Biggest marina ever at honey-pot area

THERE are plans to extend Redhill Marina at the bottom of the Soar to accommodate 630 berths, making it even bigger than the nearby Sawley Marina.

At the moment the marina, in addition to linear moorings, comprises small lagoons containing berths, with the plans to extend the size of these to accommodate the extra berths, Alan Tilbury reveals.

Floods

These lagoons are part of the flood plain of the river, and the plans include gates to protect future berths, though as the whole area floods it is not apparent how this would work.  (Redhill marina is shown on the bottom left of the photograph taken from Radcliffe Power Station chimney.)

It is understood the company tht is building another marina on the recently re-opened Droitwich Broad Canal will undertake the work if planning permission is granted.

Difficult to understand

With so many new marinas being opened along the nearby Trent & Mersey Canal, all having many vacant berths, and the slow down of boating (British Waterways admits to a 7% reduction in boat usage), the failure of many boat building companies and the government's warning of many years before financial confidence is restored, it is difficult to understand the thinking behind the building of such a large marina in an already overcrowded area.