Fresh £250k appeal as canal connection nears Welshpool
Montgomery Waterway Restoration Trust chose the opening of the canal’s recently restored section to Crickheath, near Oswestry, to launch the new Restore the Montgomery Canal! Appeal.
West and Scales have backed the appeal by stating: “Volunteers working on the very special Montgomery Canal have successfully restored the canal to Crickheath on time and on budget.
“Generous supporters’ donations have funded the reconstruction of Schoolhouse Bridge, the last highway blockage in Shropshire. With just two miles derelict in England, can you now help the volunteers to reopen more of the canal towards the Welsh border?”
Michael Limbrey, Montgomery Waterway Restoration Trust Chairman, added: “For the first time for more than 80 years there were boats at Crickheath Basin, some of them even from the working days of canals.
“It was a day to celebrate the support of the National Lottery Heritage Fund and the Canal & River Trust and particularly the effort of volunteer work parties over many years.
“Having brought the canal to Crickheath, the volunteers have already started work on the next section. There is no lottery support for this so we are asking anyone who can to help reopen more of this special canal by supporting our latest appeal.
“I am delighted to say that the appeal got under way on the day of the Crickheath opening with a generous donation from a supporter of £1,000 which was increased by 25% through Gift Aid.
“Half a mile from our celebrations, contractors are working on the reconstruction of Schoolhouse Bridge, the last highway blockage in Shropshire. This project, funded by private donations from across the country, is part of just two miles of dry canal, all that is now left to restore in Shropshire.
“The funding will also create new canalside nature reserves to replicate the special habitat and safeguard rare and special flora and fauna and restore the canal channel where it is in water but not capable of use.
“There are so many success stories around our canal network of reopened canals that add to the visitor economy, the conservation of plants and wildlife, safe towpaths for recreation and well-being and historic structures from our first transport network.
“They all bring social, environmental and economic benefits and we are keen to see those benefits here in the borderland of Shropshire and Wales.”
The opening ceremony marked the completion of restoration to Crickheath, near Oswestry, adding add a further 1.5 miles to the national canal network.
Supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, volunteers of the Shropshire Union Canal Society (SUCS) cleared, shaped and lined a length of canal that had been dry and derelict for many years and contractors for the Canal & River Trust constructed a new basin where boats can turn.
The opening coincided with news of further funding for the Montgomery Canal. A grant of £7,531 has been awarded from National Grid’s Community Matters Fund for towpath improvements which will benefit people who use the canal towpath south of Oswestry.
The celebrations concluded on June 3 when SUCS volunteers, following a tradition of the 1800s when navvies were rewarded with a barrel of beer, celebrated with a barrel of Navigation Ale sponsored by Monty’s Brewery from Montgomery.
Restore the Montgomery Canal! is promoted by the Montgomery Waterway Restoration Trust with the Friends of the Montgomery Canal, SUCS and Inland Waterways Association’s Shrewsbury District and North Wales branch.
Montgomery Canal Forum, which is open to the public, will be held at 2.30pm on Wednesday, June 21, hosted by Aico, Maesbury Road, Oswestry.
PICTURES: Boats at the opening of the restored section of the Montgomery Canal at Crickheath Basin and the ribbon cutting ceremony at Crickheath.
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