Pub discussion leads to Rochdale Canal repairs

We've teamed up with volunteers from the Calderdale Boat Club on the two week project which starts today (Friday 23 January).

The drive for the project came from the boaters who wanted to see repairs carried out on the canal where they moor their boats.

Volunteers

Now a 1.2km stretch of canal between locks 11 and 12 will be drained and then up to 30 volunteers from the boat club will work with our experts to repair damaged canal walls and install extra mooring rings. We will provide all the materials and before the canal is completely drained, specialist contractors move the fish to a safer place.

Paul Bowerman, Rochdale Canal supervisor with the Canal & River Trust, said: “Once the fish rescue is complete, we will have up to four Trust staff a day working with the volunteers to prepare cement foundations and then rebuild the dry stone canal wall.

“Looking after a canal system that is over 200 years old is a constant challenge and as a Trust, we only have limited resources. This type of self-help arrangement is a brilliant way to make maximum use of our finite funds.

“The impetus for the job came directly from the boaters who hold regular meetings at their local pub in Stubbings Wharf. They wanted to see repairs carried out to the area where they moor their boats. We explained our financial challenges and came up with this solution which is a win win for everyone.”