22/06/2006 Uttoxeter Canal Restoration Committee Formed

Call for more local volunteers and supporters

Since the opening of the first lock of the Uttoxeter Canal at Froghall Basin last July local interest in restoring the thirteen mile canal has soared and initial interest talks have been held recently with Staffordshire County Council and Staffordshire Moorlands District Council and are being followed in August with East Staffordshire Borough Council. Consequently the Caldon and Uttoxeter Canals Trust has established the Uttoxeter Canal Restoration Committee with responsibility to oversee and co-ordinate this activity with the various interested bodies including the Inland Waterways Association and all local authorities.

The Chairman of the new Uttoxeter Canal Restoration Committee Mike Maryon said, "Local support is vital to canal restoration and we are pleased that residents in the Staffordshire Moorland and East Staffs are keen to see their canal brought back to life. The benefits to the local community are tremendous as it would improve on existing local resources of heritage and wildlife, whilst also providing a means for rural regeneration of the locality bringing a host of social, economic, cultural and environmental rewards to this beautiful part of Staffordshire."

He went on to say, " Over the last year since the opening of Froghall basin a Uttoxeter canal presentation team of local volunteers has been giving talks on the history and the benefits of restoration to many local groups in Cheadle, Checkley, Leigh and Uttoxeter areas. These talks have led to a surge of interest that has increased the number of volunteers and supporters but we need more to help make this dream become a reality. We are therefore looking for additional people to come forward and help the Uttoxeter Canal Restoration Committee shape the future of their community. Please call me on 01538 723193 or Email me at mike.maryon@gmail.com if you would like to be part of this exciting initiative.