Olton Reservoir

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Olton Mere, or Olton Reservoir, is a canal feeder reservoir in the Olton district of Solihull, West Midlands, England.

The reservoir, constructed in 1799 to supply the Grand Union Canal, was formed from marshland fed by Folly Brook. It was designed to hold 150 locks full of water, but this was not achieved until it was extended in 1834.

It is at grid reference SP134815

Several years ago, the owner, British Waterways, had the opportunity to open up access to the mere, but, to the disquiet of many local residents, decided to uphold the status quo, i.e. the sailing club controlling access to what is, in essence, a public waterway. Non-members of the area have to pay a fee to the sailing club to walk by the mereside.