Mancunians have branded the Rochdale Canal an “eyesore” after the grim reality of what lies on the bottom of the busy city centre waterway has been exposed.
Masses of junk has been revealed on the stretch of the waterway between Canal Street and Oxford Road after it was drained last month for maintenance work to take place.
The Canal and River Trust is carrying out essential repairs to this section of the busy canal network, as well as conducting a huge clean-up operation.
Pictures show chairs, traffic cones, road signs and beer bottles as just some of the items Mancunians have disposed of in the water. City centre residents and visitors have taken to social media to share their disgust on what can be seen at the bottom of the canal.
Twitter user Claire Gittings wrote: “@AndyBurnhamGM is there a plan to clean up the canals in #Manchester? Could be an asset but currently an eyesore. V sad sight. @CanalRiverTrust @canalstmancs maybe more bins and anti litter campaign would help?”
Train conductor Adam also shared his disgust about the state of the canal on Twitter. He said: “Cancelled my Taxi from MCV to MCO in favour of an invigorating early morning stroll through Manchester but I was saddened by the site of the Rochdale Canal at low tide and filled with junk. I apologise to all our aquatic brethren, on behalf of humanity.”
In typical Manchester fashion, Twitter user Thom Hetherington joked that Manchester was "showing Venice how to do it" after seeing a hot water bottle left at the bottom of the canal.
The Canal and River Trust, who look after the waterways across the city and beyond, began replacing old lock gates with new, handcrafted ones Lock 85 near to Canal Street in February.
The MEN’s Hana Kelly also said she could see a clear difference between what was left in the canal near to Canal Street compared to the commuter walkway under Oxford Road.
She said: “The stretch along Canal Street had the most bottles I’ve ever seen in my life, whereas the bit at Oxford Road was full of traffic cones. I don’t know what I was expecting to see… maybe some wildlife?”
The organisation also said a volunteer-led clean-up operation would be taking place on the iconic waterway in early March in an effort to rid the canal of rubbish as well as a “fish rescue” to be undertaken by specialist contractors.
A Canal and River Trust spokesperson said: “The Canal and River Trust is carrying out vital repairs to Lock 85 know as the ‘Undercroft’ on the Rochdale Canal in Manchester city centre. As part of these works the canal has been partly drained and a fish rescue undertaken by specialist contractors.
"Our skilled team are now replacing old lock gates with new handcrafted ones and other masonry works will be done. These important works will help ensure that the Trust’s waterways can continue to be navigated by boats and remain vital green and blue spaces that are free to visit and benefit the millions of people who have a canal on their doorstep.
“We will also be doing a big clean up with our volunteers to remove all the debris and rubbish that’s built up in the canal."
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