Canal ideas to be discussed with British Waterways

(The website link that was here no longer works) Village representatives from the Parish Council and the Parish Plan will be meeting with British Waterways' regional management on 18th December in the village to discuss a number of ideas that involve the Shropshire Union canal in Audlem. One issue that was causing concern, however, the future of the Canal Shop and the Kingbur Mill building, does appear to have been settled with the news that the shop will re-open at Easter.

The ideas to be discussed include how to add to the appeal of Audlem Wharf, particularly with it now becoming the start of the Weaver Way, the new walking and cycling route that will extend from Audlem, along the canal towpath to Barbridge to the north of Nantwich before eventually reaching Frodsham and the banks of the Mersey in the north of Cheshire. Money is already being invested in stretches of the Weaver Way in Nantwich and Northwich and it will be interesting to examine ideas for the Audlem end of this long-term project.

Two ideas are already being tentatively explored. One is environmental – to see if there is any possibility of generating electricity from the sluice gates on any of Audlem's fifteen locks. A Derbyshire company, DerwentHydro, has already been visited. They specialise in small-scale hydroelectric projects and it was clear that millraces, weirs and locks have significant potential to generate worthwhile amounts of electricity. Nantwich and Congleton are already pressing on with viability studies in their areas. Audlem has applied for a grant from a Trust that funds exploratory work on such schemes but British Waterways support for any scheme involving the canal is an essential first step.

A second idea is both educational and designed to boost tourism – the possibility of a small museum in Audlem about Thomas Telford. The Shropshire Union canal and Audlem locks were the legendary engineer's last major project yet, despite his fame, there is no known museum dedicated to Telford. Since the idea was first mooted, a number of letters of support have been received and public bodies have expressed an interest. This too will be discussed with British Waterways.

If you have any other thoughts, or indeed an opinion on the ideas above, do let Audlem Online know.

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