OVER 3000 people walked in the drained lock chambers 90 and 91 on the Rochdale Canal throughout the weekend, seeing up close the vast quantity of rubbish that gets thrown into the water.
Visitors also learnt how the Canal & River Trust looks after this busy section of canal and the challenges it faces daily.
On Friday, the Canal & River Trust was holding the world’s first DJ set in a drained canal lock chamber as part of the open weekend, highlighting essential restoration and repair works to the Rochdale Canal that runs through central Manchester.
Mark Wrigley, construction supervisor for the Canal & River Trust, says: “Many people have seen all the rubbish exposed during the open weekend and lots of them have been speaking to me saying how embarrassed they are that people would throw things into the water in such a thoughtless way.
“I really want to encourage people to respect this environment, not throwing anything into the water. Let’s keep it in a good order so that everyone can come and enjoy it.”
Historic characters engineer William Crosley and The Duke of Bridgewater had also taken part in the open weekend.
RT @benrevell1985: Engineer William Crosley and The Duke of Bridgewater prepare for the day @AndrewAshmoreAs @CanalRiverTrust #Rochdalecanal pic.twitter.com/2BZYiSHaqz
— Canal & River Trust (@CanalRiverTrust) December 2, 2017
The works to the Rochdale Canal will cost £100,000. They are being carried out as part of the Canal & River Trust’s £38million which is five-month programme of repairs to England and Wales’ waterways between November 2017 and March 2018.
The charity has started the work on the canal last week. This year, essential maintenance and repair work will include working on the big heavy wooden tail gates.
The charity will also be working with volunteers, netting out the array of rubbish.
The Manchester open weekend is one of 10 free public open days across the country.
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