarty, the implementation of the proposal could have a positive influence on tourism. The inventor has managed to gain an audience with the leader of the local authority. Sir Albert Bore of Birmingham City Council has maintained that the diagonal lock idea has possibilities.