Canal volunteers work 5,675 days
RESIDENTS are being encouraged to play a role in the future of the Macclesfield Canal.
The latest meeting of the Canal and River Trust’s Manchester and Pennine waterway partnership this month revealed that almost 40,000 hours of volunteer help was donated to help keep canals including Macclesfield’s in peak condition.
Between them they worked on waterways in Greater Manchester, the Peak District and West Yorkshire, keeping them clean, tidy and attractive for visitors.
Walter Menzies, from Bollington, who is the chairman of the waterways partnership, also explained that volunteers have given up 39,732 hours - which adds up to 5,675 days - to improve the Rochdale Canal, Ashton Canal, Huddersfield Narrow, Peak Forest Canal, Macclesfield Canal and Trent and Mersey Canal.
Around 100 canal workers, enthusiasts, stakeholders and members of the community who attended the partnership meeting also learned details of the latest maintenance and restoration programme on the region’s waterways, and heard from Transport for Greater Manchester and the Greater Manchester Combined Authority about the important role canals play in local com- munities and the region.
Walter said: “This was a terrific event with a lot of support from the community and a lot of good ideas and suggestions were discussed about how we can make the region’s canals even better.
“We have fantastic waterways in the area with diverse rural character and some of the busiest canals across the network.
“We would love to see more people using the local canals and towpaths for leisure and exercise.
“We want to work with local communities and businesses to make sure that the waterways and their surrounds are kept in good order which is why we’re asking people to help us shape the future of the waterways in this region.”
David Baldacchino, waterways manager for the Canal and River Trust said: “Now more than ever we want people around the waterways to have real input into how they are run and improved in the future. If you have any questions about your nearby canal, river or towpath that we care for, or would like to help us by volunteering then please get in touch.” Email enquiries. manchesterpennine@canalrivertrust.