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Full steam ahead for canal restoration

24th Oct 2005

Work to build the first and most important section of the Manchester, Bolton & Bury Canal (MB&B) is underway in Salford.

Funding for the £4.2million restoration of the first phase at Middlewood has been granted from European Objective Two Funding, the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) and Salford City Council.

The 500 metre stretch will reconnect the waterway with the River Irwell through the £600 million Middlewood Locks commercial development site which will include housing, hotels, restaurants, bars and leisure facilities.

The 15 ¼ mile long Manchester, Bolton & Bury Canal is one of the last major waterways in Greater Manchester to require restoration. Work is due to start on the first phase in October 2005 with Middlewood navigable by the end of 2006.

Work will include the construction of a new canal channel, three locks, two basins and a footbridge. A tunnel was incorporated into the design of the inner ring road to accommodate the future restoration.

Campaigners see this as the first crucial step in the full restoration of the Manchester, Bolton & Bury Canal, Greater Manchester’s lost canal.
The Manchester, Bolton & Bury Canal is a key element in the regeneration of the Irwell and Croal Valleys, linked to other initiatives within the wider corridor.

Mark Jackson, Project Manager, British Waterways, said: "It’s wonderful to finally be starting on site. This is the culmination of several years hard work. The canal will form a centre piece of a huge urban development project demonstrating how the public sector can work in partnership with the private sector to deliver significant economic benefits."

Margaret Fletcher, Chairman of the Manchester, Bolton & Bury Canal Society, concluded: "When the Middlewood section is complete boats from the national waterway system will be able to cruise on the Manchester Bolton & Bury Canal direct from the connected system for the first time for over forty years. After many years of campaigning our aspirations are being realised. We begin to move from dream to reality."

Last updated: 22/10/2008