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Topic: Routing canal through Melksham (Read 4006 times)
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Graham Ellis
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This one is a political hot potato in Melksham. Personally, I'm very much in favour of routing the canal back along the river - the arguments that I have heard against the idea do not (IMHO) stack up well when compared to those I have heard in favour.
Melksham has a lot to offer the canal, and a return of the canal has a lot to offer Melksham.
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Graham Ellis
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The town councillor who the newspaper report as being critical / against the scheme is well known for her opposition to the plans to bring the canal back through Melksham, so her reaction is very much along the lines I would heva expected. Two hundred years ago, Melksham was a thriving town - bigger than Chippehham or Swindon, and very much the engine house of the whole area. A return of the canal would bring extra visitors to the town, and be an economic benefit. Whether that is good use of funds, and whether disruption to wildlife habitat, epecially during construction, woul dhave such a major impact that it should rule the scheme out, is more open to debate. |
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courgettelawn
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I think it is a question of balances. It is amazing how effectively local wildlife will adapt to canal habitat as long as the banks on either side are planted with suitable flora. It would be wonderful to see Melksham attract more in the way of visitors especially as its history is so rich. And in any case they could refine their already good Black Rat Scrumpy and convey that up and down the canal network!
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Lee
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A pub has lent its support to a scheme to bring the Wilts & Berks Canal into the centre of Melksham (link below.) http://www.wiltshiretimes.co.uk/display.var.1677486.0.pub_bosses_back_18m_canal_plan.phpManagers at The Tavern , in Market Place , are hoping the £18m project will lead to increased tourism and trade. The town centre venue has just joined the charity and is displaying membership leaflets to encourage its customers to enlist as well. The Wilts & Berks Canal Trust hopes it will lead to further businesses joining its campaign to breathe new life into the former waterway. |
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Graham Ellis
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"No plans have been submitted yet, but the feedback we've had so far strongly suggests there is overwhelming support." says one of the key players in the canal trust. I agree with him - it does have overwhelming support, but there's a small and vociferous minorty who are influential and opposed.
I happen to support the canal plans, but I know that pushing it passionately would make me a lot of un-friends in the town. What a contrast it is with the train, where you would pressed to find anyone against an improvement to the current "service"
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