AS he toasted the waterways' campaign to re-open Runcorn Locks, the mayor of Halton had a corker of a time on board a canal boat named Jubilee. Cllr Peter Lloyd-Jones took part in the outing which was christened Jubilee's Jubilee Journey from Borrows Bridge at the festival site, to Waterloo Bridge in Runcorn. He joined a party of guests, including the Lady Mayoress Martha Lloyd-Jones, Sue Blackmore and Ron Turner of the Runcorn Locks Restoration Society - as well as branch chairman Ron Evans, his wife Joan, and secretary Margaret Pitney from the Chester and District Inland Waterways Association (IWA). Friday's cruise forms part of a campaign to re-open Runcorn Locks and reinstate the link between the Bridgewater Canal in Runcorn and the Manchester Ship Canal. The link would create a second Cheshire Ring, taking in the River Weaver and Anderton Boat Lift. Cllr Lloyd-Jones enthused: 'It was a really superb afternoon and both myself and my wife enjoyed it. 'We both thought it was a fantastic experience. 'By re-opening the flight of Runcorn locks it would complete the canal structure in Halton and would attract a lot of tourists and visitors into the borough. 'If the canal paths were more active then you would find people would have a totally different view of Halton, and of Runcorn in particular. 'I'm sure not many people realise just how attractive the area is. 'I think any move to re-open the locks would be marvellous, and would strengthen the network of tourism with Liverpool and the rest of the North West.' The IWA has also been using its own narrow boat Jubilee in the build up to 2006 which marks the organisation's diamond jubilee year - and celebrates 60 years of achievements. Over the next 12 months, the Jubilee will undertake a continuous journey of as much of the inland waterways system as possible. As it makes its journey, members of the IWA hope to highlight areas where canal maintenance work and better access routes are needed. Despite attempts to re-open the Runcorn locks, the main obstacle to restoration lies at the top of the flight, just beyond the elegant Waterloo Bridge where the feeder roads leading to the Runcorn-Widnes Bridge were constructed in the late 1950s and early Sixties. The roads were constructed over the site of the top lock. It is hoped that if the second Mersey crossing gets the go-ahead 90% of existing traffic will be redirected, leaving room to remove the present obstruction. At the moment, a large part of the flight of five two-rise staircase lock chambers are still intact. Part of the area is currently being developed for new housing but the line has been protected by Halton Borough Council, which supports the plan to re-open the locks. | 
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