The Editor's cut... An analysis of the branch's position and relative health would certainly include, under 'strengths', our area's popular cruising waters and our iconic UNESCO World Heritage Site. It would also point, under 'opportunities', to the vigorous canal societies and their energetic restoration efforts, which we admire and support wherever possible. As ever, though, there have to be some negatives on the other scale of the balance. Under 'weaknesses', the branch membership is spread over a very wide geographical area (from Telford to Anglesey) that lacks a central urban focus and presents real challenges in finding activities and venues that will attract member support. While under 'threats' lie the decline in branch membership and the perception of competition, both locally and nationally, from CRT's "Friends" recruitment campaign. All these items are touched upon in this issue of your newsletter, which we hope you will enjoy as the evenings lengthen and more clement cruising weather arrives. There are towpath improvements from Horseshoe Falls to Trevor, another lottery bid win for the SNCT at Wappenshall, approval for a new canal basin at Whitchurch, the return of WRG work parties to our area on the Newport and Montgomery canals and our vice chairman's annual report presented to the recent branch AGM. Plus a terrific collection of festivals scheduled for the coming season (at most of which the branch will have a presence), work parties lined up in Middlewich and Newport that need your support, our really exciting brewery visit - "book your place now!" calls the social secretary over my shoulder - and our lock wind at Hurleston, where we would love to see some of you and would really welcome some donations of books, produce or other items that we can sell to boost branch funds. There is plenty more as well, such as our popular competition to find suitable photographs for the 2015 branch calendar. You will need to act fast, though - the closing date is May 1. Finally I would like to join with the secretary and the rest of the committee in welcoming Fiona Pearson as our new navigation officer, replacing Carolyn Theobold. So if you notice anything amiss while you are out and about cruising or walking along the canals please mention it to Fiona who will be making regular reports to CRT. Fiona (contact details are on page 4) also welcomes positive comments when things are going well. When we spoke to CRT regarding boats going aground during last year's lock wind at Hurleston, the response we received stated "We do not have records of any previously reported problems in this area and our hydrographic survey data (the information which we use to prioritise dredging on a national basis) does not identify that this length requires main line dredging. I would encourage all of your members to report things and the greater the number of reports received really does help us to prioritise our dredging programme." So over to you – if you see or experience a problem, please let Fiona know.
Next copy date: June 15, 2014 Spring 2014
Printed by Downstream Ltd, Nantwich
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Shroppie Fly Paper