Towpath closed northwards

Hundreds of tons of hardcore arrived last week for the towpath improvements to the north of Audlem. Contractors started by improving access from the Overwater Marina to Bridge 80, as in the photo. This will mean the track is also much improved for walkers to the Marina once the work is completed.

From today, work moves to the towpath itself, meaning that it will be closed to walkers northwards for the lengthy stretch approaching Bridge 80.

As regular readers will recall, the Audlem Parish Plan team has worked with British Waterways and gained grants of around £50,000 to hardcore a stretch of towpath running south of Bridge 80 – it becomes almost impassable after heavy or prolonged rain – and to produce leaflets and computer programs to promote local tourism.

Over 600m of the towpath will see work over the coming weeks which will enable walkers to reach Bridge 80 and its paths to the Overwater Marina and eastwards to Hankelow Mill throughout the year. A shorter muddy section near Lock 15 will also be improved.

Crucially, the towpath will allow boaters moored at Overwater to access the village's shops, pubs, cafés and other facilities more easily at all times of the year and avoid a more than three mile drive each way.

Towpath closure notices will also be placed at Coole Lane, where it crosses the canal, to warn walkers that the towpath will be blocked around Bridge 80. It is planned that the work will completed before the end of the month.

Funding has been provided by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and Defra through the Northern Marches Leader scheme with matched funding from Cheshire East, Audlem Parish Council, British Waterways and Overwater Marina.

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