The canal and tourism

As advertised on AudlemOnline, CRT (Canal & River Trust) held a workshop on Monday afternoon with members of the public and local groups to look at ideas to make the canal in Audlem all the more attractive for visitors and residents alike.

As the village found to its cost a few years ago when a breach in the canal at the height of the summer season closed the canal for a very length stretch, local businesses are heavily dependent on visitors. Fortunately, large numbers do visit, so helping to sustain the exceptionally large number of shops, pubs and cafes for a village with a population of under 2,000.

AudlemOnline, when it visited the workshop, asked for copies of two graphics featuring Audlem produced by CRT and we are pleased to display them here.

As always, simply click on them to enlarge.

One idea that came out of the website's discussions on Monday afternoon with CRT, was to develop further the Tourist section on AudlemOnline adding more information about those businesses which will be of particular interest to visitors. We will be working on this over the next week or so and will also be updating other information.

Alison Caffyn, tourism consultant working for CRT, says: "We had over 30 people attend the workshop or 'surgery' session afterwards – including local residents, businesses, boaters, volunteers and reps from local Audlem groups.

"It was a really useful session with lots of discussion and many good ideas pooled by participants. The number one concern was how to improve the condition of the towpath, but there were also lots of suggestions about things like signage, wildlife, involving young people, recruiting more volunteers, the heritage of the canal, improving links with the marina and trying to encourage visitors to stay in Audlem longer.

"The Canal and River Trust and the consultants Alison Caffyn and Andrew Meredith would like to thank everyone who attended. The follow up session will be on Monday 14th March, at 2pm at the Methodist Church Hall. Participants will discuss what the priorities for action are and how to take forward the most popuar ideas."

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