Disused Sankey Canal could help flood prevention

FOLLOWING SERIOUS flooding in Warrington this year, the Sankey Canal Restoration Society believes an overflow from Sankey Brook into the canal would be helpful.

The partly restored canal is above the mouth of the Mersey at low tide, Janet Friend reports.

Drain away

So the lock at the end of the canal into the river could allow flood water to drain away, so clearing flood water at low tide.

Our image is of the Sankey Canal restoration just above the broad lock onto the Mersey.  It is also known as the St Helens Canal.

The society wants to complete the restoration and it's flood prevention properties could help this with advocates for the canal's restoration believing its heritage potential should be maximised.

This proposal was discussed with Charlotte Nichols MP, who suggested:

"It was great to meet with the Sankey Canal Restoration Society to discuss the future of the canal.

"We discussed the history of the Sankey Canal as well as ideas to bring it into modern use—proposal to use the canal as a flood prevention measure. 

"I have written to the Environment Agency following our meeting to support the societies' vision for the Sankey Canal and its potential flood prevention properties."

Flood prevention measure

If approved, the canal would serve as a flood prevention measure alongside the existing Sankey Brook Flood Risk Management Scheme.

The canal was built to supply coal from Haydock and Parr to the Cheshire salt industry and Liverpool, but closed in 1963.