‘Repairs preserve canals for future’

Volunteers help £150,000 project to tidy up historic waterways

MORE than £150,000 is being spent on sprucing up one of the region’s most picturesque stretches of canal.

Volunteers are teaming up with engineers to carry out the project on the Caldon Canal between Stockton Brook and Cheddleton.

Work will include:

■ Pruning several miles of overgrown greenery;

■ Installing hand-crafted wooden gates;

■ Replacing a timber footbridge close to the Black Lion pub at Consall with one made of steel and oak;

■ Repairs to a drawbridge on Norton Green.

The Canal and River Trust started its winter programme this month and it is due to be completed in March.

Water is being drained from lock eight at Stockton Brook – close to the Leek New Road bridge – where repairs include replacing a wornout gate. At the same time, work is taking place in Cheddleton at lock 13 – next to Castros – where a new top gate is being put in.

Also in Cheddleton, the lock 15 tail gates are being replaced.

The costs for each project ranges from £25,000 to £40,000 with £157,000 being spent on the overall scheme.

It is part of a wider programme across the West Midlands where around £2 million is being invested in replacing lock gates and renovating listed buildings along the waterways.

Trust construction supervisor Simon Lockett, of Meir Park, said: “The lock gates have a life span of 25 years and engineers have been out to assess them. In Stockton Brook it is the bottom end tail gates which are being replaced. Those at the bottom are what let the water back out of a lock. “

The charity is supported by volunteers. Simon added: “They are a valuable part of our team. They will often be in supporting roles and that allows the joiners and bricklayers to get on with their jobs.”

Volunteers have also been trimming back greenery to ensure boats can safely pass through.

Site supervisor Martin Carney oversees those giving up their time to work on the canals.

Martin, of Stockton Brook, said: “They will come and help set sites up and provide a lot of support.

“A paddle was damaged in Stockton Brook and they helped to fix that.”

Among those helping out is lead volunteer Malcolm Gray, who was a clinical lead for the NHS.

Malcolm, from Stone, helped transport a water pump from the Trust’s base off Park Lane in Endon to Stockton Brook on Wednesday.

Malcolm, aged 69, said: “I have 64 volunteers. It is lovely working on this stretch of the Caldon Canal – but can be challenging when you have frost!”

Adnan Saif, regional director for the Trust, said: “By carrying out these works we will be protecting our historic waterways for future generations”

■ Volunteer at https:// canalrivertrust.org.uk/volunteer