The Montgomery Canal Regeneration has taken a significant step forward, with MPs from Wales and England backing an ambitious initiative for the waterway to become a leisure and tourism magnet providing benefits both sides of the border. Montgomery Liberal Democrat Lembit Opik and North Shropshire Conservative Owen Paterson gave their support for the cross border vision when they attended ‘Regeneration of the Montgomery Canal – the Next Steps’.Trust Development Manager Kevin Bell outlined the extensive benefits an imaginative approach to delivering the project could bring. This message was enthusiastically endorsed by both MPs. Lembit Opik was particularly positive about the visitor economy potential of the regenerated canal and the opportunity for canalside economic development initiatives. Similarly, Owen Paterson declared: “I am a very strong supporter of the restoration of the whole length of the Montgomery canal. Linking up Llanymynech would create enormous potential for tourism involving the Roman archaeology and industrial archaeology; with good prospects for the heritage railway, Oswestry could become a major tourist destination.”
 
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21 October 2008
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