There has been progress in all three local authority areas recently. Salford  Council and BW have begun work upgrading the towpath in the Agecroft area from Park House Bridge to Lumbs Aqueduct. Bury Council and BW have obtained grants for similar towpath work between Radcliffe and Little Lever. Bolton Council has agreed to the design and installation of a bridge over the top lock at Nob End; the artist Liam Curtin has been commissioned, and Steve Dent and I will be on an advisory committee. The Nob End workshops remain standing.

We are looking into sources of funding to repair the crane; a restoration company has already been to look at it. To help raise funds we are having a presentation about the Fred Dibnah Heritage Centre by new owner Leon Powsney, aided by Sheila Dibnah, on 8th November - please remember that it is a ticket-only fund-raising event. There may still be some tickets left - so if you’d like to come please give me a ring to check availability. There is an extra Open Meeting on 6th December.

At the September Working Parties four people were trained to use 360o excavators, and six trained on dumpers; thanks are due to trainers Paul Shaw and Rachel Banyard. The November Working Party has been moved to 3/4 December to co-incide with the Waterway Recovery Group NW Xmas Dinner weekend, and will link in with the work already being done on the towpath by Salford Council.

The publican’s son at the Horseshoe at Ringley has found milestone 6¾ at the back of the pub. We hope to re-install it at the October working party, but it is obviously very heavy, and will require a lot of muscle-power (or a digger!). 

Paul Hindle