Canal Festival returns at difficult time for canal users and businesses
02/10/2025
Tooley’s Boatyard have been hit by the closure of the canal, but will be welcoming visitors
Whilst the Oxford Canal through our area remains closed to navigation, the importance of the waterway to Banbury and the surrounding area will be marked at the annual Canal Festival this weekend.
A number of local businesses rely on trade from the canal – amongst them Tooley’s Boatyard, who have been particularly badly hit by the closure. This weekend visitors to the festival will be able to show their support to Tooley’s, where the blacksmith’s forge will be operating, along with a trader’s market in the dry dock and a model railway display to see.
The Canal and River Trust, which maintains the canal, will be at the Festival to explain their work and answer people’s questions. They had to take the decision to close navigation between Claydon and Aynho after levels in their feeder reservoirs at Wormleighton, Boddington and Clattercote fell following a very dry spring and summer.
In Chamberlain Court car park alongside the canal two dance stages will be used by a variety of acts organised by The Mill Arts Centre. Across the road underneath the supermarket an underground market will be held.
The Canal Festival takes place along the Oxford Canal through the centre of Banbury from 11am on both Saturday and Sunday.
Published: by the Banbury FM News Team
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