THE canals were once the channels that helped drive this country through the Industrial Revolution.

Before the era of the railways, their introduction brought about radical improvements in trade between different parts of the country.

It might seem hard to fathom that today if you take a quiet afternoon walk along one of the city’s canal routes.

But this city’s waterways were once the veins through which the blood of commerce pumped.

Today, it seems quaint to think of canals as having anything to do with business and industry.

When a city trader can transfer millions at the click of a mouse, watching a barge amble its load of coal down a canal is not quite as snappy.

But the aspirations of today’s city leaders are not to revive an old industrial dream.

Instead, they want to redevelop and draw in tourists to the leafy canalsides in an effort to show off the tranquil beauty these scenes have to offer.

Schemes being considered could see the introduction of a community centre, housing and a public square.

It comes after £65,000 in grant cash was handed out to create a trail along the canal.

These might seem like small steps when compared with the grand industrial projects of old.

But these waterways are among the assets of this city – and we should do more to show them off.