Towpath funding sought

A bid for funding for an improved surface for the towpath northwards from below Lock 15 to Bennett's Bridge (Bridge 80) at the Overwater Marina is to be submitted by the Audlem Parish Plan group, working with British Waterways.

The bid is for funding from the EU through a 'Northern Marches' scheme which is designed to support economic regeneration in rural areas in south Cheshire and north Shropshire.

It is just over a mile from the new marina to Audlem via the towpath but over three miles by road. Unfortunately, now that the towpath is more heavily used following the launch of the Weaver Way in 2008, a few sections that are still grass surfaced can get muddy and barely passable in wet weather.

A new study shows how much money goes into local areas as a result of marinas. The British Marine Federation has undertaken a major study (Economic Benefits of Inland Marinas in the UK, October 2008) which looked at 16 marinas across the UK and evaluated the economic benefits.

Swanley Bridge Marina, which is approximately 4-5 hours cruising hours and about 15 miles from Overwater Marina, was one of the case study marinas in this report.

The survey at this marina found that there were over 12,000 visits per year to the site, of which 9,400 were visits to moorings, 400 to hire boats, 676 to visitor moorers (including overnights) and the remainder for non-active leisure visits for example to the boat brokerage and workshop.

This brought in £760,000, of which 33% was a result of the main core marina business and 67% was generated within the local economy. 22 new jobs (Full Time Equivalents) were created within the local area.

Swanley has 317 berths, Overwater Marina has 227 which indicates around £500,000 will come into the local economy in terms of both money and jobs.

It may be higher than this for Audlem as the Overwater site is much closer to Audlem, a very active village, compared with other marinas in the study, and with potentially easy access along the canal towpath from Bridge No 80 which is at the northern point of the site.

The towpath is part of the Weaver Way and is prioritised for upgrading to a cycle path by the Weaver Valley group. Any improvement of the towpath will significantly increase the likelihood and frequency of visitors to the marina using the shops and services within the village. It will also make it easier for residents and visitors to Audlem to use the new Coffee Lounge at the marina.

The Parish Plan questionnaire asked if local residents supported the proposed towpath improvements. 90% said they did.

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