Tourism to Wednesfield Growing!

Now here is a set of statistics that will make you sit up!

The good old ‘Curly –Wurly’ canal running through Wednesfield has been a great transport route since it was first opened in the 1790’s. It is as important today to Wednesfield, as it was then!

It looks great at the end of this current summer, and that has helped draw people to its water, and its tow-paths. It is packed full of English wildlife, and flowers. It is currently being worked up into a Local Nature Reserve status.

But during the course of this year with all the promotion work that has gone into the marketing of the canal, and the LNR, I suspect that the canal has never been busier. Well not for centuries anyway!

I have been seeking information from boaters, over the last few weeks. I am estimating that during the first 9 months of this year there has been close to 80 movements on this canal. The survey info is still coming in. As many as 57 boats will have overnighted in Wednesfield at the end of September! Plus the year has not yet ended.

In 2007 when I asked CRT what the movements were like there had been only 50 movements in the whole year and only a handful of boats would have moored over- night. I suspect that when the full survey has been completed at the end of the year we will all be very surprised at the traffic Wednesfield & Bentley Bridge moorings are attracting.

I estimate that the canal has provided some 114 ‘overnight tourists’ and if each of them have spent £20 in the High street, pubs and stores, and entertainment out lets. The village economy would be £2280 better off as the result!

This week end we will have another 22 boat cruise arriving into the Village staying overnight, enjoying all that Wednesfield has to offer. If you see them out and about please welcome them and make them feel wanted!

Add to that the interest in walking along our canal and the ‘Walk for Health’safe_image7LZ8J9ZX Floating boat market! trails that are being discussed around the canal. Then you can see what a magnificent attraction and resource we have here……

Phil Bateman

Phil Bateman is Married to Mary and lives in Wednesfield North. He was a long serving local politician having served previously on the now defunct West Midlands County Council... read more

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