Crossword Genius

Awkward customers restrict canal, milling around (13)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

recalcitrants

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'awkward customers' is the definition.
(a recalcitrant is an awkward or stubborn person)

'restrict canal milling around' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite understand how this works, but
'around' could be 'ca' (circa) and 'ca' is found within the answer.
This explanation may well be incorrect...

Can you help me to learn more?

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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