Bridgewater Canal, Lymm, Cheshire

Image: © John Fielding Taken: Unknown

Apart from the wirescape, nothing much in this view has changed since the late 18th century. The canal runs just north of the centre of Lymm, less than a hundred yards from the village cross. It was built along a contour with no locks. Its construction relentlessly destroyed everything in its path. The bridge would have been the equivalent of a motorway viaduct today. The owners of the property on its left would have cause for great complaint unless they also owned the property on its right - a pub. Canals were good for many types of business and to some extent they still are, if not in a way intended by their builders. With a bit of imagination and money they could serve their original transport purpose again. Use them as cycleways. Perfectly level (locks notwithstanding), inter-connected and free of motor traffic you could deck over them, or adapt their towpaths, to provide ideal cycling surfaces. It wouldn't cost much more to put a weather-proof canopy over them too. Forget the hassle of creating a national cycle route network. We already have one. We just have to convince the anglers and cabin cruisers. See Wikipedia entry: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bridgewater_Canal

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