No fencing for Burnley canal

ONCE again a distraught mother has blamed the lack of fencing of a canal for her two years old son falling in, but a local council spokesman stated this was not feasible.

The toddler was away from his mother out of sight when she then found him face down in the Leeds & Liverpool Canal at Burney, Alan Tilbury reveals.

Air ambulance

The boy was taken to the Royal Blackburn Hospital by air ambulance, and then to Manchester Childrens' Hospital where after three days in intensive care his condition is stable.

His mother, Nazia Khan, wants the waterway fenced-off, she says to prevent other mothers going through the same ordeal, so wants action taken by the council.

Not feasible

However, its spokesman, Mick Cartledge, Director of Community Services, whilst remarking that he understood the family's concern stated that the proposal is not feasible.

He pointed out that the canal runs for miles through the town and countryside, and it is meant to be readily accessible to members of the public, and that fencing would not only be impractical but would not necessarily stop children.

Fencing was erected around the top lock of the flight from the river at Preston connecting the Lancaster Canal after calls for fencing to make the lock safe, but then a child playing on the fence fell in and drowned.