Another marina for Ashby Canal

AT THE third attempt plans have been passed for a new marina at Market Bosworth on the Ashby Canal.

Plans have been passed for a 150 berths marina by Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council, which will include the usual boating facilities.

Refused

This is the third attempt to get the plans passed for a new marina, with previous plans being refused both in 2008 and 2009. When complete, the marina will include a shop, office, toilets and boat yard.

Natural England raised concerns about the Ashby Canal SSSI nearby that contains rare pond weed and it is worried  that extra boat movement may threaten its existence, so the design includes a wetland area and pond within the site.

Untrue statement

It is reported that British Waterways states that there are 340 marina spaces on the Ashby canal but they are all full and there is now a waiting list of more than 200 boaters.  This is patently untrue as the main Trinity Marina on the Ashby Canal is today (Friday) advertising 70ft, 60ft, 50ft and 40ft berths vacant.  The actual application was made on the 24th February 2011, when British Waterways were aware of the actual berths situation.

With British Waterways admitting its own marinas are only at 80% capacity and new ones not even that, the statement is very surprising indeed.