The Lune Aqueduct has reopened to pedestrians and cyclist, with sinkhole repairs carried out, enabling the canal towpath to be reopened.
The aqueduct towpath had to be closed for essential repairs for some time, due to large deep holes that had occurred on the tow path.
The closure disappointed regular users of the canal, some using it to commute into town.
“I hope this can reunite the two sides of our city and restore people’s enjoyment of one of the loveliest parts of our area,” commented MP Cat Smith.
“There’s still gates and safety mats, with notices to not use the inner-part of the pathway for now, so be cautious and considerate of others. Thank you to the Canal & River Trust and Electricity North West Electricity North West for their work on this, and for everyone’s patience. I know it’s been a frustrating wait for many!”
Of course, there’s still concern for the future of our canal network in general. In April, we reported on a stark warning from the Canal And River Trust that government funding cuts mean our much-loved canal network is at risk of closures, which will likely exacerbate as public funding is ended. Unfortunately, this is one example.
Founded in 2012, Canal & River Trust is the UK’s largest canal charity, caring for a 2000-mile network of stunning canals and navigable rivers.