MP visits Caldon Canal project

S TAFFORDS H I RE Moorlands MP Karen Bradley has visited the £2 million project to rebuild the historic Grade II-listed Hazelhurst Bridge on the mainline of the Caldon Canal, near Endon.

Hosted by Stephen Higham, the Canal & River Trust’s partnerships & external relationships manager for the West Midlands, she metmembers of the project team to find out more about the project and the important social, economic and environmental benefits canals are delivering in her constituency.

Karensaidafterwards: “I was really pleased to see thework to reinstate the bridge at Longsdon. The canals are a really important asset in the Moorlands and it is good to know that they are in safe hands.”

Stephen added: “Fourteen miles of waterway run through Karen Bradley’s constituency and she was particularly interested to hear about the work of the trust to support biodiversity, active travel, and protecting and preserving our historic canals asaplace for millions of people to connect with nature.”

Work began in August to rebuild Hazelhurst Bridge, and the project is expected to be completed in August next year. The bridge, which was irreparably damaged in March 2020, is being rebuilt in the spirit of the former structure, matching its former location, form, scale and character, including using many of the original stone copings.