Vote Poll showing overwhelming support for Audlem canal lengthsman

(The website link that was here no longer works) So far, 83% of votes cast in the current Vote Poll asking "Should the Audlem stretch of the canal retain its own local lengthsman?" have been in favour. The poll started after locally based Jim Stretch was told by British Waterways that the Audlem stretch of the canal would be maintained by contractors who would attend when work was needed.

Audlem Online started campaigning to keep the village's dedicated lengthsman for the canal, which is a vital local attraction. British Waterways Wales & Border Counties Acting General Manager David Balladacchino agreed that the Audlem stretch of the Shropshire Union looks superb, saying: "The locks at Audlem are a hugely important site for us and look fantastic every year – but that doesn't mean that we shouldn't look at different ways of doing things."

With 11,000 narrowboats visiting each year, and many thousands of walkers, cyclists and other visitors enjoying the canal towpath and the 1.5 miles of canal with its 15 locks, it is Audlem's major tourist attraction. While we understand that British Waterways' budget is under severe strain because of Defra cutbacks following the Rural Payments fiasco and a massive EU fine, we hope the organisation will see sense and safeguard what they admit is "a hugely important site for us."

If you haven't voted yet, and would like to do so, click on Yes/No or Unsure in the Vote Poll section on the Homepage and then click on 'Vote Now'.

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