Whitchurch canal group starts project preparations

The Whitchurch Waterway Trust hopes by the end of this year to have secured funding for the scheme to extend the canal arm into the town and create a mooring basin.

Part of the project will see the canal taken through the old Chemistry Bridge, as well as the new one. As a result, people have been busy maintaining the area before the major work starts next year.

Bob Sumner, who has been carrying out some of the work, said: "We have got planning permission for the project and are raising funds to take the canal through the two bridges.

"We will be building a basin which will hold about eight boats. The old Chemistry Bridge is as good as the day it was built. We go down most Sundays to carry out general maintenance.

"Latest estimates suggest it is going to cost £650,000 which is not a lot these days."

Maintenance work has also been carried out as part of a project called Spruce up Sandstone.

The project has been organised by McDonald's in Whitchurch to help maintain and improve the local environment, specifically along the Sandstone Trail.

Mr Sumner added: "A few weeks ago McDonald's brought a working party down to tidy up the area between the new bridge and old bridge, which included strimming the grass.

"They did a good job. On about August 18 they are bringing a party of school children to paint a mural on both sides."

Plans for the small arm extension to the Shropshire Union Canal near the Wrexham Road entrance to the town were approved by Shropshire Council at the end of November.

The trust, which has employed someone to investigate available funding sources, hopes the project will bring canal boat users nearer to the town centre to help boost tourism. It was originally thought work would cost £475,000, but latest estimates are it could now reach up to £650,000. Costs include landscaping, altering car parking, surfacing and excavating soil.

For details of the Spruce up Sandstone project, visit the Facebook page.