Anderton Boat Lift mural concerns amid revamp plans

Waterways charity the Canal & River Trust has tabled an application to extend the main visitor centre at the landmark site in Northwich, which would reposition the reception, retail and cafe areas. It said improving the visitor offer was vital to ensuring it remained financially viable.

But the proposals have cast a shadow over a mural which was painted following the culmination of local fundraising efforts which saw the lift restored and reopened back in 2002, with the mural itself being officially unveiled in 2010.

The mural depicts the three design engineers and the Friends of Anderton Boat Lift fundraising group - which campaigned to restore the lift. Part of the plans would see the mural removed to make way for a new staircase.

Artist impression of the new visitor centre. Image by Buttress from planning documents. (Image: PR)

Bernice Tackley, who created the mural, said the staircase should be relocated and the mural left untouched. She fears that if the mural is removed it could be damaged.

She said: “When the Anderton Boat Lift was finally reopened in 2002 it was a cause of considerable celebration to many thousands of dedicated, devoted volunteers who had spent up to 20 years of campaigning and fundraising in multiple ways to ensure the lift’s survival."

She said when the initial fundraising target was reached money continued to come in from donors, so it was decided to use it to create the mural as the trust's final act. Bernice subsequently created the mural and restored it again last year.

She added: "It has enormous significance and the external staircase can easily be relocated. This mural was the final memorable contribution of the Trustees of the Anderton Boat Lift prior to the trust’s dissolution."

She said: "Without concentrated (fundraising) efforts, the Anderton Boat Lift would not have been restored and would have faced demolition as its structure further deteriorated."

The 150-year-old structure – dubbed the ‘Cathedral of the Canals’ - was the world’s first major commercial boat lift and is a scheduled monument.

The trust said it now requires an upgrade to enable the ageing machinery to continue transporting around 3,000 boats a year between the Trent & Mersey Canal and the River Weaver Navigation some 50 feet below.

The boat lift and visitor centre combined receives 100,000 visitors a year, with plans to improve the visitor offer deemed essential as the trust is currently losing money running it.

Lorna Pedersen, senior project manager at the trust, said that if the plans were granted the trust would 'temporarily remove' the mural to protect it whilst the proposed works are carried out, and it will be reinstated when the works are completed.

She said: “The mural will be securely stored at our other major attraction site in Cheshire, National Waterways Museum Ellesmere Port, and we hope to use this as an opportunity to display the mural for museum visitors to enjoy.”

She added: “We recognise the significance of the mural, and also Anderton Boat Lift Trust’s role in commissioning the artwork, which will remain in place until any work commences, including throughout next year when we will be celebrating the 150th anniversary of Anderton Boat Lift.”