 Let’s
try and be optimistic, let’s look for the silver lining in this cloud of
recession. In a period of non-development the gloomy can take comfort
that whilst things may not be actually getting better at least some of
our historic survivals are not getting developed out of existence. And
while they continue to exist they get even older and more historic and,
hopefully, more likely to be recognised for their full worth, and
conserved. That is the optimist in me fighting the pessimist.
These thoughts are focussed, as ever, by the
continuing problems of the restoration of the Montgomery Canal. Things
have been moving pretty steadily for the last few years at the Welsh
Frankton end. The newly restored section to Redwith Bridge is now in
water, settling down and growing rushes and the Shropshire Union Canal
Society continue stonewalling the towpath towards Crickheath. However in
these straightened times there is little likelihood of any big money in
the offing for the next expensive section though to Llanymynech.
Meanwhile the open section from Burgedin to Refail languishes somewhat,
without boats and with only basic maintenance. But it should be said it
languishes very beautifully and romantically and it is here that the
optimist in me hopes a fresh reappraisal could lead to a different set
of priorities and a different sort of progress.
A recent visit to Berriew lock found the lock cottage
empty and up for sale again as it has been several times over several
years. The ‘problem’ seems to be that there is no road access to the
cottage and any modern buyer seems to expect vehicular access as an
essential right. This would then give them the equal right to park a
couple of big ugly steel cars, and maybe a horsebox and a caravan too in
full view of anybody that wants to walk along this historic piece of
relatively unspoilt canal. Should they be allowed to? Well of course
they can at present, but surely there must come a point when the
unpolluted and undeveloped historical importance of such a place must
over-ride modern laziness? When will we realise that this unspoilt
isolation is a very positive value and not just a negative selling
problem? Could we look at it now as a gem to be preserved instead of a
development opportunity? I mean now, not when it is too late.
It is not just the cottage. The building (which was
once clearly two separate minuscule homes) is alongside a lock that
still has its own lock tender’s hut and pigsty in situ. The pound below,
although steel piled, still feels relatively unspoilt and leads down
through a couple of classic Montgomery Canal bridges and onwards to the
delightful Luggy Brook aqueduct near Brithdir lock. This whole section
of canal is still a remarkable museum piece. Wouldn’t it be nice if it
could remain so in perpetuity? But its perfection is being nibbled away.
There is planning permission to redevelop the old tin SUCo warehouse
above Berriew bridge and the towpath there has been resurfaced into a
cycle path with fine granite instead of coarse limestone. The offside of
the aqueduct has modern crowd control barriers wired to the railings for
no apparent reason and the bridges are about to get duplicate numbers
for health and safety reasons….
In the ‘Country Diary’ column in the Guardian last
week Derek Niemann was talking about one of his favourite footpaths in
Bedfordshire which had been improved with a caterpillar tractor. “A
moment later, two walkers joined me on the path. I watched their faces
as they approached. They greeted me but showed no interest in what they
were passing. Those who take this path in future will judge only what
they see – they cannot grieve for what they do not know has been taken
from them.”
©Tony
Lewery,
The Brow,
Ellesmere,
5th March 2009 |
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