Local politicians visit collapsed canal as boat residents share visitor distress

Lymm: Over the weekend, local politicians came together to visit residents affected by the Bridgewater Canal collapse. It was a tough situation, especially since this was the first time in over 50 years that the canal had burst.

The heavy rain during New Year caused the canal to give way near Dunham Massey, and now the water levels in Grappenhall are dropping, looking a bit murky.

Cllr Graham Gowland, along with MP Esther McVey and others, reached out to the community. They’re working on an action plan to help those in need. Thankfully, everyone is safe for now.

Gowland advised folks to steer clear of the boats by Ye Old No 3. If you want to check out the breach, the best view is from the north side of the canal, but it’s still not safe to get too close.

He mentioned that this kind of incident is rare, and while it’s natural for people to be curious, safety comes first. The boaters have had their lives turned upside down, so he asked everyone to be respectful and avoid taking photos of their homes.

Gowland made it clear that while he’s not discouraging people from seeing the breach, many residents feel uncomfortable with onlookers snapping pictures of their living situations.

The Lymm Heritage Centre also weighed in, discussing the impact of the canal breach on the community. They noted that the last major incident in 1971 led to a two-year closure for repairs.

They expressed concern that fewer boats could mean fewer visitors to Lymm, which is a popular spot for boaters. The hope is that the owners will respond quickly to fix the situation this time around.