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Lichfield Branch
steering the boats into the wide locks while the ‘boys’ worked the locks. We had great fun going side by side into the locks.
She lived a long and good life and will be greatly missed by all who knew her.
Words and pictures
Planning Matters
Margaret Beardsmore
This report summarises the more notable of about 35 planning matters dealt with between mid-October 2022 and mid-January 2023; a bit quieter than usual. Further details are always available on request.
On the Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal at Boscomoor Lane, Penkridge the South Staffordshire Local Plan (Publication version) includes a canalside housing site in the Green Belt that was not part of the previous consultation and that would affect the setting of the canal’s Conservation Area. We have also said that the Conservation Areas for the Staffs & Worcs, as well as the Shropshire Union and Stourbridge canals, the documents for which are all around 40 years old, should have updated Management Plans.
The detailed plans for the first of the giant warehouses on the WMI site at Four Ashes excludes the 3m high earth bund along Vicarage Road shown on the Green Infrastructure Plan. This can provide some visual screening and protect the Canal Conservation Area and recreational users from operational noise of the HGV loading bays, and should be provided at an early stage.
Parts of the Staffordshire & Worcestershire, Trent & Mersey and Shropshire Union canals are affected by clauses in a Canals policy in the Stafford Local Plan (Preferred Options) which would in effect ban residential moorings and restrict facilities at marinas in the Borough, to which we have objected. The policy supports canal restorations but fails to
Stafford Riverway Link have made great strides restoring the basin at Baswich. The picture shows the basin floor being concreted January 2023
