Hollinwood Canal Society News

Wednesday 7 December 2016

Working Party: January 2017

Saturday 7th & Sunday 8th January 2017:

Our next working parties have now been confirmed for the weekend of 7th & 8th January 2017, at Daisy Nook.

Why not come along and help to make a difference? Even if you have not been on a working party before, you will be made welcome! Big muscles are not essential as you can be given work to suit your capabilities!

Meet at Daisy Nook Car Park, Stannybrook Road, at 9.30 am. Strong footwear and waterproof clothing recommended. Lunch and hot drinks provided for a small charge.

Please phone our Working Party Organiser, Mike, on 0161 683 4470 if you need more information.

Saturday 3 September 2016

Event: Heritage Walk, 11th September

For Heritage Open Days 2016, we are offering free guided canal history walks at Daisy Nook.  
Sunday 11th September at 11.00 am, repeated at 1.00 pm.
Starts from outside John Howarth Visitor Centre, Daisy Nook car park, off Newmarket Road / Stannybrook Road.
SatNav postcode M35 9WJ.

Find out about the history of the Droylsden to Hollinwood canal and see some of its remaining heritage features.
About 1.5 miles total distance at a leisurely pace. Toilets and café available at start and finish.
Accessibility: Mostly level towpath with a few gentle slopes. Some steps on return route, but these can be bypassed if needed.

Friday 27 May 2016

Event: June Working Party

Sunday 5th June 2016: Working Party, Daisy Nook
One-day working party.

Why not come along and join in and make a difference? Even if you have not been on a working party before, you will be made welcome! Big muscles are not essential as you can be given work to suit your capabilities!

Meet at Daisy Nook Car Park, Stannybrook Road, at 9.30 am. Strong footwear and waterproof clothing recommended. Bring own lunch and drinks. Alternatively, hot drinks and snacks are available at the café.

Please phone our Working Party Organiser, Mike, on 0161 683 4470 if you need more information.

Thursday 26 May 2016

Event: Annual Meeting 2016

A reminder that our Annual Meeting will take place on Wednesday 8th June 2016 at 7.30 pm. The venue will once again be the back room at the Buffet Bar, Stalybridge Station. Members only due to limited space.

Sunday 1 May 2016

Council Demolishes Historic Footbridge

It came as a huge shock in April when we learnt that Oldham Council, without any warning, had sent in a team to demolish Pinch Farm footbridge. The 150 year old lattice sided iron bridge has been a well-loved landmark for generations of local people walking along the towpath between Waterhouses Locks and Crime Lake.

Pinch Farm Bridge in February

An officer for Oldham Council’s Unity Partnership told us the bridge was considered to pose a significant risk to members of the public and was also deemed to be irreparable as many of the principal elements of the structure had failed or were about to fail.

However, the Society is critical of Oldham Council for allowing the bridge to get into that condition. Photographs over a number of years show that brickwork had not been re-pointed and grass had been allowed to grow on the wooden deck, possibly contributing to the corrosion of the ironwork.


The same view in April
Although it did not carry a public right of way it was an accommodation bridge providing access between the two parts of the Pinch Farm property. Oldham Council inherited the duty to maintain the accommodation bridge when they took over ownership of the canal within Daisy Nook Country Park more than 40 years ago, around the time when the country park was established.

Some members have suggested that the bridge should have been ‘Listed’. However, this would have reduced the options for repairing or replacing parts of the bridge but would not have prevented its demolition once it was deemed unsafe.

Sadly, with the budgets of local councils being cut severely, it seems possible that there could be more instances arising where the duty to ensure public safety could trump the duty to protect historic assets.
Angela Rayner, the MP in whose constituency the canal lies, met with canal society members at Daisy Nook in the week following the bridge’s removal. The meeting, planned since January, was to give Angela an opportunity to see the historic features in the country park. She was dismayed to see what was left of the bridge.

Local MP Angela Rayner examines the remains
of the bridge on a long-planned visit to see the
canal’s heritage

Jim McMahon, the new MP for Oldham West and Royton and Councillor for the ward that includes Pinch Farm, was familiar with the bridge and expressed shock at its sudden removal, feeling that the heritage value of the bridge had not been taken into account. He would welcome the Society’s thoughts on how to put the matter right.
He said the council needs to develop a meaningful heritage asset list and management plan to ensure this can not be allowed to happen again.

Following the Society’s complaint of a lack of consultation a regular partnership meeting has now been set up between Oldham’s Asset Management team and the three canal societies with interests within Oldham.

The view towards Crime Lake minus the bridge

Friday 22 April 2016

MP gets to know the canal

Angela Rayner, MP for the Ashton under Lyne constituency, in which most of the canal's course is situated, joined members of the canal society today for a walk around the canal features in Daisy Nook Country Park.

Angela was elected as MP for Ashton in 2015, following the retirement of David Heyes, who is very supportive of canals. The visit has been planned for some time but had to fit in with Angela's busy schedule as Shadow Pensions Minister.


Angela Rayner MP takes a tour of the canal, with members of the society.
Photo: twitter.com/AngelaRayner

Monday 1 February 2016

Major trim for offside vegetation

In our January working parties, volunteers from the canal society and Waterway Recovery Group achieved a long desired aim of trimming back vegetation on the offside of the canal near Pinch Farm.

The trees had hung across the canal, sometimes more than half way. We had received many comments about how bad the vegetation was looking. Eventually we were able to negotiate access to the land and work out a plan for how we would tackle the task.

The 'before and after' photos show what a difference the work has made to the the appearance of this stretch of water. The brambles and undergrowth that we cut back to get access to the trees will quickly grow back.


Looking towards Crime Lake - before.


Looking towards Crime Lake - after.


Looking towards the locks - before.


Looking towards the locks - after.

Saturday 16 January 2016

Event: January Working Party

Saturday 30th & Sunday 31st January 2016: Working Party, Daisy Nook [info: 0161 683 4470]
Our second working party of 2013 is a two-day party with the support of Waterway Recovery Group. The weekend will include some work in a new area.

Why not come along and join in? Even if you have not been on a working party before, you will be made welcome! Big muscles are not essential as you can be given work to suit your capabilities! You can come along on just one day or on both days.

Meet at Daisy Nook Car Park, Stannybrook Road, at 9.30 am on each day. Strong footwear and waterproof clothing recommended. Lunch and hot drinks will be available for a small charge.

Please phone our Working Party Organiser, Mike, on 0161 683 4470 for more information.