Witchcraft on the canal

A skirmish has broken out between a boating magazine and traders on the Shrophire Union canal after a provocative article appeared in the current issue of Canals Rivers & Boats.

An article written by the magazine's 'liveaboard boater', who writes under the name Witchcraft – we understand this is the name of his boat – is the cause of the trouble. His article slams the Shropshire Union canal in no uncertain terms.

The word 'scumbags' appears frequently as Witchcraft divides the world on the canal system into Good Guys and Bad Guys.

Of Audlem, he starts a tirade with: "We found some 'Bad Guys' as we were locking merrily up the Audlem flight, when we met four teenagers, who had been let loose on their parent's tatty multi-coloured boat.... " before going on to describe their behaviour in some detail before calling these boaters 'scumbags'.

He talks about how badly maintained the canal is and basically attacks all in sight. A local canal businessman tells us Witchcraft has written about 'scumbags' in five of his last six articles. Hire boaters are always Bad Guys while he suggests that many of BW's staff may also be Bad Guys.

Local traders have contacted the editor of the magazine pointing out the harm such a virulent article can cause. The editor has now apologised and we understand Witchcraft has been handed his broomstick and will not be writing for the magazine again.

Indeed, it appears that a very positive article on Audlem is scheduled for the next issue which, local traders hope, will put the record straight.

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