THE MANCHESTER BOLTON & BURY CANAL has hope for its future restoration.
It has received a £120 million towards work on the disused waterway.
Two restoration projects
Under British Waterways the 15 miles long waterway was to be reopened with two restoration projects, the first to start in 2003, following restoration of the Huddersfield Narrow Canal together with other waterways.
Alas the Manchester Bolton & Bury restoration was cancelled when Canal & River Trust took over. The Thames & Severn Canal restoration that was started, also being cancelled.
But now the £120 million restoration project is led by the Manchester Bolton & Bury Canal Society with its intention to restore the canal first in Little Lever. (The picture shows the Bury Arm of the canal.)
With work including road bridges over reinstated sections and the creation of a new towpath. Also improvements to drainage and ducting infrastructure.
Connects three towns
The waterway connects Manchester and Salford with the towns of Bolton and Bury.
In the past a partnership had been established with British Waterways and three local authorities and a working party co-coordinating action.
But it was not to be.