Canal petition has vision for marina
A MAN has launched a petition to prevent building on the remains of the Rochdale Branch Canal in the hopes of reopening it.
The petition has so far garnered over 1,000 signatures.
Steven Parker, now 50, founded the Rochdale, Bolton and Bury Canal Society in July 1987, when he was just 17.
Steven is petitioning to “stop any more building” on the remains of the Rochdale Branch Canal so it can be reopened.
He said: “The canal would bring boats back to the town centre and provide a safe overnight mooring basin for boaters travelling on the main Rochdale canal.
“The basin would be part of a development of houses and shops around a marina.”
Steven, who now lives in Walsden, added that he hopes the council will consider restoring the canal to create a ‘waterfront quarter’ in Rochdale.
He said: “What an attraction a restored Rochdale Canal Wharf would become - tree lined boulevards, independent shops, cafes, visitor centre, safe moorings, trip, hire boats and dry dock to maintain visiting boats.
“A place to live, rest and play in Rochdale’s vibrant new waterside quarter.
“A restored historic canal wharf could transform the neglected Drake Street area, creating new jobs, economic, environmental and regenerative opportunities.
“The past still has an important part to play in our future.
“Are we really silly enough to let this once in a lifetime opportunity slip through our fingers?”
The Rochdale Branch Canal was first used in 1798 and abandoned in 1952.
It was subsequently largely filled in, with only a small stretch of water remaining from lock 50, by Oldham Road, and along Durham Street.
That stretch is now primarily used as a turning point at the spot where the branch canal met the surviving Rochdale Canal.
Steven added: “The petition is doing really well.
“When the canal was filled in, they buried a lot of old working boats.
“We would like to see an archaeological excavation - the boats need to be excavated.
“It’s like a boat graveyard.
“There could be a display at Touchstones.”
Rochdale Council did not respond to the Rochdale Observer’s request for a comment.
The petition can be found at change.org .