Plan to restore the Burslem Branch Canal

STAFFORDSHIRE UNIVERSITY architecture students shown their ideas for restoring forgotten canal back into use.

Burslem Branch Canal once ran between the town and the Trent & Mersey Canal, constructed to carry Stoke-on-Trent's pottery to the Mersey and then on to its customers around the world, Janet Friend reports.

Closed in 1962

The canal was closed in 1962 and filled in, with very little left of it to see it existed.

But Burslem Port Trust (PBT) is campaigning for the canal to be reopened, telling it could boost tourism and the local economy while restoring an important part of the city's industrial heritage.

Architecture students at Staffordshire University, who have drawn up proposals for the canal and port as part of their course have been working with the trust, with their completed projects, including plans, models and detailed computer generated images, now on display as part of the university's degree show.

However, the students' work is speculative as restoring Burlem's canal and port will cost millions of pounds. But BPT members believe their proposals demonstrate what can be achieved, and how it could benefit Burslem.

Was very impressed

David Broome, BPT design director and a retired architect himself, is very impressed with the students' projects, explaining:

 "About a year ago I got in touch with the course leader and asked if this would be of interest to the architecture department, which is brand new. This is only its second degree year, and they want the publicity just as much as we do. In October I came in with my crude drawings and it really got them interested. Five of the students chose to do their projects on Burslem Canal.

"What I've seen here is just inspiring stuff. All of it is so exciting. From an architect's point of view, the amount of work they're producing is phenomenal, compared to what I did in my third year at university."

The various phases would include reopening the canal itself and creating a basin next to the warehouse. The architecture students were invited to come up with their own ideas for restoring Burslem Port, balancing respect for the site's heritage with present-day concerns.