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Just days before Christmas, a dramatic incident unfolded for several families living on narrowboats in Shropshire. In the early hours of Monday morning, a section of the Llangollen Canal experienced a catastrophic collapse, causing a massive hole and sending water rushing into a nearby field. This sudden embankment failure resulted in two boats plunging into the gap, while another was left precariously hanging over the edge. Fortunately, no one was aboard the vessels when the incident occurred.
In the face of this unexpected disaster, the local community quickly mobilized to provide support for those affected. Linda Edwards from Cheshire Cat Narrowboat Holidays recounted how they were contacted early on the same day to offer shelter. “We had a call probably about four o’clock on the day that the breach happened, asking if we could house people – so we had to drop everything and go and get boats ready to receive them,” she explained. The company swiftly prepared its boats, ensuring bedding was laid out and heating was turned on, having everything ready by 6:30 pm that evening. Situated at Overwater Marina in Audlem, Cheshire, two families who lost their homes have since been accommodated in the fleet’s vessels.
These emergency boats serve as a temporary refuge for the displaced families, who left their homes with only the clothes they were wearing. Linda shared, “The two couples that we’ve got on board, it’s their home, and they did have to leave in a hurry – they’ve just left with what they stood up in.” While understandably shaken, the families have begun to come to terms with the traumatic experience and are starting to look forward. The breach caused water to drain from about one mile of the canal, between Whitchurch and Grindley Brook. Efforts to pump water back into the canal and dam sections have started, gradually refloating stranded boats. One vessel that had been hanging over the edge was safely pulled away late on Tuesday night.
Additional help has come from other local boat operators such as David Ray from Norbury Wharf on the Shropshire Union Canal. Offering six hire boats from his fleet of nine, he made them available to anyone needing accommodation following the breach. “These aren’t just boats, they’re homes to many people, and it’s a way of life for many people,” he said. Public response to these acts of kindness has been overwhelmingly positive, with many expressing gratitude and support through fundraising efforts that quickly exceeded initial targets. The Canal and River Trust, led by chief executive Campbell Robb, has assured the community that teams are working hard to restore water levels and navigation, though they acknowledge repairs will be complex and could take several months
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