Rochdale Nine problems again
AFTER a would-be robber lost his life in the Rochdale Nine (Robber came off worst) once again the call is to prevent people using the towpath of a section of the waterway in an attempt to prevent further incidents.
Manchester City Council and the police are again considering measures to prevent drownings in what is now regarded as the 'gay cruising area' of the city, Alan Tilbury reveals.
Many deaths
Already there is a mass of wire fencing by Canal Street (pictured) where the clubs are situated, after many deaths in the waterway usually caused by drunks climbing on the wall running along the waterway, and as recently as last December there was a plan to close the entire towpath under what is know as Undercroft. (Upsetting sensibilities) during the hours of darkness.
Under discussion is the idea to have gates, that can be locked at certain hours, but our 'cruising', that the waterway is obviously there for, does not seem to be considered. The picture below shows part of the area under discussion.
Not a solution
The Lesbian and Gay Foundation believes that closing off the area is not a solution, with a spokesman relating:
"It's a well established cruising area, it has been for many years. Obviously there's a risk that people are going down there to engage in sex and sex acts and they are being exploited and attacked in other ways. By closing off that area and gating it off completely, I would worry those activities are just going to move elsewhere."
The local paper has published letters from homosexuals, with one man writing that men like him should stop using the canal, with another, who was attacked, also warning others not to use the area.
Five deaths
This year there have already been two deaths in the waterway, with three last year, with a police spokesman relating that there are 500 licenced premises within a area of 2.2 miles, and a canal system through the middle of it means there are going to be fatalities
For Canal & River Trust, Manchester & Pennine Waterways David Baldacchino pointed out that he looked after 200 miles of canal and most had a pretty good safety record.