News

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Your opinion needed by CRT!

6 August 2015

CRT's Manchester & Pennine Waterways are looking for local canal users' opinions on the region's waterways facilities. A short survey that will take just a few minutes to answer can be found at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/boating-facilities

Bosley reservoir dam improvements

4 August 2015

CRT are spending £1.5m on improving the dam at Bosley reservoir in order to comply with the Reservoirs Act. The top is being raised to provide greater protection in the event of a storm causing overfilling that cannot be drained off quickly enough. Further works are being carried out on the valve tunnel in the face of the dam to enable easier maintenance in future. The tunnel is a grade II listed structure.

Macclesfield Canal awarded Green Flag!

17 February 2015

CRT have won a Green Flag award for the whole length of the Macclesfield Canal. This is the first award to any canal, and the first to any public space other than a public park or similar open space - Bollington's Recreation Ground, adjacent to the canal, has had one for the past several years. The flags are awarded a year at a time and the relevant space is inspected several times a year by the awarding body - the Keep Britain Tidy Campaign. This is the first time a canal has been entered for the award. CRT and the volunteers who look after the towing path have done brilliantly well to maintain such a long length in the high state required on a continuous basis and their recent efforts show that it is definitely possible.

  Pubs closing and opening like yoyos!

17 February; updated 20 February 2015; May 2015; 4 August 2015

It is hard to keep up with pub closures and re-openings! Closures include in recent times:

• Holly Bush, Bollington (Robinson's have submitted an application for internal changes to this grade II listed 'brewer's Tudor' pub)
• Britannia Inn, Hurdsfield has re-opened on 20 February 2015. It has fabulous flower boxes along the front!
• George & Dragon, Hurdsfield (damaged by fire and presently closed long term)
• Ye Olde King's Head, Gurnett Re-opened 22 May 2015
• Fool's Nook (closed, unhappy recent history, uncertain future)

The Navigation at High Lane, was closed for some time but is reported open again.

The Miner's Arms, Wood Lanes, Adlington, was closed for two months+ over the 2015 New Year, but is reported to be open again.

The Moss Inn at Congleton has been demolished and houses built over the site.

Hurst Lane wharf to be developed

October 2012, updated 24 May 2013; 20 February 2015; 5 August 2015

Latest: Work was scheduled to start on site in Feb/Mar 2015, but it never did. We now know that the site has been sold to another developer who has submitted a new planning application CEC 15/3461M, once again for 7 properties. The number will no doubt be objected to once again. The picture shows the previous application.

Hurst Lane wharf, adjacent to bridge 27 at Bollington, was the subject of at least two planning applications to clear the previous uses and build houses. The first proposal was to build seven houses and, after strong objections, the second to build 6 houses, permission for which was granted.

The site was occupied by timber manufacturing businesses for the past 90 years, 80 of those by the Needham family, more recently by RED Joinery. The site has been cleared and has been vacant since 2013. The site was owned by CRT who, together with specialists, developed the original housing proposals. The site has now been sold to Henderson Homes (UK) Ltd. Ironically, their website copiously illustrates their development with pictures of the previously permitted proposal!

The boaters who used to moor along the wharf were moved on; CRT say that mooring will no longer be permitted because of the close proximity of the bridge and aqueduct corner. However, the wharf edge will be public space and not allocated to any of the new houses.

Further information and pictures can be seen on the Happy valley web site.