Audlem Marina To Open On Farmland (From Crewe Guardian)

Audlem Marina To Open On Farmland

10:59am Monday 15th March 2010 in

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A FAMILY’S dream to build a new canal marina on farmland in South Cheshire is to be realised later this month.

The £2m project, on the Shropshire Union Canal at Audlem, is the work of environmental scientist Janet Maughan, husband Angus and his father Richard.

The family has been supported by funding from NatWest and a grant from the Northwest Regional Development Agency.

The 227-berth marina has been constructed by excavating 80,000 tonnes of soil from the family’s land. Eight jobs have been created.

The project has designed to be as natural as possible, with the excavated clay used to line the marina and landscape its banks. It has secured the backing of British Waterways and the family hope it will become a major tourist attraction for South Cheshire.

The Overwater Marina is due to open to the public at the end of March. Janet said: “Whilst Monks Hall Farm remains a successful dairy farm, the industry as a whole is suffering economic challenges and it made sense to diversify.

“The land which a family member acquired made the building of the marina a reality and we knew it would make economic sense not only for us, but also for local community.

“The marina is very much a business which will provide canal boat owners and tourists with modern facilities including Wi-Fi access but it will also become an important part of the landscape.”