- Join the Canal & River Trust as it ‘un-locks’ the Rochdale Canal in Manchester
- Take part in a clean-up of the drained city centre canal
- Book a Tour Through Light – a series of creative lighting installations which will transform the Undercroft
The Canal & River Trust, the national waterways and wellbeing charity, is carrying out important repairs to keep the Rochdale Canal through in Manchester city centre flowing.
The works to the Grade II Listed Lock 85 near Canal Street are costing £150,000 and include replacing the old-time expired lock gates with new handcrafted gates made in the Trust’s specialist lock gate workshop. It also includes repairs to the lock’s 200-year-old walls.
To carry out the repairs, the canal has had to be drained of water, with a specialist operation to carefully rescue and rehome the many fish that live in the canal.
Essential works to several other locks along the Rochdale Canal are also taking place this winter and are part of the Trust’s ongoing work to ensure the nation’s historic waterways can continue to be navigated by boats and remain vital green spaces that are free to visit and benefit the millions of people who have a canal on their doorstep.
Whilst the water is drained from the canal, a clean-up event will take place on Friday 3 March between 11am and 3pm to help remove the debris and litter that’s ended up in the canal or simply to find out more about what goes into looking after the Rochdale Canal.
The Trust is also hosting a series of creative lighting installations which will transform the Undercroft where the Rochdale Canal passes underneath Piccadilly. These unique events, which will challenge and change perceptions of this overlooked and underused space, will take place on Tuesday 7 March, Wednesday 8 March, and Thursday 9 March starting at 6pm-7pm. For further information and to book a place visit Rochdale Canal open day | Canal & River Trust (canalrivertrust.org.uk)
This is part of wider consultation work the Trust is undertaking to ‘re-imagine the Undercroft’ to see what improvements can be made to transform this underused section of the canal in the city centre.
James Long, engagement manager for the Canal & River Trust, said: “It’s important the Trust carries out these vital repairs to ensure the canal in our wonderful city of Manchester is kept in great working order for the benefit of wildlife and everyone who loves and uses it.
“We’re excited to host these transformative one-off light events in the Undercroft, which will allow people to experience a different view of this unique place. We would love people to come along and share their thoughts and perceptions of what they would like to see happen with the Undercroft.
“The canal offers an amazing, tranquil space, where everything slows down right in the city centre. With research telling us that time spent by the water can help us all to feel happier and more relaxed, it’s vital that we keep these special places open and safe for us all to enjoy both now and for future generations..”
This winter the Trust is investing more than £50 million on waterways across England and Wales with nearly £13 million being invested across the North West. For more information on the work of the Canal & River Trust, including how to support through volunteering or making a donation, go to www.canalrivertrust.org.uk.
To book a place on the Undercroft lighting event and to find out more about the volunteer clean up visit Rochdale Canal Undercroft: Transformation Through Light Tickets, Multiple Dates | Eventbrite
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