Water Freight—but not in our back yard!

IT SEEMS that the urge to get lorries off the roads and freight on the water is fine providing it is 'not in our back yard'!

The finest waterway in the country for freight, the Manchester Ship Canal, is to have its water borne freight increased, much to the delight of the 'freight back on the waterways' boys, but locals in Stockton Heath don't want it, Alan Tilbury reveals.

Against plans

Even local councillors, once in favour of water freight, are now much against Peel Port's plans to increase freight on the ship canal, as they say it will cause gridlock for motorists in the town.

One councillor, Celia Jordan, is heading a campaign to raise awareness of the company's plans which she says would mean a five-fold increase in boats using the Manchester Ship Canal.

Swing bridges

The problem is that it would mean the swing bridges over the waterway, carrying the roads around Stockton Heath would be opened more times during the day, that she claims would cause road chaos.

There are two swing bridges in close proximity, so drivers have no alternative way to cross the waterway if the bridges are open to allow boats to pass.

Master plan

However, the increase in using the Manchester Ship Canal for freight to and from Manchester is part of the company's master plan for the Atlantic Gateway connecting Liverpool to Manchester through the Manchester Ship Canal with links along the way.