British Waterways wants to put the town on the national map with an ambitious project which would attract as many visitors each year as Chester Zoo.

Project leader Steve Griffiths said: "We are looking at the land just to the north of the town, around the Trent and Mersey Canal. The area is bound by the Weaver and Witton Brook in the south and will stretch roughly from Anderton Boat Lift to the Lion Salt Works in Marston.

"The project will centre on three aspects - conservation of the environment, angling and access for things like walking.

"There's a lot of wildlife in the area, rare plants, flora and amphibians. We would use the angling facilities to help protect these.

"We would also like to see educational and training facilities for experiments and research into environmental work and angling.

"We are looking at the boat lift, the salt works and the town centre as possible development sites.

"It really is a major concept for Northwich."

The proposal follows a bid made by angling company Andico to develop a £55 million national angling centre in Northwich.

But these plans are already more than 18 months old because members of the The Unity of Angling Projects Team will not give it their full backing and Manchester-based Andico has been unable to submit a lottery bid.

But British Waterways is hopeful its project will not be the one that gets away.

"Our proposals are not for a national angling centre - we would hope this project would complement any other that is going on," added Steve.

"We have made initial contacts with local councils, wildlife groups and the angling community.

"It's too early to say we have full support, but response has been positive and the centre would fit in with future Vision proposals for Northwich."

British Waterways wants to develop the centre with Vale Royal Borough Council and Cheshire County Council, which has already secured £4 million from English Partnerships to reclaim much of the land.

The scheme is still in very early stages and funding would need to be secured, but it is hoped by the turn of the year, a feasibility study for Northwich's greatest catch will be well under way.

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