Boat club’s fears over water supply to Sankey Canal
FRESH fears have arisen over the future of West Bank Boat Club in Widnes because of the planned switch-off of Fiddlers Ferry’s water pumps.
Group members said they have now heard from a fishing group meeting that Halton Borough Council was planning to fill in the locks at Spike Island with contaminated mud as part of plans to maintain access for boats.
They said that although the local authority has proposed opening the ‘slip’ – meaning some boats would be able to carry on accessing the canal at Spike Island, bigger boats would lose access, and have to be reberthed at locations such as Liverpool, where the cost of mooring would spiral to more than 10 times the cost of berthing at West Bank.
This could spell the end of the club, they said.
There are concerns over how wildlife might be affected, and it remains unclear how the water supply issue will be addressed.
Rumoured proposals include buying one of Fiddlers Ferry’s pumps.
Derek White, club chairman, said: “They let it slip they were going to reopen the slip at the side of the canal but dump the fill in the locks.
“They’re Grade-II listed locks.
“If they fill the locks in it’s going to be the end of the canal.
“It’s not feasible.
“For years we’ve been working with them and they’ve given us no help.
“We’ve kept them functional.”
Samantha Lowe, club secretary, said the group is an essential means of socialising for members.
She said: “Some of our members have been here years and years, especially the older generation.
“This is the only kind of social life they get.
“They don’t have anybody at home so they socialise a bit so they’re not lonely.
“For a lot of the older generation, dealing with these boats is what stops them passing on.”
A council spokesman said: “Halton Borough Council remains committed, along with its partners to restoring Sankey
Canal.
“As previously stated, in the short term there is likely to be shortages of water as the main supply of water from Fiddlers Ferry Power Station comes to an end.
“As part of the ongoing work to secure a new water supply and retain as much water in the system as possible, the council is exploring all options in relation to water loss.
“The council will continue to carry out this feasibility work in consultation with all stakeholders as proposals develop.”
He added: “We are looking at all ways to counteract the expected loss of water from Fiddlers Ferry and preserve as much water as possible for the benefit of the local environment. Any solution would of course would meet all the required environmental matters that this could entail.”