Vaudrey's Wharf
Heritage at risk!
This remote and picturesque wharf on the Macclesfield Canal a few miles from Congleton is at serious risk of being lost - stanked off, drained and returned to nature. For full details please read the summary report. Additional pictures of the site are provided below.
The latest situation is that no funding was obtained from the Partnership
Project because Congleton Borough Council failed to carry out the
necessary legal work before the time limit of end March 2008.
In April 2009 Congleton Borough Council became subsumed within Cheshire
East Council. CEC have since been merging the activities of the three
previous boroughs and looking for every possible saving from their
budget. As further time passes it seems less likely that the work
to repair the wharf can be carried out and more likely that it will
be stanked off.
At the BW Wales & Border Counties Autumn User Forum, 12 October
2009, BW answered a question on this subject. They are monitoring
the site. If they believe that the seepage currently occurring is
increasing here they will have no choice but to seal the site off
[from the main line of the canal].
Clearly we do not want BW to stank the wharf off. Equally clearly
there seems very little prospect of either CEC making repairs or
of CEC finding the funds that will encourage CRT to take the site
over and add it to the canal. This latter option is what we have
strived for all along. Pray for no increase in seepage!
Pictures:
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Looking into the wharf from the main line. |
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Looking south across the wharf entrance. In the
distance is the main line crossing Dane-in Shaw embankment.
The Biddulph Valley Way passes under the canal aqueduct at
the narrows. |
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The wharf is the right size for two full length
boats, with room for an additional boat on the cusp of the
main line on the near bank. There is a stone quay on each side. |
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The leak is suspected to be under the quay at this
end of the wharf. |
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The stonework around the wharf is in reasonably
good condition. There is adequate water depth throughout. |
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A stout and paved quay on the northeast side of
the wharf. |
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The access driveway to Brookhouse Lane, vehicle
width, hard paved and in good condition. |
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