Halton Council allocates £500k for Sankey Canal water levels

Halton Borough Council has allocated £500,000 from the environmental fund to carry out work at the waterway on Spike Island.

The project will involve a range of work and support for dealing with issues arising from the water supply crisis at the canal.

The funding – £100k each year for five years – is from a fund set up under the Viridor ‘Runcorn Energy from Waste’ Section 106 agreement.

For almost 40 years since 1983, Sankey Canal was kept in water as a result of water being pumped from Fiddler’s Ferry Power Station, that was a by-product of their electricity generation.

However, in March of this year, the pumping of water into the canal permanently ceased as the site was decommissioned.

Since then, water levels in Halton’s section of Sankey Canal began to drop, and the council says it continues to work with partners to secure a permanent and sustainable water supply for the canal.

Temporary water pumps had been set up to keep water levels stable, but that now too has ceased, with the move meaning that as water levels are dropping, wildlife has had to be relocated.

The Sankey Canal crisis has angered many residents, with hundreds of people turning out at Spike Island last weekend to protest.

Residents protest over Sankey Canal water levels

The issue has also been raised in the House of Commons by both Halton MP Derek Twigg and Warrington South MP Andy Carter.

During the debate, members were told it was a 'tale of two canals' – Warrington, which had invested to preserve its part of the canal, and Halton, which had not, one MP claimed.

However, the £500,000 investment will include a range of repairs and canal infrastructure improvements that would have previously been difficult to do.

This will help ensure the integrity of the canal structure for the years ahead and help to make the canal more waterproof than it has been historically.

It will also see work carried out to seal the locks to help with water retention, the removal of boats from the canal, an enhanced maintenance regime and fund any required feasibility studies.

Work will begin immediately and continue over a five-year period.

Council leader Cllr Mike Wharton said: “The council wants to reassure residents and interest groups that we are committed to the long-term future of the canal, and to finding sustainable solutions to the issues.

“This project will also improve the local landscape and help with nature conservation measures at Spike Island.”