Canal restoration boosted with government cash

A recent project has seen Schoolhouse Bridge rebuilt

The Canal and River Trust has announced a £250,000 project to restore a section of the Montgomery Canal which was last used about 90 years ago.

The 360m (393 yards) section in Shropshire, from Crickheath towards Schoolhouse Bridge, was levelled nearly 60 years ago, the trust said.

The Montgomery Canal closed to boaters in the 1930s, the Canal and River Trust said, following a serious breach of its banks near Frankton Locks.

Due to dwindling freight traffic, it was deemed uneconomical to repair.

If was officially closed by an Act of Parliament in 1944.

Funding for the restoration scheme has come from the government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund as well as the Shropshire Union Canal Society and a public fundraising appeal.

It follows a recent project to rebuild Schoolhouse Bridge and the restoration of the canal to Crickheath Basin in 2023.

The canal has been closed to boaters since the 1930s

Lezley Picton, leader of Shropshire Council, said: “Opening up the canal through Shropshire will help drive tourism and bring economic benefits to communities along the waterway, as well as enhancing the wonderful countryside and habitats.”

David Carter, Shropshire Union Canal Society chair, said volunteers were looking forward to the challenge.

“The society has been restoring the Montgomery since 1969 and is delighted that this funding will enable us to extend our work,” he said.

“The next section is a technically challenging length of channel being historically leaky. Additionally, it will be rebuilt incorporating water vole friendly soft banks.”

Restoration of the canal began in 1969, with an ambition to open its full 35-mile length.

By the 1990s a stretch of about 12 miles was reopened but not connected to the rest of the canal system.

While all 35 miles of the towpath are now accessible, and eight mile stretch of the canal has been made suitable for boating between Crickheath Basin and Frankton Junction where it joins the Llangollen Canal.

Bosses said the new funding takes them one step closer to fully restoring the canal, which campaigners have been working towards for years.