John Craven, television presenter and Vice-President of The Waterways Trust, officially re-opened a newly restored section of the Montgomery Canal near Oswestry on Friday 4 April 2003.

This is a major landmark in the long term project to restore the Montgomery canal. Boats are able to navigate this section of the canal for the first time in over 50 years. The event also heralded the start of an Inland Waterways Association (IWA) weekend boat rally, featuring more than 30 boats and including the popular annual Dinghy Dawdle on Sunday 6th. (Images right)

The £2.1million restoration will now allow boats to navigate an extra two and a half miles further south from Queens Head to Gronwen Wharf at Maesbury.

This environmentally sustainable project, managed by British Waterways, and funded by Shropshire County Council, Advantage West Midlands, BW and European Development Funds, has involved bank protection, dredging of the channel and the installation of a new lift road bridge at Crofts Mill. It also incorporates the restoration of three strategically important locks at Aston by the Waterways Recovery Group.

British Waterways Border Counties Manager Julie Sharman welcomed the new addition to the national canal network and said the restoration had been careful to balance the navigation requirements with a need to conserve the environment.

“This is a major achievement for the Montgomery Canal Partnership and a significant milestone in the long term project to restore the canal into Wales. Part of this new section has been designated a Site of special Scientific Interest (SSSI) because of its’ rich flora and fauna. The restoration work has been carried out innovatively, ensuring a sustainable approach to the restoration of the canal.” said Ms Sharman.

Following the opening event, there was a weekend of festivities organised by the IWA and the Waterways Recovery Group, at Queens Head. On Sunday 6 April at 10.30am, more than 40 craft set off from Gronwen Wharf taking part in the annual Dinghy Dawdle, organised by the Shropshire Union Canal Society.

The full restoration of the Montgomery Canal is being promoted by the Montgomery Canal Partnership, which includes:
British Waterways, Inland Waterways Association, Powys County Council, Shropshire County Council, Oswestry Borough Council, Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust, Shropshire Wildlife Trust, Countryside Council for Wales, English Nature, English Heritage, the Montgomery Waterway Restoration Trust, the Environment Agency and the Shropshire Union Canal Society.

Phase One (£35 million) will restore navigation as far as Refail, north of the original terminus in Newtown. Phase Two (£25 million) will complete full restoration to Freestone Lock, with the potential for extension into Newtown itself.

The venture will give a major boost to the local economy in terms of employment, leisure, heritage and regeneration.

Information courtesy Lynn Pegler, British Waterways (lynn.pegler@britishwaterways.co.uk)