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More funding is needed to keep our canals and other waterways in use, campaigners have claimed.
Blog Preston has covered the ongoing saga of the embankment breach on the Lancaster Canal where part of the embankment and towpath collapsed to the north of Moons Bridge Marina, near Woodplumpton.
Temporary dams were put in place following the incident on 20-21 July and the Canal and River Trust (CRT) has provided a recent update about how things stand.
Read more: New mini wetland due to be created on banks of the River Ribble at Penwortham
In a statement on its website the CRT said: “[There] has seen significant progress as we continue improving access to the site. We’ve installed additional trackway, making it much easier for our teams and equipment to navigate the area, and an access ramp has been put in place leading directly into the canal.
“Tree removal is ongoing around the breach area, clearing the way for the heavy machinery that will be used to construct the working pad. At the same time, silt is being cleared out to ensure the canal will have enough depth for boats to pass once the temporary dam is in place, which is a key milestone in the project.
“To help keep everything on track, over-pumping has been switched back on to ensure water levels remain stable, supporting both the works and the wider canal system.”
But for Nigel Hardacre, of Much Hoole, who leads guided walks on many of the city’s associated waterways, the problems are wider than just the embankment issues at Woodplumpton.
He pointed towards a petition to ‘fund Britain’s waterways’ that currently has more than 50,000 signatures.
He said: “The Inland Waterways Association does its best to raise awareness and to get those at Defa/Government to rethink what was previously decided on, going forward with the yearly grant from Government to CRT, but also all the other waterways not under CRT control.
“Social media tends to be a lot of doom and gloom over comments about the breach at Hollowforth, north of Preston, broken/faulty sea gate on the Ribble Link at Lea gate affecting the Millenium Ribble Link, and the continuing problems further north at Glasson Dock with the sea gate there.
“Floating duck weed, pennywort and other invasive species carpets the canal at Preston, not helped as it’s a dead end at Ashton, and has been since 1964.”
Nigel called on people to support the petition and see if Government could be forced to change its mind, even though wider Government spending is under huge scrutiny.
A further update from CRT regarding work at Woodplumpton is expected soon.
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