A near miss for Brownhills Festival

IT WAS a near miss for the Brownhills Festival over the week-end in view of the nearby cyanide problem.

But it was given the all-clear by the Environment Agency, so went ahead drawing many visitors, Janet Friend reports.

Impact reduced

The festival was held on the Wyrley & Essington Canal, that connects to the Walsall Canal where the spill occurred, but as its impact was reduced, the festival was not affected.

It was on Friday that the Environment Agency confirmed the majority of previously closed sections of canals had reopened after testing, though there were elevated levels of sodium and zinc cyanide on the Walsall Canal that was still closed.

At the show there were around 50 traders on the site with boaters offering many wares from their narrowboats. Canal & River Trust allowing use of its land for the entertainment and stalls.

In its fourth year the event raises funds for the restoration of the Lichfield & Hatherton Canals Trust.