Northern Marches funding bid

Last month, Audlem Online reported that funding bids had been submitted by the Parish Plan team for three projects. The first was for funding from Cheshire East to print a tourism leaflet to promote Audlem and the second a bid to cover the printing costs of the Parish Plan.

These two bids were successful and work is well underway on both – indeed, you can check out the draft copy for the Parish Plan by clicking on the link below the photo and comment as this is a consultation document.

Towpath improvementThe third bid is for an improved surface for the towpath northwards from below Lock 15 to Bennett's Bridge (Bridge 80) at the Overwater Marina.

The bid is through a 'Northern Marches Leader' scheme which is designed to support economic regeneration in rural areas in south Cheshire and north Shropshire.

It is just over a mile from the new marina to Audlem via the towpath but over three miles by road. Unfortunately, now that the towpath is more heavily used following the launch of the Weaver Way in 2008, a few sections that are still grass surfaced can get muddy and barely passable in wet weather.

A new study shows how much money goes into local areas as a result of marinas. The British Marine Federation has undertaken a major study (Economic Benefits of Inland Marinas in the UK, October 2008) which looked at 16 marinas across the UK and evaluated the economic benefits.

Experience at other marinas indicate that the Overwater Marina, which has 227 berths, should generate around £500,000 into the local economy in terms of both money and jobs.

Any improvement of the towpath will significantly increase the likelihood and frequency of visitors to the marina using the shops and services within the village. It will also make it easier for residents and visitors to Audlem to use the new Coffee Lounge at the marina.

The Parish Plan questionnaire asked if local residents supported the proposed towpath improvements. 90% said they did.

Northern Marches fundingThe following information has been provided by the Northern Marches fund:

THe £1.85million to be distributed by the Northern Marches Leader Local Action Group current programme is provided by the European Agrcultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) and DEFRA, through the Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE).

It is channelled to a Local Action Group via the regional development agencies Advantage West Midlands (£1.2m) and North West Regional Development Agency (£650,000).

The Local Action Group is a public/private/third sector partnership representing a broad range of interests across the area of southern Cheshire and northern Shropshire bordering on north-east Wales. Because of its location on the margin of two English regions – the North West and the Midlands – and two counties – Cheshire and Shropshire – historically there has been a tendency for the area to be somewhat neglected.

The LAG believes there are particular opportunities to build on the distinctive landscape, habitats and cultural history of the 'Meres and Mosses' of the Northern Marches, to bring people in communities together and develop a stronger 'sense of place'; and to use this to underpin a distinctive identity for the products – particularly agricultural products – of the area to increase their value in the marketplace.

The LAG started work on the current funding programme in autumn 2009. To date, a total of £429,000 has been committed to 12 projects, including Shropshire Wildlife Trust's 'Making More of the Meres and Mosses'; Oswestry Community Action's 'Volunteering Infrastructure Support for North Shropshire'; Bickerton Village Hall Solar Heating; and Tiresford Farm for 'Tiresford Guernsey Gold' .

The LAG particularly favours projects which will have an impact across the county and regional boundaries, but is also interested to make investments which will have a lasting impact on an individual community or business, or cluster of communities or businesses.

A range of further projects are under development which have the potential to absorb most of the remaining funding available in this programme, although the Northern Marches LAG is still keen to hear from people with project ideas which are suitable for funding, particularly people engaged in farming or forestry who are looking to develop opportunities to add value to their basic produce.

The programme is administered by David Boyce who can be reached by email at David.Boyce@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk">David.Boyce@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk

This article is from our news archive. As a result pictures or videos originally associated with it may have been removed and some of the content may no longer be accurate or relevant.