Perhaps the most remarkable is for an inclined plane to connect the Flashes at the head of the Weaver navigation to the Middlewich Branch of the Shropshire Union Canal: an existing feasibility study will be updated from a previous proposal.

The Runcorn Locks link between the Bridgewater and Manchester Ship canals comes within the park area, and so their reopening, along with the improvement of access from the Ship Canal to the River Weaver, will also be a consideration.

A steering group has been set up and Jacobs Consulting Engineers has been appointed to develop and submit a strategy document by the end of June. Capital projects should start in 2009-2011 and £800,000 has already been secured in grants. The project will be a major partnership. between various local authorities, other stakeholders and British Waterways (BW).

The developments – via outside grants to the park – should enable improvements to be made to navigations that BW and others would not normally be able to make under their current restricted budgets. There will also be an emphasis on encouraging young people to enjoy the river.