CHESTER is to celebrate the beginning of the Chester Canal by Act of Parliament 250 years ago in 1772 with a campaigning gathering of boats this weekend.

The event, on July 30-31, will be based in the centre of Chester around Tower Wharf, with ready access to all the facilities and attractions of this major tourist attraction.

Organisers are planning for 50 canal boats to make the journey across the canal network along the Shropshire Union Canal from towns such as Ellesmere Port, Middlewich, Nantwich and possibly as far as the Potteries and Manchester.

The event, open to the public, will highlight the continuing closure of the Dee Branch. The Dee Branch, giving access for vessels to the tidal River Dee and the sea, has been closed to navigation for 10 years.

There will be trade stalls and boats, along with a barbecue stand, ice cream and musical entertainment.

Several canal societies will have exhibitions with experts on hand to answer questions. Plus there are plans for a special event for children.

Cheshire West and Chester Council leader Louise Gittins, writing in this week's Standard, said: "Chester’s Canal is 250 years old this year. The canal was dug well before the Battle of Waterloo to maintain Chester as a major medieval port.

"Its original function has long gone, but it has a new role bringing boaters and tourists into Chester.

"The celebratory boat rally is on 30 and 31 July at Tower Wharf, near Taylor's Boatyard. The free activities including walking tours and music starts at 10am each day.

"I’ve been asked to open the event on Saturday and I'm really looking forward to it."

Jim Forkin (IWA chairman, Chester and Merseyside Branch) added: “The Chester Canal, like the rest of the network, now serves many purposes from boating to a 'green corridor' for both the well-being of much of the population and wildlife.

"Its heritage is incredible and deserves to be celebrated and promoted to the public at large.

"However we must not forget that there are still sections of the network that, through lack of funds, Canal & River Trust are neglecting and not maintaining and for that reason we are highlighting the issue of the Dee Branch.”