'Vision statement' to restore Manchester, Bolton, Bury Canal

A breach first opened up in the Manchester, Bolton, Bury Canal all the way back in July 1936 with various attempts to get funding to fix it having failed since then.

But last year a planning bid finally met with success and Bolton Council heard that work on the canal could soon 'finally become a reality' after the Manchester, Bolton, Bury Canal set up a round table meeting to discuss how this could be done.

Cllr Andrea Taylor-Burke, of Little Lever, said: “I was lucky enough to be given the opportunity to attend the first ever meeting which included lots of agencies.

“United Utilities, the GM Flood Defences, the Canal and Rivers Trust, Bury and Salford Council and the Mayor of Greater Manchester to name just a few.”

Plans for the canal were discussed at town hall (Image: Newsquest)

She added: “The vision is to see the canal back underwater from Bury to Manchester.”

Cllr Taylor-Burke said that Bury and Salford Council’s had both already signed up to “vision statements” looking at how they could accomplish this.

At a full meeting of Bolton Council earlier this month, she asked if Bolton would do the same after having previously met with leader Cllr Nick Peel on the subject.

In response cabinet member for climate change and the environment Cllr Richard Silvester said that officers in his department were already committed to working with the Canal and Rivers Trust.

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He also said he was prepared to work with Bury and Salford Council so that a 'significant and crucial' part of the canal could be restored in Bolton.

Cllr Silvester said: “I’m afraid I do not know the reasons why the previous administration did not sign the vision statement.

“However, I wish to thank Cllr Taylor-Burke for bringing this to the attention of the new administration and as far as I am concerned it makes perfect sense therefore to sign the vision statement following the conversation which Cllr Taylor-Burke had with the leader of the council about this matter.”

He added: “I am happy to reassure Cllr Taylor-Burke of this administration’s support and to advice that we will pick this matter up as a matter of urgency.”