the canal was planned as a means to improve the status of wisbech as a trading centre. following correspondence between the hon and revd charles lindsay, who later became chairman of the company, and lord hardwicke, on the potential benefits of the scheme, an engineer called john watte was asked to prepare a survey and estimated costs. these were to be presented at a public meeting on 30 october 1792, but the meeting was swamped by speculators and traders from places as far away as derby, leicester, uppingham, huntingdon and bedford. some difficulty was experienced in maintaining control, but the local people succeeded in doing so, although the initial committee consisted of equal numbers of ""strangers and people at home"". a petition was presented to parliament on behalf of the burgesses of wisbech in early 1794, and the canal was authorised by an act of parliament (wisbech canal act 1794, 34 george iii. cap. 92) which was granted on 9 may 1794.