Frustration for canal traders after CRT closes towpaths for ten weeks

摘要

Canal businesses at two of the busiest places on the Staffordshire Ring have been protesting at the Canal & River Trust's late decision to close the tawpath and visitor moorings for repairs, for ten weeks in peak season. The work is being part-funded by one of the last EU grants before Brexit, the Rural Tourism Infrastructure programme. This is designed to encourage tourists to come to rural areas, to stay and to spend more money. CRT was successful in getting a grant for towpath improvements at two locations, for nearly a mile through Market Drayton on the Shropshire Union Canal, and 3/4 mile at Great Haywood Junction on the Trent & Mersey Canal. It had to spend the money before the end of the year or lose it.