Fenced-Off in Warrington!
By Colin Greenall

Anyone taking a walk along the canal towpath from Fiddlers Ferry to Bewsey Lock must think that either there are some dangerous creatures lurking in the canal or that the creatures in the canal need protection from the public.

The truth is that some time ago a fisherman was propelled into canal whilst sitting on the towpath. Or to be more correct whilst sitting on a section of copingstones that were not at their stable best and the resulting collapse of the wall led to his early bath.

The result of this incident lead the fisherman to make a successful claim for damages from Warrington BC who in turn commissioned an engineers report on the state of the rest of the canal walls.

His report found that substantial sections of the towpath wall were in a poor state of repair and that two options could be taken (a) to repair the walls at an estimated £500,000 or (b) to fence parts of it off and completely close the towpath in places were there was an alternative route.

Warrington BC decided on to fence off sections and close the towpath in areas were there was an alternative route. The fencing is believed to have cost £60,000.

The list below is what you will see on your walk from Fiddlers Ferry to Bewsey Lock

(The numbers refer to Colin's photographs opposite below)

From Fiddlers Ferry Bridge to Hall Lane Bridge (2)
Most of this section of the canal is fenced off with 5ft. high-galvanised steel security fencing with two unfenced sections of metal piling

Hall Lane Bridge to Mayer's Bridge  (3)
Each end of this section of canal is fenced off and the long length in the middle has been 'beached' in front of the wall of the towpath, there is one section of steel piling. (5)

Mayer's Bridge to Liverpool Road (1 & 4)
This section is completely fenced off.

Liverpool Road to Sankey Way
On this length of canal the fencing is spaced out in eight places with good section of sandstone coping blocks in between.

Sankey Way to the Railway Viaduct (6)
The towpath is completely closed to the public, there being an alternative route round the Wetland Nature Reserve

Railway Viaduct to Bewsey Bridge.
Only one section of post and rail fence on this length even so the towpath is closed with an alternative route alongside Sankey Brook

Members of the SCARS Restoration Committee are at present talking to Warrington BC and the Dallam Anglers in an attempt to come to some arrangement whereby part of the towpath between Bewsey Bridge and the Railway viaduct could be reopened for fishing and walkers.

We are also talking to them about the rest of the fenced-off sections to see if funding can be found to improve the situation.

Imagine if the rest of Britain's waterways were fenced off as the Sankey is in Warrington. Don't people have a responsibility for their own safety any longer? I bet the angler who claimed damages from the Borough and put so much good fishing water out of bounds to his fellow-anglers is really popular. –Ed.

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