Trapped on the Shroppie

WITH the latest closure at Audlem Flight on the Shropshire Union Canal and Middlewich Branch closed, boaters are trapped, being unable to get off the waterway.

It is  not stated how long the stoppage will last on the flight, as we are given the excuse about assessing the problem and getting equipment into place before anything can be done, but these days there seems to be no hurry as the further stoppage on the Middlewich Branch has shown.

Little likelihood of repair

The breach on the Middlewich occurred in March but there seems little likelihood of it being repaired any time soon, with many believing it will not be repaired this season.

Boaters below Audlem are now stuck, with hire companies as well as boaters again suffering as those West of the stoppage have no choice of cruise, only though Chester to Ellesmere Port.

Manchester Ship Canal

There is always the 'escape' via the Manchester Ship Canal that however is fraught with permissions and rather large vessels, and not many boaters will want to end up in Manchester.

LATEST:

Canal & River Trust inform us:

'A variety of engineering assessments and processes need to be put in place to enable the local team to complete this task safely'.

That signifies the work is done and the flight reopen.