Olympics close Bridgewater Canal

AS THE Old Trafford Football Stadium by the side of the Bridgewater Canal in Manchester will be used during the Olympic Games, the waterway will be closed.

It was announced today, 25th November, by the Bridgewater Canal Company, that the waterway will be closed to all navigation between John Gilbert Way Bridge and Throstles Nest Bridge Old Trafford, for various periods during the games, Steve Fahey tells us.

Match days only

The waterway will be closed for navigation during match days only, as listed below and no mooring will be allowed. However, as yet, boats will be able  to proceed, providing owners will have to agree to their boats being stopped and searched by Greater Manchester Police.  Passage is by no means certain however, and may change.

The days the waterway will be closed are:

• Thursday 26th July 2012
• Sunday 29th July 2012
• Tuesday 31st July 2012
• Wednesday 1st August 2012
• Saturday 4th August 2012
• Monday 6th August 2012
• Tuesday 7th August 2012

Boater wishing to visit the stadium on a match day may be allowed to moor by prior arrangement, but again only by agreeing that their craft may be searched by Greater Manchester Police.