Upsetting sensibilities

THERE is a proposal to close off the towpath in the canal underpass of the Rochdale Nine—known as the Undercroft—in Manchester in the hours of darkness, to prevent various activities that are rife in the tunnel.

The waterway itself however will not be affected, only that boaters operating the locks will have to remain on their boats until the locks are reached before alighting, Mick Fitzgibbons tells us.

Locked gates

The proposal by Canal & River Trust in conjunction with Manchester City Council in an attempt to stop the activity is to erect locked gates along the towpath to prevent access. These would be locked in the evening and opened again the following morning.

This will not only prevent homosexual activities and drug use, that seems to be upsetting some people, but also prevent drunks from falling in the water, as often happens. The council installed life saving equipment, but this did little to prevent people falling in, and it is now thought the only way to stop both activities is to prevent access.

At the moment the plan is to install three gates along the towpath, with a feasibility study at present taking place.