A new £2 million marina on the Shropshire Union Canal near Market Drayton is to open by the end of the month with the creation of eight jobs, it has been revealed.
The marina, which has been in the pipeline for 12 years, is the brainchild of environmental scientist Janet Maughan, her farmer husband Angus and his father Richard.
They hope it will become a major tourist attraction for canal users, while blending in with the south Cheshire countryside.
Some of the 80,000 tons of soil which has been excavated has been used for landscaping, creating an island and the lining for the marina.
Janet said: “The Marina is very much a business which will provide canal boat owners and tourists with modern facilities but it will also become an important part of the landscape.
“Angus, Richard and I are very excited about the way Overwater Marina is developing and we want to thank everyone who has helped us turn our dream into a reality.
The project has seen part of the old Monks Hall dairy farm transformed into the environmentally friendly marina.
Facilities on site include toilets, showers, a launderette, shop and the Overwater Coffee Lounge which has been leased to a local business.
It will also offer 16 amp electricity for every boat, easy access to water and WiFi access.
The multi-purpose reception building will utilise renewable technologies including a ground source heat pump which extracts heat from the ground and solar panels to provide hot water.
Janet added: “Whilst Monks Hall Farm remains a successful dairy farm, the industry as a whole is suffering economic challenges and it made sense to diversify.
“The land which a family member acquired made the building of the marina a reality and we knew it would make economic sense not only for us, but also for local community.”
