I was most surprised to read that there was to be a marina on the Weaver, writes Frank Hardy.
And I am telling through experience with my narrowboat on that river, being stuck there for months with the Anderton Boat lift closed.
For any boater in a marina on the Weaver would most likely be unable to get on or off with the lift closed more than open, as we all know it is being closed for at least two years, with Canal & River Trust not having the spare cash to repair it, thanks to the government together with the contractors with their Monday to Friday shifts.
I could have taken advantage of the rare openings of the lock onto the ship canal but ‘she indoors’ just would not tolerate it.
[The image shows the entry onto the Manchester Ship Canal at Weston Marsh.]
But together with a friend we did make it off via the lock and onto the Shropshire Union whilst ‘she’ had gone to stay with her mother!
But you can see the problems, as the boat lift is the only occasionally working meaning that those who don’t care for either the ship canal on landing up on the Shropshire Union, will be stuck.
But somehow I believe it was all to do with the permission for all those houses to be built, and a marina to be included.
We shall obviously see how popular it becomes.