– good for local jobs during reconstruction
– good for local jobs when repairs completed
– increase foreign tourism to the UK (profitable)
– encourage British tourists to enjoy their own country 🙂
Britain is very lucky to have an outstanding network of canals which today are used mainly for leisure boating. The British Waterways Board has had on ongoing program of construction and improvement but it has not enough resources.
Compared to the billions spent on useless projects, the return on investment on the British canals would be very good indeed, for the countryside, and balance of payments.
http://www.britishwaterways.co.uk/home