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(Canals in various ownerships)
Shrewsbury & Newport Canals Trust was formed in 2000 to focus on restoration of the Newport Branch of the Shropshire Union Canal (ie from Norbury Junction to Wappenshall Junction) and of the Shrewsbury Canal (from Wappenshall to Shrewsbury). The local authorities along the line of these waterways have indicated that such a project has their support in principle, and in 2003 the Trust commissioned consultants to compile a feasibility study to look at aspects of restoration such as the economic, social and environmental benefits; the environmental impacts; the principal difficulties to be faced and how these might best be overcome; the water requirements; the optimum route and the best means of providing canal access for visitors to, and inhabitants of, Shrewsbury and Telford; as well providing an approximate estimate of the engineering costs of restoration. The studies, launched in 2004 by the then Waterways Minister, Alun Michael MP, showed that the full restoration of the two canals is economically viable and feasible from an engineering point of view. BW sold much of the land along the line of these canals following closure, but many structures remain and could be restored.
