Push for canal mooring point near retail park

Mr Reeve with Councillors Colclough and Mulgrew

A request for a permanent mooring point on the Rochdale Canal outside The Sandbrook pub on Sandbrook Park has been made.

Balderstone and Kirkholt ward Councillors Dale Mulgrew and Pat Colclough have made the request to British Waterways after receiving “overwhelming support” from residents in the neighbourhoods that run parallel to the proposed point. 

The councillors believe the proposal offers benefits to tourism, could create commercial opportunities on the retail park, would assist in community safety and could be used for educational programmes.

They also suggest it might mean that people take better care and pride at the proposed location.

In a letter about the proposal, Councillor Mulgrew and Councillor Colclough, said: “We were astonished by the level of interest that this idea generated when we did our walkabout around those neighbourhoods and we received a very strong endorsement indeed.”

If the request is approved it would mean an additional mooring point for canal users between Castleton and Littleborough.

The manager of The Sandbrook pub, Mike Reeve, has endorsed the councillors campaign.

He said: “I think it is a really good idea to get a fixed mooring point. We do get some up in the summer but to make it a fixed point would be great.

“For us it is a biggy but I think it would be positive for the rest of the park too.

“This is a positive move forward.”

Mr Reeve said he hoped the move would also lead to some investment by the canal in particularly lighting and security.

A spokesperson for British Waterways said the request would be looked into.