2026-02 Shroppie Fly Paper

Shroppie Fly Paper - February 2026

The Newsletter of the Shrewsbury District & North Wales Branch

Hello, and welcome to Shroppie Fly Paper

The leading article in our December 2025 issue describing IWA’s new Risk Index, with its accompanying photograph of the January 2025 Bridgewater Canal breach, now seems horribly prescient For as we all know, and, in fact, many millions of people who usually ignore the canals also know from national and local news media, the Llangollen Canal at Whitchurch suffered its own spectacular breach just before Christmas.

[The immediate aftermath of the Whitchurch breach. Credit Jim Forkin]

Hundreds of thousands of words , and countless startling images that demonstrate just how fortunate it was that there were no serious injuries, have been published. This newsletter can do no better than to refer readers to our Facebook pages, where our online editor, Alan Wilding, has done a great job in covering the unfolding saga, almost in real time. https://www.facebook.com/shrewsburynorthwales

For those who prefer a more leisurely, structured read, the March 2026 issue of Waterways World contains six pages of reports and insights. Shroppie Fly Paper would like to pay tribute to the Canal & River Trust urgent response teams who moved so swiftly to secure the site, care for the wellbeing of the affected boaters and urgently put in

place the workarounds to maintain the provision of water supplies from the River Dee to Hurleston Reservoir, near Nantwich.

We understand that the repair programme is going to be a very lengthy, and expensive, process. CRT reported just before we went to press that a preferred design has been chosen to repair the breach, using a reinforced soil slope with geogrids and granular materials to rebuild the embankment. Engineers, together with consultants and specialists, are finalising the design so construction can begin as soon as possible.

Contractors have continued constructing the haul/access road across neighbouring farmland between the breach and the A41, with traffic management installed on the night of 22nd February to allow completion of this access. Water from the flooded field next to the breach is being carefully pumped into an adjacent foul sewer, and a fish rescue will take place once water levels are lowered. Essential vegetation management will start this week to prepare for rebuilding the embankment and canal.

Canal water continues to be pumped past the breach to maintain water levels and supply Hurleston Reservoir.

To help fund the repair work, CRT has launched a public appeal which can be found here IWA Shrewsbury District & North Wales Branch has contributed.

2026 Calendar Dates for your Diary

• April 8: 80th Anniversary Dinner and Joule’s Brewery Tour, Market Drayton

• April 8: Branch Annual General Meeting, Market Drayton

• May 2-4: Norbury Canal Festival – volunteers needed!

• May 8: Montgomery Canal Forum, Oswestry

• July 18- 19: Gnosall Canal Festival (C-Fest) – volunteers needed!

• August TBC: Lock wind, Cholmondeston Lock – volunteers needed!

• September 5-6: Whitchurch Canal Festival – volunteers needed!

We would love to see some of our members at events this year. We’re always very grateful for help on our stand, and of course our lock wind in early August is always a really fun occasion. To register an interest in helping us at any of these events, please email shrewsandnwales@waterways.org.uk with your availability.

Anniversary Dinner and Joule’s Brewery Tour

Market Drayton, Wednesday, 8 April 2026

2026 marks the 80th anniversary of the founding of The Inland Waterways Association, so to celebrate, we’re teaming up with the experts at Joule’s Brewery in Market Drayton to offer a very special Plated Dinner, followed by a guided tour of the fantastic brewery to learn something of Joule’s history and how Joule’s beers are crafted. Branch members will have received a separate email in early February about this event, but here are the details again…

Venue: The Stag, Great Hales Street, Market Drayton TF9 1JP (next door to, and sharing a car park with, Joule’s Red Lion Taphouse) What3words ///tastings.grape.envy

Date: Wednesday, 8 April 2026 from 4.30pm

Booking: Essential – all bookings must be made and paid for by Wednesday, 18 March. Don’t delay – book it today!

IWA members and non-members are very welcome, so why not come along with friends?

[The Stag, Red Lion and the Brewery in Market Drayton. Credit Joule’s Brewery]

We’ll gather at The Stag from 4.30pm. A cash bar will be open, and tea and coffee will be available throughout the event.

To start, there will be a short, seated meeting to set the scene and deal with some essential branch business (see below). Food service will begin at 5.30pm before the Brewery Tour starts at 6.30pm. Depending on numbers, we may split into groups for the tour.

Please note: There is a lift to the first-floor function room at The Stag, but the Brewery Tour includes approximately 70 stairs in five flights to the top of the Malt Tower. Flat, closed-toe shoes must be worn to enter the Brewery.

If you are unable or do not wish to join the Brewery Tour, you are still most welcome to join us for the rest of the event. The bar will remain open throughout. Please let us know at shrewsandnwales@waterways.org.uk at the time of booking if you do not wish to take part in the tour.

This event is open to IWA members and non-members. However, numbers are limited for the dinner and tour, so to avoid disappointment we request you reserve your places as soon as possible.

Please book your places by email to shrewsandnwales@waterways.org.uk by Wednesday, 18 March latest, together with your choices from the dinner menu below, as these have to be confirmed to the pub in advance.

Payment at the time of booking should be made by bank transfer to the IWA Branch bank account number 20845922, sort code 20-45-77, account name Inland Waterways Association. When making your payment, please include your surname in the reference.

All payments must be received on or before Wednesday, 18 March 2026, which will also be your last chance to change your mind and cancel.

One Course Plated Dinner & Brewery Tour

£30 pp

Two Course Plated Dinner & Brewery Tour £37 pp, or £40 with cheeseboard

Mains

• Pan-fried chicken supreme, dauphinoise potatoes, seasonal vegetables, carrot puree with creamy Dijon mustard sauce (GF)

• Slow-braised feather blade of beef, mashed potato, seasonal vegetables, horseradish & parsnip puree, Joule’s Citra Blonde gravy

• Salmon fillet, crushed roast new potatoes, green beans, romesco sauce, citrus & herb butter (GF)

• Wild mushroom, chestnut & spinach wellington, roasted vegetables, celeriac mash, braised red cabbage, red wine gravy (V) (VG)

Desserts

• Triple chocolate brownie, chocolate sauce, vanilla ice cream (V)

• Raspberry bakewell served with clotted cream (V)

• Vanilla crème brulée, strawberries, shortbread biscuit (V) (GF available on request)

• Moyden’s cheeseboard, crackers & chutney (supplement £3) (V)

IWA Branch contact for further information or help: Michael Haig and Philippa Bursey, email shrewsandnwales@waterways.org.uk

2026 Shrewsbury District & North Wales Branch AGM

Notice is hereby given for the 2026 Annual General Meeting of the Shrewsbury District & North Wales Branch of The Inland Waterways Association, to be held on Wednesday, 8 April 2026 at 5.00pm at The Stag, Great Hales Street, Market Drayton TF9 1JP

AGENDA

• Apologies for absence

• Minutes of the 2025 AGM were approved by email by those present on 16 June 2025

• Matters arising from the minutes

• To accept and take any questions on the Treasurer’s and Chairman’s reports (to be circulated in advance of the meeting)

• Election of committee members

• Any Other Business

Any resolutions requested by members of the branch should be notified to the branch chairman at least six weeks prior to the AGM.

• Committee member Graham Russell, co-opted after our 2025 AGM, offers himself for election.

We warmly welcome other members willing and able to help out on our team, whether as regular or occasional volunteers. Please contact branch chairman Michael Haig or any other member of the committee if you would like to help us.

2026 Calendars – Last Few Remaining now on Special Offer

We still have a few 2026 calendars remaining, which we can now offer for only £3 each plus postage & packing, from our online shop at https://iwa-shrewsburynorthwales.sumupstore.com

Shipping costs are on the following sliding scale per shipment: 1 calendar £3; 2 calendars £4; 3 calendars £6; 4 calendars £7; 5 -8 calendars £9

Alternatively, email shrewsandnwales@waterways.org.uk with the number of calendars you would like, the address to which they should be posted, and how you’d like to pay (BACS transfer or card payment via SumUp). We will reply with the amount payable, and the branch bank details or a secure SumUp payment link depending on your preferred payment method.

The calendar is produced on quality paper, is spiral bound, and opens to A3 size with superb photographs of some of the wonderful waterways within our branch area.

After eighty years…

Eighty years on from the formation of The Inland Waterways Association, which kickstarted the drive to recover as much as possible of the national waterways network, Michael Limbrey muses on waterways restoration in the 21st Century, and the view from the apocryphal Clapham omnibus...

You meet people on trains. The young man from Devizes told me he had only recently learned that the popular and busy Caen Hill flight on the Kennet & Avon Canal had once been derelict. What must those locks and that canal bring to that town today?

Are there also young people from, say, Stratford-on-Avon who do not yet know of the days before the reopenings there?

As we celebrate eighty years of campaigning for our canals and river navigations by IWA and its members, their story and heritage, we know the benefits a waterway brings - recreation and wellbeing, helping the local and visitor economies of the communities along the waterway, conserving the many historic structures from the days of pick and shovel, and also the plants and wildlife above and below the water. Just read the IWA reports like ‘Waterways in Progress’ and others (you can find them on the website: https://waterways.org.uk/campaigns/listing/500-miles-of-waterway-still-to-restore).

Sadly, even though there are more boats than ever on the cut, there are people who still don't realise this value. A recent letter in the local press may have been provoked by the Llangollen Canal breach, but it asked bigger questions: the canals may be part of our history but were quickly obsolete, so are they worth the money today?

Why should the taxpayer fork out? Why bother? The writer concluded that we should finally knock canal restoration dreams on the head.

You would have hoped that after eighty years there would be a greater understanding about our canals. Are comments like those contained in that letter aimed at stately homes, historic castles, country parks or Roman remains? They too add so much to local communities.

Fortunately, we were able to arrange a robust response to the correspondence, particularly as we like to think that reopening the Montgomery and other canals is more than just a ‘restoration dream’.

In the early years of our branch IWA ran a workshop on publicity and promotion. Life is so different in today's online age when it is so easy to post a criticism of anything or anybody. We still have to be aware that there can be criticism of what we do and that it may be ill-judged or ill-informed

Please help us to remind the world of what IWA stands for: the social, economic and environmental benefits of our waterways. And if you see a comment that deserves a reply but don't think that is for you, let one of the steering team know so we can respond.

The Welldeck Café Opens at Wappenshall Wharf

With thanks to SNCT’s S&N News and our congratulations to all the SNCT volunteers who have worked so hard to reach this stage in Wappenshall’s restoration.

After eight years of working towards this objective, the Welldeck Cafe finally opened its doors in midDecember in the smaller warehouse at Wappenshall.

Opening hours currently are from 10am to 2pm on Saturdays and Sundays, serving breakfasts and lunches, with the intention of gradually expanding the opening times and days as the year progresses. In the summer, when the long sunny days return, people will be able to sit outside and enjoy a coffee in the peace and beauty of this historic site.

Upstairs the Upper Deck meeting room has lots of potential uses for community groups, classes, meetings, etc. Hopefully it will be particularly useful when the local schools start to visit the site and learn about the canal heritage of the area.

The cafe is being run by Kal Wood and her daughter Ellie helped by a growing team of volunteers, and some of the profits will be used to support the future of the Wappenshall site. Kal has over 8 years of catering experience, most recently at the Welldeck Cafe that she used to have in Wellington Market. An alcohol licence has been applied for, and hopefully it won’t be long in coming through.

There are also opportunities for volunteers to get involved helping out, even if only for a couple of hours a week.

If you have the opportunity, do pop along to enjoy and support the new café. It’s a very welcoming space for visitors and volunteers alike, and well worth an outing to appreciate its tranquil waterside setting.

Do check what’s happening at the Welldeck at Wappenshall on SNCT’s website www.sncanal.org.uk , or on the Facebook pages @thewelldeckwappenshall, or just come along – put TF6 6DE into your Satnav and it will bring you to the door.

New Motorhome Services at Aqueduct Marina

Aqueduct Marina, located on the Middlewich Branch at Church Minshull, is now offering a dedicated motorhome workshop. The new initiative marks a significant investment in facilities and staff training, with the aim of providing greater customer convenience.

Building on its boating expertise, Aqueduct Marina has converted one of its on-site workshops into a fully equipped motorhome service and repair centre, designed to support motorhome, campervan, car, and van owners with a comprehensive range of services including essential maintenance through to more extensive upgrades.

To support this expansion, a select group of Aqueduct Marina’s engineering team has completed specialist motorhome training, ensuring customers receive expert, vehicle-specific care carried out to high professional standards.

The marina’s ‘Fix Now, Enjoy Later’ campaign encourages both boat and motorhome owners to take advantage of off-season servicing and upgrades, and a ‘Stay the Night While We Do the Work’ service allows motorhome owners to stay overnight while their vehicle is being serviced. The marina hopes this will help it become a one-stop destination for maintenance, upgrades, and relaxation, and says it recognises a growing crossover between boating and motorhome tourism.

Aqueduct’s move reflects a growing trend among marina operators for further diversification to widen their customer base beyond solely boat owners. OverWater Marina near Audlem, for example, has for

some time been a Caravan and Motorhome Club (CAMC) Certificated Location caravan site, and also offers four luxury glamping wagons as well as holiday lodge accommodation, while Nantwich Canal Centre has two holiday properties on-site.

Pete Kirkman – Photographer Extraordinaire

This tribute by Christine Palin is an extract from an article that appeared in the Friends of the Montgomery Canal newsletter.

Peter, or Pete as he was known in the canal world, is lovingly remembered by his wife Jean, his children, and his numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren. Peter loved the canals especially the Monty. He enjoyed walking the tow paths along which he took thousands of photographs during his travels, many of which are featured on his website, on which he documented the restoration of the Monty from the early nineties until the week before he died.

He became a committee member of the Friends of the Montgomery Canal attending meetings, along with Jean, until he felt he could no longer join us. His contribution to our meetings was very much valued and appreciated and his measured views were missed.

Jean and the family have recently had a bench installed in memory of Pete, just west of Bridge 82 near Gronwen Wharf on the Montgomery canal. The area is peaceful, surrounded by nature and is an idyllic spot to rest your legs and look across the canal over the fields towards the Welsh foothills and Berwyn Mountains.

Pete’s website will be kept open by his family and is archived at Aberystwyth University. I can recommend that you have a look. The photographs will take you from the very start of the Montgomery canal in Newtown (now limited to a road sign and the parapet of Wagon Bridge) along the whole length of the canal up to the locks at Welsh Frankton. The pictures are a wonderful record of the Montgomery Canal (which appears to be always sunny) and a wonderful legacy of the work of an unassuming man.

www.montgomerycanal.co.uk

Montgomery Canal - Restoration Progress and Other Works

John Dodwell provides his customary restoration résumé

NEW WILLIAMS BRIDGE LIFT BRIDGE

The start of work is still held up whilst the planning application winds its way through the planning process. However, once started, construction should be quicker than with Carreghofa Lane Bridge as there is no new accompanying road to build. At the time of writing, the granting of planning permission is “imminent”.

VYRNWY NEW RESERVE

In January we got the good news that the Powys County Council Planning Committee had approved the planning application. We understand there were some 90 supporting letters so a big thank you to those who wrote in to show their support. It is hoped that construction work will start in the Spring and be finished by the Autumn. Fortunately, it looks as if almost all the arising spoil can be kept on site.

The sketch below indicates the lay out of the new reserve which will be a little south of the Aqueduct –connected to the River Vyrnwy (the grey area on the right) rather than to the Canal (in the left hand corner).

[Plan of the new Vyrnwy Reserve. Credit Sara James/CRT]

CARREGHOFA LANE BRIDGE

Progress on site with the building of the new Carreghofa Lane Bridge, which will replace the causeway across the Canal by Walls Bridge, has slowed down, with the project now scheduled to be completed by July.

VYRNWY AQUEDUCT

CRT is making progress with the application to the National Lottery Heritage Fund for funding to repair this Grade II* structure – the only Grade II* status structure on the Canal. Funding falls into first a development phase and secondly a delivery phase. Other funding is coming from the Mid Wales Growth Deal (see more below) and CRT.

The project is now in full development phase which, if successful, would lead to the delivery phase. With a following wind, substantial works should start later this year and be completed in 2028.

OTHER POWYS NEWS

Late 2025 saw dredging and other works in Welshpool along part of the journey taken by the boats of the Huelwen Trust. CRT obtained funding from the Nature Networks Fund.

Meanwhile down at Dolfor (outside Newtown), Powys Public Rights of Way department obtained funding from the Active Travel Fund to repair the badly damaged Dolfor Lock Bridge on the section of Canal owned by Montgomery Waterway Restoration Trust. Work to the bridge, especially the parapets, has now been completed.

[The repaired Dolfor Lock Bridge in January 2026, with sacking to protect the lime mortar from frost Credit Hugh Williams]

Water soldier weed is causing increasing blockage on the canal, particularly north of Welshpool. Whilst not being a non-native invasive weed (it seems to originate from East Anglia), it is certainly invasive and also blocks out the light for the rarer plants. CRT has applied to the Local Plan for Nature fund for money to help remove this unwanted weed.

Our more assiduous readers may recall that CRT has been seeking funding from the Mid Wales Growth Deal, which has £110m to invest in economic growth projects in Powys and Ceredigion. Completing the restoration between Llanymynech and Arddleen is on their short list of 10.

Some time ago a green light was given when a Strategic Business Case was approved relating to dealing with the Maerdy and Arddleen road blockages and a third nature reserve, as well as helping with Vyrnwy Aqueduct. Recently the Outline Business Case (the next stage) was approved. The project is broken down into five programmes and the next step is to compile Full Business Cases for each one. Readers should be warned that the Mid Wales Growth Deal funding won’t be enough and further funding sources are being sought.

Shrewsbury District & North Wales Branch Steering Team

Your Branch Steering Team currently comprises:

Philippa Bursey Secretary philippa.bursey@waterways.org.uk

Mike Haig Chairman michael.haig@waterways.org.uk

Michael Limbrey Hon. President michael.limbrey@waterways.org.uk

Graham Russell Treasurer graham.russell@waterways.org.uk

Alison Smith Acting Navigation Officer alison.smith@waterways.org.uk

Phil Tarrant Events Coordinator phil.tarrant@waterways.org.uk

Alan Wilding Online Editor alan.wilding@waterways.org.uk

Susan Wilding Member susan.wilding@waterways.org.uk

Sir Robert Atkins , IWA North West Region Chairman (robert.atkins@waterways.org.uk) is an exofficio member

SHROPPIE FLY

PAPER BACK ISSUES ONLINE, AND STAYING IN TOUCH

Previous issues of this newsletter, all the way back to 2009, can be found at issuu.com through this link: https://issuu.com/waterwaysassoc/stacks/ff499dbd5f2941bba5e738cf88c600d6

But if that’s too much to type in, try this shortened version instead: https://bit.ly/2Pn5arf

You can keep up to date with the latest news from the branch at https://waterways.org.uk/shrewsburynorthwales or https://www.facebook.com/shrewsburynorthwales

SOME SMALL PRINT

Shroppie Fly Paper is the newsletter of the Shrewsbury District & North Wales Branch of The Inland Waterways Association (IWA). IWA is the only independent, national charity campaigning for all Britain’s canals and rivers. We are dedicated to supporting and regenerating Britain’s waterways – for leisure, living and business. For further information contact any Steering Team member.

The Inland Waterways Association may not agree with the opinions expressed in this branch newsletter but encourages publicity as a matter of interest. Nothing printed may be construed as official policy unless stated otherwise. The Association accepts no liability for any matter in this newsletter. Any reproduction must be acknowledged.