Wrenbury marina granted despite objections

THOUGH literally hundreds of people objected against marina plans for Wrenbury on the Llangollen Canal, permission has been granted.

The plans for the 200 berths marina in Wrenbury, which campaigners stated would wreck the village, have been approved on appeal—though an application for another marina just a short distance away, has been rejected.

Public enquiry

The planning inspector has given permission to develop an area next to the Cotton Arms and its caravan and camping site, using fields behind St Margaret's Church, following a public inquiry held in March this year. (Another marina for the Llangollen.)

The decision follows a lengthy battle by villagers to prevent a marina being built, that attracted just under 300 objections. At the same time, plans for the development of a further 178 berths marina at Wrenbury were lodged by Enzygo Limited, that was refused on appeal.

Services

The new marina will need a towpath bridge and alterations to a road to gain access, and will include toilets, showers, offices, café, shop and boat hire facilities, as well as services such as pump-out, diesel, etc and provision for waste.

The decision by the inspector told that the development would not result in direct harm to the character and appearance of the conservation area and that the harm to heritage assets would be outweighed by the public benefits.

Wrenbury Lift Bridge

There were objections that the Wrenbury Lift Bridge would have much more use, preventing access, but the inspector thought this would not be as severe as proposed.

In addition to the many local objections, both the Environment Agency and Canal & River Trust voiced their concerns, with the Environment Agency objection to the lack of  a flood risk assessment and survey information about Depressed River Mussels, whilst the Canal & River Trust had concerns regarding discrepancies and assumptions made within the agent's planning statement and design and access statement'.

Natural England was concerned about Otters and Great Crested Newts. Of which there are none.