Onley marina going ahead

MY EARLIER update on the [Onley on the Oxford Canal] marina would seem to have been ill informed! It seems that though the pegs have been removed, the marina plan is still on and exhibited at Crick under the name Dunchurch Pools Marina, writes Kevin McNiff.

It was a dog walker at Onley last week that told me the development is still going ahead, overhead electric cables have been buried near the prison complex and a public footpath re-routed. This last weekend, the large barn on the field was also demolished—I heard the jack hammers doing it!

They have also sent me contact details for their website as we had 'expressed interest' while talking with their representative at Hillmorton Locks last May.

Due to start this summer

Earthworks are due to start this summer with a projected opening in 2017, subject to weather. Details can be found at dunchurchpoolsmarina.co.uk though the mention of a bus service has been overstated given the recent cut to the No.12 Daventry to Rugby route from 6th June.

With boating numbers still short of what some of us would call normal for the time of year, it remains to be seen what occupancy figures will be; will the proposed £15m investment ever get a return?