This 2015 project was formally known as the Sankey Interlocks Project and it was a partnership between Halton Borough Council, Warrington Borough Council and SCRS. The aim was to restore the canal between Fiddlers Ferry Lock and Spike Island to make it navigable again and encourage tourism and heritage activities along the canal corridor.
The project was focussed on promoting the canal’s unique heritage and landscape to a diverse audience and to develop recreational, sporting and health and well-being activities. The intention was to develop educational links with local schools and colleges and to deliver cross generational activities, with the canal being the centre of attention, for example with the provision of a heritage visitor centre(s).
Several consultation events were held for people and community groups and the feedback was overwhelmingly positive, with much public support for the enhancement of the area.
On the ground, the towpath from the Gatewarth Recycling Centre at Sankey Bridges to the Halton Borough boundary at Johnson’s Lane was upgraded and improved using funding from the Department of Transport and the Mid Mersey Local Sustainable Transport Fund. The remaining stretch of the Trans Pennine Trail to Spike Island was upgraded after completion of the Mersey Gateway bridge construction.
Sources of funding were investigated (including the Heritage Lottery and other funding bodies) for support for smaller projects to enhance the canal and progress was made in the the repair of the Widnes sea lock gates and cill.
A successful application was made to the Big Lottery Fund, which delivered the Coastal Community’s Funding on behalf of HM Government. The fund was set up to support coastal communities to create sustainable economic growth and jobs. The bid was a partnership between Warrington and Halton Borough Councils and SCRS. The project was awarded £600,000 which complemented the £225,000 funding from Warrington Borough Council. The project scope was:
- Reinstate Marsh House Bridge with a new lift bridge to provide access to Riverside Trading Estate
- Improve signage and branding to support new and existing businesses
- Create jobs and apprenticeships, provide training and safe guard existing jobs
- Create volunteering opportunities
The project was delivered at several locations along the canal and there were many beneficiaries, including businesses located along the canal and in nearby communities.
Prior to the application being submitted, businesses along the canal and other canal users were consulted and the feedback showed overwhelming support for the aims of the project and for the canal’s restoration.
A project celebration was held at the Halliwell Jones Stadium, Warrington in March 2017 following completion of the work to replace the fixed bridge at Marsh House Lane with a new bascule lifting structure, which formed a new ‘gateway’ to the unrestored sections of the canal.
The project successfully helped to create over 50 apprenticeships in a variety of sectors and over 270 people benefitted from enhanced employability skills. 170 volunteer places were created, 50 volunteers gained a recognised qualification and 6 community schemes were supported.
Young people were heavily involved in the project. For example pupils from Penketh High School and West Bank Primary School took part in guided walks along the canal with wildlife experts and officers from Warrington and Halton Borough Councils. The walks finished at the Catalyst Science Discovery Centre where pupils took part in a consultation event which was filmed as part of a media studies project funded by a Heritage Lottery Fund’s ‘Sharing Heritage’ programme.