£7m scheme to bring Shropshire waterway back to life
Multi-million pound plans to restore a historic canal in Shropshire to its former glory are being considered by council bosses.
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A section of the 200-year-old Shrewsbury and Newport Canal, which runs through Shrewsbury from the Buttermarket, in Castlefields, on towards Uffington, could once again become navigable to narrow boats if the ambitious £7 million plans are backed by council chiefs.
And today the Shrewsbury and Newport Canals Trust, which has been working to re-open the canal since 2000, revealed a first glimpse of what the restored waterway could look like.
Bernie Jones, trust chairman, said he hoped the scheme would be akin to the regeneration of the Birmingham canal, creating a ‘cafe culture’ along the canalside.
He said the restored canal could generate millions of pounds in tourism as narrowboat visitors flocked to Shrewsbury and would open up a safe ‘green corridor’ for both pedestrians and cyclists into town.
The waterway was largely designed and constructed by famous engineer Thomas Telford in the late 18th century.
Its terminus lies adjacent to the Buttermarket at the Castle Foregate Basin. From that point the canal travels through Castlefields, Ditherington, Sundorne and out towards Uffington. The historic Flax Mill in Ditherington was built beside the canal.
It is hoped the project to restore the canal will coincide with major £12 million plans to regenerate the Flax Mill.
Many parts of the canal would need to be re-filled with water.
Mr Jones said grant funding would be sought from a number of partners to raise cash for the scheme but added the project would be able to tap into a supply of free labour from the Inland Waterways Association’s Waterway Recovery Group.
He said: “The IWA’s WRG restores disused canals and has about 2,500 volunteers who would be willing to dig out the canal.”
He said council bosses and councillors in Battlefield, Castlefields and the town centre were looking into the scheme’s feasibility.
Comments for: "£7m scheme to bring Shropshire waterway back to life"
Roger
What I wonderful idea. Unfortunately I can’t help thinking that most of the route is beyond recovery. Comet Bridge and the return crossing under St Micheals Street would present some significant challenges. Of course there are some spectacular possibilities of redeveloping Howard’s Bank when the Post Office vacate their building and Morris's oil works can be moved out to an industrial estate. We could even shift the Prison to a new out of town site (like next to the Shrewsbury Parkway railway station) retaining only the entrance gate way.
But I think it is a dream for the future, sometime maybe.
Steven
I would love to see this happen, we used to walk or cycle with our children along the old towpath from Ditherington to Uffington, it's a beautiful route. Sadly, aged 55 I doubt I will even see it started, let alone completed.
Steve Merchant
Let's do it. Regeneration isn't all about shopping and another soulless cloned shopping centre and frankly my dear personally I don't give a Debenhams. The internet is and will finish most retail off anyway and Smithfield Road is a flawed and failed venture in waiting. This canal idea is a win-win. Jobs, tourism, profile, environment especially if we can get the Flax Mill up and running.
The Original Jake
I'm curious as to how the narrowboats would get to the canal. It doesn't seem to join up with other navigable waterways - not until it's completed all the way to Norbury Junction. Am I missing something?
Dick Barton
I shall have to oppose this scheme, as it looks like no provision has been made for cyclists.
I regularly cycle into the town centre from my home in Sundorne, using this path, then along Sydney Avenue etc.