Canal closure hitting local trade

The Shropshire Union Canal through Audlem is likely to be closed as a through route for several weeks according to comments from British Waterways staff. The breach at Shebdon Embankment, a few miles from Newport, is clearly very serious, and until investigations and digging start, no-one is exactly sure what they will find.

A temporary water supply has been installed, via pumps, initially to evacuate trapped boats, which is now nearly completed, and it is possible that navigation from Nantwich to Market Drayton (but no further) will be permitted within a few days.

Realistically, not many boats can be expected, as this trip involves going up 22 locks, turning round at Market Drayton, then descending the same number of locks. Are Drayton's charms enough to tempt other than intrepid explorers?

Apart from the escaping boats, there is now no canal traffic in Audlem, and this is having a seriously detrimental effect on many Audlem businesses, particularly those which rely so much on the canal traffic at this normally hectic time of the year.

Some 50,000 people a year are estimated to pass through Audlem each year via the Shropshire Union and the second half of August and early September is just about the busiest time of the year. Those people shop, eat and drink in Audlem and the loss of business in the pubs, shops and cafes will be substantial.

Plea to Shop LocalAlready some businesses are noticing the impact and have suggested now is the time for a plea to Audlem residents to SHOP LOCAL. They ask that you try to help Audlem's shops, pubs and other businesses cope with the significant loss of trade at such a critical time of the year, and through no fault of their own.

Spending money in the village, where possible, could be of vital help to those businesses coping with this unexpected and particularly untimely reduction in passing trade.

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