Canal leak repairs see traders suffer

A leaky canal which runs through Shropshire has led to a "terrible loss of trade", it was claimed today .

The economies of communities including Market Drayton and Audlem have been affected by a closure while work to fix the leak on the Shropshire Union Canal at the Shebdon embankment is carried out, it was claimed. Market Drayton mayor Roy Aldcroft says pubs are suffering.

Councillor Aldcroft, who is also chairman of the town's Chamber of Trade, said they would approach British Waterways for compensation.

He said: "Obviously pubs like The Talbot, and others near the canal have suffered really badly but it has affected the town itself and lots of traders have told me they are not getting the visitors they normally expect.

"Most of our visitors come from the canal, six to eight people at a time and the moorings are often completely full most days of the week at this time of the year.

"Because places like the Talbot, which uses a lot of local produce are not selling anywhere near as many meals it is even affecting the local farm businesses they buy from. We will be app- roaching British Waterways about some compensation."

Kate Griffiths, 40, landlady of the Shroppie Fly pub at Audlem, said she had been losing £1,500 a day and staff have been laid off.

Although the pub is miles from the stoppage, she has seen the number of meals served fall from 100 to 20 a day. She said: "It's been terrible; I didn't appreciate the canal until it had gone."

She added: "Nobody wants to come here if they can't carry on through on the canal - the whole village has been affected."

North of the hole, the closest pub is the pub-restaurant at Goldstone Wharf where owner Paul Brumpton said that since the breach there had been just one boat calling at the pub.

The Junction Inn at Norbury said that boat traffic was a tiny fraction of the normal levels for this time of year.

Maria Young, 57, assistant manager said: "It has more than halved our business."

Julie Sharman, British Waterways general manager, Wales and Border Counties, said: "The timing of the emergency closure is regrettable if unavoidable.

"I have spent some time with local businesses and they are indeed feeling the effects of the waterway closure, we are working seven days a week to reopen the canal as soon as possible."