‘Canal could become a real tourist attraction’

A STUDY conducted more than 10 years ago, and accessible on the Caldon and Uttoxeter Canal Trust (CUCT) website, highlighted that the Leek Branch of the Caldon Canal could, with the right development approach, realise significant gains for amenity and leisure activity.

The four-mile stretch of canal, running from the Churnet Aqueduct to Hazlehurst Junction, must match any in the country for its grandiose arboreal stands, picture book canal side gardens and pristine rural views.

This, if provided with better access, service facilities and a heritage worthy strategically located basin terminus, could become a jewel in the crown of attractions that Leek offers visitors – with all the kudos, jobs and income generation that would create.

This paper has oftentimes reported on initiatives being planned to bring the canal back into Leek but, sadly, to date these have remained on the drawing board.

The most attractive of these plans envisioned creating a high-quality public space with canal basin, railway station and waterside walks in close proximity but it seems that currently we have only a railway station on plan and that in location that looks to be far from ideal.

Whilst the proposal to site the new Leek railway station remains at the planning stage is there still time to draw breath and think again?

What if we moved the cattle market to the unused cement works lands at Barnfields Industrial Area and developed a rail terminus to be proud of in its place, with the large covered areas used for engine and carriage maintenance, storage and viewing?

This would give the former much easier road access off the A53 and bring much needed relief to Junction Road residents, and the latter a site much nearer to town, bus routes and pubs.

If we can go this far could we not go a bit further and plan for the canal to be brought over the existing aqueduct and run parallel to the river terminating in a basin that we can also be proud of, sited immediately across the tracks from the cattle market in the top corner of the vacant land at Barnfields?

These moves would lend themselves to the design of an integrated public amenity and green space leisure area linked to the Birchall Playing fields through the intervening meadows.

Oh and yes, whilst we are about it, could we not move the scrapyard to the top A53 side of the disused cement works land?

Then we would be able to open a waterside feature linking the canal and railway terminus to the river – a jewel of many parts that would sparkle indeed. Chris Daborn Leek