On Friday 11 November, MP for Staffordshire Moorlands Karen Bradley, visited Canal & River Trust’s £2 million project to rebuild the historic Grade II listed Hazelhurst Bridge on the mainline of the Caldon Canal, near Endon in Staffordshire.
Hosted by Stephen Higham, the Canal & River Trust’s partnerships & external relationships manager for the West Midlands, Karen Bradley met members of the project team to find out more about the project and the important social, economic and environmental benefits canals are delivering in her constituency.
The Rt Hon Karen Bradley MP says:
“I was really pleased to see the work to reinstate the bridge at Longsdon. The Canal & River Trust do such good work to maintain the waterways and it was great to hear about this project and the other work they are doing. The canals are a really important asset in the Moorlands and it is good to know that they are in safe hands.”
Stephen Higham, from the Canal & River Trust, explains:
“We were delighted to welcome Karen Bradley to the Caldon Canal today, to show her the project that is underway to rebuild the historic Grade II listed Hazelhurst Bridge, and to explain more about the work the Trust is doing to unlock the environmental and wellbeing benefits that waterways are providing communities across England and Wales.
“Fourteen miles of waterway run through Karen Bradley’s constituency, and she was particularly interested to hear about the work of the Trust to support biodiversity, active travel, and protecting and preserving our historic canals as a place for millions of people to connect with nature.”
Work began in August to rebuild Hazelhurst Bridge, and the project is expected to be completed in August 2023. The bridge, which was irreparably damaged in March 2020, is being rebuilt in the spirit of the former structure, matching its former location, form, scale, and character, including using many of the original stone copings.
For more information about the project, visit www.canalrivertrust.org.uk/hazelhurstbridge, call Canal & River Trust on 03030 404040 or email enquiries.westmidlands@canalrivertrust.org.uk @CRTWestMidlands
ENDS
For further press information contact:
Debbie Walker, PR Consultant T 077486 40577 walker.debbie@sky.com
Sarah Rudy, comms & campaigns manager T 07788 691 219 sarah.rudy@canalrivertrust.org.uk
Notes to Editors
The Canal & River Trust cares for and brings to life 2,000 miles of canals and rivers across England & Wales. We believe waterways have the power to make a difference to people’s lives and that spending time by water can make us all healthier and happier. By bringing communities together to make a difference to their local waterway, we are creating places and spaces that can be used and enjoyed by everyone, every day.