Waterways could 'disappear' if no more funding
THE BBC tells that Canal & River Trust has warned it of a decline in the condition of canals.
The BBC states The charity which maintains Yorkshire's canal network has said that the historic waterways could 'disappear' if more funding was not made available to repair them. Janet Friend reports.
Creaking at the seams
Sean McGinley, the Regional Director of the Canal & River Trust (CRT), told the BBC the 250 years old infrastructure was 'creaking at the seams'.
Mr McGinley told that Yorkshire's waterways faced challenges such as broken locks and bridges, adding:
"They need a lot of looking after. Moving parts need maintaining, swing bridges need to swing. We need funding to pay for materials to help maintain the structures."
Under the previous government, it was agreed that CRT would be given £400m from 2027 for maintenance over the next decade.
Grant reduced
This grant was reduced from the £740m that was handed to the charity 15 years ago with Mr McGinley adding:
"We need to fill that gap. We need to speak to government and get that funding back again. The risk is that the canal system steadily declines and we struggle even more to keep the canals open.
"The last thing we want to see is closures. It would be a tragic loss."
Soul destroying
Ian Clarke, Director of boat hire business Pennine Cruisers, has hired out boats on the Leeds & Liverpool Canal for 49 years and told the BBC:
"It's soul destroying. It is literally a daily conversation of how to plan, because we don't know if there are going to be bridge repairs or swing [bridge] repairs. There are leaks, you don't know whether you're going to get your boats back.
"It's just hard work, and it shouldn't be. I'm gutted."
Various boaters were interviewed by the corporation, they telling of low water levels,
North-south divide
One boater moored on the Leeds & Liverpool Canal told she was 'definitely noticing a north-south divide—low water levels—lock gates aren't looked after then water leaks through—paddles don't work—you can't close the gates fully—rubbish stuck in gates.
Another boater told of being stranded with 20 others in Hebden Bridge on the Rochdale Canal earlier because of low water levels.