ASHTON CANAL REOPENS AFTER MILL COLLAPSE

Ashton Canal, in Manchester, which had to be closed on 19 April after a nearby derelict mill collapsed into the water, re-opened on Saturday 30th. June.

The mill was a privately-owned grade 2 listed building that had fallen into a state of dereliction. Urgent repairs were needed and Manchester City Council issued a repairs notice in early April. British Waterways managed to keep the canal open over the busy Easter weekend period by closely supervising passages along it.

But on 19 April the building collapsed into the canal and British Waterways had no option but to close it. Around eight metres of canal wall had collapsed too under the weight of the mill debris.

Tom Rowe, British Waterways manager for the South Pennine Ring, said: "We had to exert heavy pressure on both the building owners and Manchester City Council to make the area safe and were forced to employ the services of solicitors, independent demolition consultants and structural engineers in pressing our case. The council eventually sent contractors on to site to demolish the building which then allowed our staff to make necessary emergency repairs enabling this strategically important canal to reopen."

Meanwhile the £314 million project to regenerate the Ashton Canal corridor continues. The work involves laying York stone paving along the towpath, creating new access points to the canal and improving lighting and landscaping to provide a safer, more pleasant environment.