Lichfield Branch

mention either the Shrewsbury & Newport Canals or the Stafford Riverway Link projects both of which have made significant progress since the previous Plan. The SRL in particular is rebuilding the canal basin at Baswich and their plans for improving the River Sow and its towpath will benefit countryside access, tourism and flood relief.

Adjacent to the Trent & Mersey Canal at Kings Bromley Marina we have supported the change of use of 75 of the current 273 moorings to full-time residential use, to regularise the status of those already living on board for more than the original planning restriction of 120 days annually.

At Barton Marina the application for 9 houseboats on the pontoon overlooking the Waterfront was approved, with the Officer’s Report saying that the loss of 9 narrowboat moorings was not significant, despite quoting our objection that the width of the houseboats would result in the loss of at least 34 and possibly 44 moorings.

On the Coventry Canal at Springwood Haven Marina near Nuneaton an application for 11 holiday lodges would be very visible up the hillside behind the marina.

On the Wyrley & Essington Canal at Brownhills we responded to a further consultation on a proposed waste incinerator, providing photographs of litter on the canal bank behind the existing waste recycling site despite their claim of taking pride in checking the area daily, and asked for it to be cleaned up. The application has since been granted conditional on measures to prevent waste and litter from entering the canal.

Phil Sharpe, Planning Officer