Scarisbrick Marina welcomes first canal boats

Oct 23 2008 by Michael Byrne, Ormskirk Advertiser

marina main

A CANAL boat enthusiast is about to launch his biggest project yet on the Scarisbrick waterways.

Alan Mawdsley has had canal boats for many years and his knowledge led him to build the marina at Fettlers Wharf, Rufford.

That provides moorings for 100 boats and has a cafe, but his new £2m marina off Southport Road will provide space for twice that number.

It will also have facilities for repairing boats, while canal boaters grab a shower and visit the coffee shop as they go on their travels along the Leeds Liverpool Canal.

The wet summer has delayed work at the new marina, which was supposed to open at the end of September.

But the marina itself and the wharf moorings where the boats will be tied have been completed, and the first boats are expected to arrive at the end of October.

Alan said: “The Rufford Marina has been very successful, but this is an ideal site for another project. It is right by the canal and we’re only four miles from both Southport and Ormskirk.

“There has been a lot more interest in canal boats in this area over the last few years since the Ribble link that goes from Preston through to Tarleton and Rufford was finished. The canal route into Liverpool is also proving very popular because it is the Capital of Culture. But people can travel as far as London and Bath from here.

“We’ve had a lot of interest from canal boat owners who want to moor their boats here and I believe the marina will encourage other people to take up boating. With the credit crunch, more people are buying canal boats rather than buying properties abroad.”

Work is now being completed in time for the opening, including the internal roads.

Landscaping work will be completed in spring.