The developer recently submitted a number of fairly detailed additional documents rubbishing the viability of the restoration and suggesting that it can be ignored, or that the restored canal could take a different route through Froghall. Unfortunately this is broadly untrue. The canal could not drop into the river through the area as it is too narrow, windy and fast flowing, even under normal conditions. It also regularly floods and at time this can be 2m or more.

Sir David and Lady Suchet have joined Staffordshire Moorlands residents, parish councils and canal volunteers in voicing their concerns about development proposals that would prevent further restoration of the Uttoxeter Canal at Froghall and kill opportunities to extend safe walking and cycling routes, create wildlife corridors and grow sustainable tourism.

A planning application has recently been submitted for land directly south of the basin at the start of the Uttoxeter Canal in Froghall. This application puts 49 new houses between the basin and nearby A52. Based on the information provided we can confirm that, if approved, the development would block all possible alignments for the canal through Froghall, and would permanently end our ongoing project to restore the Uttoxeter Canal.

Members of the Caldon & Uttoxeter Canals Trust last night joined in with the Trust's first online AGM. Having been postponed due to COVID-19 restrictions, the committee decided that using Zoom technology would allow the meeting to take place and meet the requirements of our constitution. Around 15 members took part in the meeting from their homes using computers and phones.

In 1970, a film "The Caldon Canal - a cut above the rest" was made about the Caldon Canal, for the then Caldon Canal Society. This follows a boat from Etruria along the the navigable section of the canal to Leek, then takes a look at the still unrestored canal from Hazelhurst Junction to Froghall.

You can view the 18 minute film on this website

Steve Wood recently gave an online talk about the Uttoxeter Canal at the invitation of Inland Waterways Association Shrewsbury & North Wales Branch. The Webinar can now be viewed via the IWA YouTube channel.

Our project to reinstate all the mileposts on the Uttoxeter Canal reached a significant point yesterday with the installation of Milepost 30 at The Wharf in Uttoxeter. This means that four of the six newest mileposts have now been installed and that only three remain to be installed along the full 13-mile length of the canal.

Waterway Recovery Group, part of the national waterway charity The Inland Waterways Association, has kicked off its second year of family orientated volunteering weekends with an event on the Uttoxeter Canal.  Hosted by the Caldon & Uttoxeter Canals Trust, the weekend event took place on 9th & 10th June around the Crumpwood area of the canal, near Denstone. 

The Transport Trust aims to shine a modern spotlight on Britain’s rich and globally-important legacy in the development of transport and engineering. A ceremony on 20th March, conducted by Richard Parry, Chief Executive of the Canal and River Trust; and Stuart Wilkinson, Chairman of the Transport Trust, assisted by Gerald Leach of the Railway and Canal Historical Society, marked the significance of this site with the unveiling of a 'Red Wheel' plaque.