Doesn't please everybody

Published: Friday, 23 October 2009

THOUGH there are many boaters looking forward to the opening of the new marina at Audlem, others are very much against it.

Those against it are of course the linear moorers at Audlem, for some of them will lose their canalside berths under the 10 in 100 scheme, where 10 linear berths are taken out for every 100 created in a marina.

It is not only the boaters, but businesses too are aware of the loss of trade when the number of moorers is reduced.  Businesses are particularly concerned having suffered loss of trade by the closure of the waterway during the season.

Dave Martin, who moors his boat in the village complained:

"There are 20 to 30 boats moored in this village, but that number is going down because British Waterways is not re-letting them. Eventually there will be no boats left in Audlem at all and people are going to stop walking along the towpath because there will be nothing there."

British Waterways spokesman John Clayton related:

"Our policy is to reduce, not eliminate entirely, the number of boats moored long term along the waterway. Where a new marina opens, we aim to reduce just one berth on the canal itself for every 10 that open."

However, many boaters complain of the huge number of linear moored boats along the Shropshire Union, and are delighted when marinas are built and the number is reduced.