Boost for Sankey Canal restoration

Published: Friday, 29 September 2017

THE  Sankey Canal Restoration Society has had a boost to the restoration of the Sankey Canal with various councils teaming up to help restore the navigation to full use.

The society has been very busy with its volunteers working on the 14 miles route renovating locks and bridges together with its towpath, that is now used as a walking trail, Alan Tilbury reports.

Sankey ViaductConnected St. Helen's with the Mersey

Halton, St Helens, Warrington and borough councils, have teamed up to regenerate the 14 miles waterway that originally connected St' Helen's with the Mersey at Spike Island in Widnes.

It was a pioneer canal, not only having the first ever staircase lock but  the first viaduct crossing of a canal by a railway, the original line of George Stephenson from Liverpool to Manchester, pictured.

Sankey Valley Trail

The work on restoring the towpath has resulted in the Sankey Valley Trail, for cyclists and walkers, and suitable for prams and wheelchairs.

There are boats on the canal at a short arm at Spike Island, with accessibility through the locks on to the river. The Sankey Canal Restoration Society was formed in 1985 with the aim of returning the canal to navigation, and now with the help of the various councils it seems a possibility.