Worries over loss of Anderton Boat Lift mural

THERE are worries about the future of the very popular mural at the visitor centre at Anderton Boat Lift.

For Canal & River Trust has tabled an application to extend the main visitor centre at the lift that would reposition the reception, retail and cafe areas to ensure it remains financially viable.

Losing the mural

But the proposals could mean losing the mural that was painted following the fundraising efforts which saw the lift restored and reopened in 2002, with the mural itself being officially unveiled in 2010.

The mural depicts the three design engineers, but the Friends of Anderton Boat Lift fundraising group have discovered that this will be lost to make way for a new staircase at the visitor centre, Janet Friend reports.

Bernice Tackley, who created the mural, told the staircase should be relocated and the mural left untouched. She believes that should the mural be removed it will be damaged, explaining:

“When the Anderton Boat Lift was finally reopened in 2002 it was a cause of considerable celebration to many thousands of dedicated, devoted volunteers who had spent up to 20 years of campaigning and fundraising in multiple ways to ensure the lift’s survival."

Create the mural

She said when the initial fundraising target was reached money continued to come in from donors, so it was decided to use it to create the mural as the Friend's final act. Bernice subsequently created the mural and restored it again last year, adding:

"It has enormous significance and the external staircase can easily be relocated. This mural was the final memorable contribution of the Trustees of the Anderton Boat Lift prior to its dissolution."

She told that without concentrated (fundraising) efforts, the Anderton Boat Lift would not have been restored and would have faced demolition as its structure further deteriorated.