Lock 15 Gardens Update

This is an update to the article concerning the Lock 15 Gardens published a few weeks ago. In that article, a very positive message was given about the gardens, which have been admired by both boaters and locals.

However, it now appears that the situation has changed, with CRT (Canal and River Trust) indicating that they will no longer allow the gardens to continue.

This is very sad and also frustrating to those who tend the gardens, which have been in existence now for four years. Prior to this, the land was just waste and wasted land.

At the recent Parish Council meeting, a representative from CRT spoke of their desire to involve more local volunteers in developing the area including the hut at Lock 15 as a "Welcome to Audlem" area, but at the same time eliminating the gardens.

It appears that, although it all sounded very grand , what the "grand design" forgets to take into account, is that there already are volunteers who have been tending this area – all from Audlem – putting in many hours to create what many unsolicited responses have described as a very pleasing entrance to Audlem.

Those who tend the gardens have been trying over the last five months to seek a meeting with CRT to talk over how aesthetically and productively the gardens can continue to be a fitting "welcome to Audlem".

Our aim has always been to create a cottage garden feel, which complements the Lock Hut. Our fear is that the "grand design" will have an artificial 'municipal park' appearance – all showy and useless to the biodiversity that the present gardens sustain.

CRT has not exactly shown an awareness of encouraging the prospering of the natural environment (upon which we all do and will depend) in their towpath maintenance. Very aggressive strimming has now wiped out this year's wild flowers along a whole stretch of the towpath and together with the massive use of weedkiller (is this legal near water courses?) have left ugly bare streaks and patches.

If this all sounds very negative, it is borne out of the frustration that CRT will not communicate directly with those of us who are "stake holders". It even seems to deny that we are "stake holders" who already have an interest in what happens at Lock 15.

I am not surprised that in the "Volunteer Force" we hear so much about, so few are actually from the Audlem area. There is an enormous amount of expertise in Audlem that could be harnessed, but CRT seems unwilling to engage with those in the local community.

Local groups, such as the Audlem Wildlife and Ecology Group and ADAPT well placed to help fulfil CRT's stated aims in developing community partnership.

The question that I ask is, "WHY doesn't CRT communicate with us?" I hope that this article reaches those parts which our communications so far have not been able to reach.

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.