Chester Canal 250 event declared great success

IWA organisers of the boat rally held in Chester on July 30/31 have been delighted with both the final results and what they achieved.

The event, with free admission, celebrated the opening of the Chester Canal in 1772. It attracted more than 1000 visitors and generated a surplus of more than £1000 now available for waterway projects in the area. A number of traders sold out of stock on the first day and had to replenish to carry on trading the following day. Several approached the organisers to be kept informed of future events.

Guided walks were well patronised and a number of VIPs attended, expressing their support for the work carried out by the IWA. IWA Chester & Merseyside chairman Jim Forkin said: “It was great to see that the public turned out and appreciated the canal network but the added bonus was to show to the decision- makers in Chester the value of waterway assets in the city and the latent demand for the opportunities to be maximised. Waterways can really benefit local economies and create jobs.”