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I WAS pleased to learn that the area behind
Nantwich Swimming Baths was not to be the site for the planting of 100
trees to mark the 100th anniversary of Nantwich Rotary Club as I had
thought might be the case. The trees were actually planted in a wide
area on the other side of the river.
Which left the behind-the-baths
area free as one possible site for a new all-in-one Tourist Information
Centre (TIC) which was outlined in my Letter from Nantwich of July 2005.
I am also assured that the
proposed move by the current TIC to a one-stop "shop" at Nantwich Civic
Hall - to join other Crewe and Nantwich Borough Council offices - does
not mean the end of the all-in-one TIC project.
I still favour the Mill Island
site for the new TIC - and a Battle of Nantwich museum for the baths
site - but there is room for all opinions in deciding the future of
Nantwich.
But Civic Hall or Mill Island . .
.? There is not a great to choose in terms of distance from Nantwich Town
Centre to a new TIC. I hope a new TIC - or a |
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new home at the Civic
Hall for the present TIC - doesn't put off visitors seeking
information and / or accommodation - or locals wanting to book tickets
for local stage productions.
No, I haven't changed my mind about the
wisdom of a new TIC, but I suppose that as Nantwich expands we will have
to get away from the idea that everything must be so much to hand that
it must not be more than a couple of yards from Nantwich Square.
lTwo
more things you might like to know about
I AM told that there are plans afoot to extend
the improvements to the riverside footpath from the railway bridge to
Nantwich Lake in Shrewbridge Road. Currently you would need stout
walking shoes to tackle it. Like the new TIC, the footpath is part of a
grand scheme to improve the riverside. (See Update No 2 -
a new letter - about this walk).
FINALLY, the old Nantwich Mill millrace could
be brought back into a useful role. When the old corn
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mill was standing, the millrace was the route taken
by the River Weaver under the mill to
provide motive power for the various items of machinery. This was a
man-made section of river. The original route of the river, which is
still here, was round the side of the mill, which resulted in the
formation of Mill Island. (The Mill race can be seen
here).
Now there is an idea of using the
cascading water to drive a turbine to provide electricity in the area.
Occasional events such as the Battle of Nantwich or Nantwich Food Fair
could be provided with electricity from such a turbine. Yes, a generator
could be provided with the same result, but this new idea would save
having to use petrol (or whatever) to run the generator. Mother Nature
would be the source of power.
All far fetched? Let's wait and
see. Such ideas have a habit of becoming reality. (See
this page for update).
Footnote: The tourist centre, which would
also have accommodated an extension of Nantwich Museum, didn't
materialise. |
