Blisworth Arm and Junction continue to be busy, bustling places to visit. The new Blisworth Marina provides moorings for many private boats, also incorporating a successful brokerage business. Boats constantly come and go.

The signpost at the junction only tells half the tale. Beyond Northampton the River Nene allows access to the navigable Ouse allowing boats passage to The Wash. Brentford takes you onto the River Thames and Braunston is a mecca for all boaters.

Blisworth Canal Partnership put together some short term goals for improving the junction. Some of these have already been achieved thanks to British Waterways.

· The new oak seat by the signpost was installed by British Waterways and is proving popular.
· Blisworth Heritage Society secured lottery funding for a series of interpretation boards, one is now in situ by the bench.
· The sanitary station has been completely refurbished and has really enhanced the area.

Gayton Yard is home to British Waterways maintenance crews and a private boat company. It is steeped in history and remains a focal point of the junction.

Under the first bridge and Gayton Marina comes into view. A major boat hire company operates dozens of boats from here, offers a small chandlery, other boat services and moorings for over 100 private boats. It is also the last place to buy an Environment Agency Licence and river lock key before setting off towards the River Nene.

Gayton Marina is in the process of increasing the size of their marina to accommodate more boats. They purchased land further down the Northampton Arm towards Sandlanding Wharf previously used as an oil depot. This was left in an appalling state detracting from the general pleasantness of the area. Blisworth Canal Partnership was able to work with South Northants Council to ask that the area be cleared up. This has now happened, another goal achieved.

The canal finally reaches the second bridge adjacent to Sandlanding Wharf and marks the end of our Parish and Blisworth’s bit of waterway.

What next?
· Ensure that our stretch of Northampton Arm remains tidy and a pleasant place to visit;
· Additional signage to direct walkers and cyclists to the towpath on the Northampton Arm and perhaps indicate the need to cross the bridge to pick up the most direct route to the towpath on the Grand Union;
· Monitor any plans for future housing development;
· Parking along Arm Rd is an ongoing problem, solutions will continue to be sought; British Waterways have created a no mooring zone from the Arm towards the disused railway bridge which should alleviate the problem as it reduces the number of boaters who might need to park a car;
· Work with partners to create trails leaflets that incorporate the junction and the Arm.