BOATS AND CANALS

Just come across the page on the CRT website, uploaded on Wednesday, concerning the restoration and listing of Marple Aqueduct, and the decision now taken, seemingly without any public consultation, to install safety railings along the length of the aqueduct.

https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/news-and ... e-aqueduct

I'm no longer a regular traveller on the waterways these days, although used to cover thousands of miles a year when I was working and writing about them, so perhaps I should hesitate to comment ... but I won't. It seems strange to me that structures that have stood for centuries and carried tens of thousands of travellers safely each year are now considered too dangerous for members of the public to encounter without mollycoddling. Is this another instance of H&S gone mad?

Next on the list would have to be Chirk and Pontcysyllte, both of which have exposed margins accessible to boaters, but where would it end? Will all locks eventually require railings, with access gates permanently locked and only openable using keys issued by CRT upon the signing of an insurance waiver? I'm sure this will need to be considered around major structures, like the deeper staircase locks in busy town centres like Chester, or Bingley, and what about popluar tourist destinations, like Foxton or Stoke Bruerne, where the locksides are open to the non-boating public?

A few years ago anyone suggesting railing off Marple Aqueduct would have been laughed at. Today, CRT is taking it seriously.

I heard this on the news a few months ago, and I seem to remember someone else posting something abut it.

I have checked and found it in History and Heritage posted by CKP

Marple Aqueduct

Proposals to erect fence

https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/about-us ... sultations

_________________
Maurice

Please click to go to our associate sites

Foxshaw Gardens Online & Boats and Canals

I just hope that whatever they decide doesn't detract from its heritage and historical value.

_________________
Maurice

Please click to go to our associate sites

Foxshaw Gardens Online & Boats and Canals

Sorry - I did try a search to see if anyone had posted about this, but the "search" declared that "Marple" and "Aqueduct" were such common words that a list of results wasn't worth the effort of revealing!

CRT has responded wioth some explanation of the thinking behind this decision ...

https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/media/li ... tation.pdf

Not to worry and no need for apologies, the main thing is that posted the information.

Your post in an update to the original.

I also had the same problem with search.

_________________
Maurice

Please click to go to our associate sites

Foxshaw Gardens Online & Boats and Canals