Liverpool Canal Link

[TheWilk]

I'm from Bootle/Litherland and I certainly wouldn't recommend anyone take their boat through there except at full speed, in a large convoy, armed to the teeth!

 

It's sad because I've moored up in all sorts of less-than-desirable areas around the country and areas of inner city London and Birmingham have boat life, but - maybe because the stretch of canal goes nowhere - there's so few boats appear on that stretch of canal their novelty value will make them a target. Last time I crossed the bridge on my way to Seaforth there were some lads ripping up the cobbles on the towpath and chucking them in the canal... that's what passes for fun around here so the prospect of destroying something new will be very appealing to them.

 

I hate to do the area down, it's not all bad but it is one of the most deprived places I've ever even been to and I had to put up with so much crime when I lived there (although the only time I ever experienced a boat break-in was in Windsor, ironically, in the shadow of the castle!). There just isn't a boating culture on the canal there... it's where you go to sag school and get up to stuff you don't want people watching you doing... let your imagination run wild!

 

I've just cruised from Northampton to the Rufford Branch of the Leeds and Liverpool and it would have been nice to cruise along the stretch of canal I used to cross every single day but I wouldn't attempt it. I wouldn't even advise walking down the towpath in daylight hours!

 

I hope the opening up of the Pier Head brings some regeneration to the area, but I don't think BW have some kind of magic wand... in fact their decisions to put the only pump out for miles smack bang in the middle of this area (where you need to give 48 hours notice to get to), and moorings on the wrong side of the canal for all the swing bridges in the region (so I couldn't operate them single handledly i.e. at all) don't exactly fill me with confidence.

[MartinClark]

I'm from Bootle/Litherland and I certainly wouldn't recommend anyone take their boat through there except at full speed, in a large convoy, armed to the teeth!

 

I wouldn't even advise walking down the towpath in daylight hours!

 

Strange how people's experiences vary. I have boated through Maghull, Aintree, Netherton, Litherland and Bootle to Eldonian Village a couple of times and I have walked from Litherland through Bootle to Eldonian three times, all without incident and without any feeling of threat.

[TheWilk]

Strange how people's experiences vary. I have boated through Maghull, Aintree, Netherton, Litherland and Bootle to Eldonian Village a couple of times and I have walked from Litherland through Bootle to Eldonian three times, all without incident and without any feeling of threat.

 

Did you moor up anywhere between Eldonian Village and Maghull?

 

I've walked that canal many, many a time and the only times I didn't see something dodgy going on was when I was the person doing something dodgy

[gaggle]

I'm from Bootle/Litherland and I certainly wouldn't recommend anyone take their boat through there except at full speed, in a large convoy, armed to the teeth!

 

when was the the last trip through to liverpool by boat done by yourself ? a long long time ago , or have you never done it ? what happened to make you so scared./

Last time I crossed the bridge on my way to Seaforth there were some lads ripping up the cobbles on the towpath and chucking them in the canal... that's what passes for fun around here so the prospect of destroying something new will be very appealing to them.

 

how long ago did this happen ?

 

I hate to do the area down

 

you are not doing a bad job.

 

let your imagination run wild

you seem to be letting yours run wild

 

I've just cruised from Northampton to the Rufford Branch of the Leeds and Liverpool and it would have been nice to cruise along the stretch of canal I used to cross every single day but I wouldn't attempt it. I wouldn't even advise walking down the towpath in daylight hours!

then you are missing out

 

I hope the opening up of the Pier Head brings some regeneration to the area, but I don't think BW have some kind of magic wand... in fact their decisions to put the only pump out for miles smack bang in the middle of this area (where you need to give 48 hours notice to get to), and moorings on the wrong side of the canal for all the swing bridges in the region (so I couldn't operate them single handledly i.e. at all) don't exactly fill me with confidence.

you may have been away for a while , the regeneration has long started and not just by bw .swing bridges ? i think you will find they are all opened for you by bw and as they are electric powered anyway.

the sixties have long ago left us.

[MartinClark]

Did you moor up anywhere between Eldonian Village and Maghull?

No - there isn't a lot of point when Maghull to Eldonian is an easy half a day's journey. In fact, coming out of Eldonian, I don't think we stopped overnight until Burscough. However, I have heard of people mooring offside at the BW yard at Litherland. Perhaps when the new Tesco is built this will be an area where people feel comfortable stopping.

 

I've walked that canal many, many a time and the only times I didn't see something dodgy going on was when I was the person doing something dodgy

Oh, well - you've moved away, so we should be okay now!

[TheWilk]

you may have been away for a while , the regeneration has long started and not just by bw .swing bridges ? i think you will find they are all opened for you by bw and as they are electric powered anyway.

the sixties have long ago left us.

 

I was born in 1979, and I'm in Litherland right now. I've never been away for that long.

 

And the swing bridges I'm talking about are the ones near Burscough/Parbold and on the Rufford Branch. I did 100+ locks single handed this summer, no problems at all (well... dropped the windlass in the cut once... and don't get me started on that bitch of a lock in Wigan with the road bridge!) and then when I got to the home stretch of the L&L I had to rely on other boaters or even passers by.

[MartinClark]

I was born in 1979, and I'm in Litherland right now. I've never been away for that long.

 

Ah. It's just that when you wrote:

"it is one of the most deprived places I've ever even been to and I had to put up with so much crime when I lived there"

you gave the impression that you no longer lived there.

[TheWilk]

Ah. It's just that when you wrote:

"it is one of the most deprived places I've ever even been to and I had to put up with so much crime when I lived there"

you gave the impression that you no longer lived there.

 

I used to have a flat in Bootle before I traded down/up to my narrowboat. Car broken into countless times and torched once. Windows smashed in the flats, smackheads sleeping in the garden, fun walks along Merton Road at chucking out time, three murders in my street alone. I went to Savio and most of the tales I heard about dodgy goings on (I was a good girl!) either happened on the cut or the raller (the disused railway). My boat is now on the Lancs canal but my parents still live in Litherland so I'm often back here to use their electricity/broadband/washing machine!

 

I've been away living in Reading and different parts of France for a few months at a time - the tannery disappeared and that new housing estate popped up seemingly while I blinked - but in general the area hasn't changed and neither have the people (yes, there are plenty of salt of the earth types but too many scum of the earth types too!)

 

I'm the type of person who complains endlessly about Liverpool while I'm here and defends it vehemently to outsiders! I do love my hometown and that's why I don't think it's doing it any favours trying to gloss over the problems. The first step to solving the problems is to recognise them.

[gaggle]

tell us the street with the murders and i will tell you if the murderers were friends of mine.

[TheWilk]

tell us the street with the murders and i will tell you if the murderers were friends of mine.

 

that sounds vaguely threatening...

[gaggle]

the first phase of the £8million scheme to revamp the liverpool world heritage waterfront will be opened this week officially.

from tomorrow access will be reopened along the paved and landscaped area,s in front of the three graces.

two basinson the leeds and liverpool canal link to the albert dock will be filled with water.

the link will mean boats can navigate the 127 mile canal INTO THE HEART OF THE CITY although the link will not open to boat traffic until early 2009.

the above text from the liverpool echo tonight,s issue.

thats my day out sorted for tomorrow.

[gaggle]

water is in the pound

 

worth waitng for.

 

looking to the river.

the trees i think were described as sycamore maples and replace the previous maple tree,s that when removed caused an outcry omongst many people.

 

 

 

 

looking for reflection images but the weather is not playing.

 

not completely happy this man looks for any imperfections in the stonework and works on in the cold , salty an very wet conditions.

 

 

all within a few hundred yards of LIVERPOOL ONE.

Edited October 28, 2008 by gaggle

[DHutch]

Very nice, thankyou for the photos.

[Derek Porteous]

can onyone on these forums supply me with details of any reported incidents that have happened on the leeds and liverpool canal on the section between maghull and eldonian village in liverpool over the last 2 years.

another site is now reporting that is accepted omongst boaters that the stretch is a no go area.

this is completely at odds with my own experiences while boating or walking along this length and i find it hard to believe that what they have stated is the full truth or anywhere near the truth.

i have emailed bw to see if they can provide any information about any events that would make the area a no go area but to be honest i dont see it.

edit-for anyone who is worried about going that way be informed that bw provide an escort through from maghull to liverpool , the reason for the escort by bw staff is not because of any expected trouble but because of the number of bw operated bridges across major roads that have a tendency to stick.

 

Hi Gaggle,

 

Many thanks for the updates and photos. This looks as though it will be a popular destination (well. let's hope so, Liverpool and the dock area are great).

 

However security is bound to be a foremost concern of any visiting boat, particulary on the long stretch into Liverpool with all those swing bridges. Is there going to be any initatives to alleviate any security issue fears (real or imagined)?

Edited October 28, 2008 by Derek Porteous

[gaggle]

rangers are planned along the netherton / litherland stretch for peace of mind in general.

stoppage is on today for faulty swing bridge at bells lane and that is the only thing i ever worry about going through.

 

going back down now for some pics that show the night time views , the graces are lit of a night but i want to see what the lights that are inset into the canal walls look like.

Edited October 28, 2008 by gaggle

[gaggle]

 

pics not very clear but gives a clue as to night cruising scenery.

Edited October 28, 2008 by gaggle

[MartinClark]

pics not very clear but gives a clue as to night cruising scenery.

Sadly there won't be any night cruising along here, as this section is between two new locks that will be BW operated. Also there will be no mooring here for the same reason. Boats will need to continue through to Canning Dock before mooring up in Salthouse Dock.

[gaggle]

the lack of rubbing strakes along the sides of the pound seems to suggest no boats will be stopping there as does the lack of rings bollards.

with regards to bw operating the locks , i was told bw were looking at contracting the job of escorting the boats through to liverpool from the running horses o a private company , if that comes about will the escort then go with boats right down the locks and through the link.

[MartinClark]

the lack of rubbing strakes along the sides of the pound seems to suggest no boats will be stopping there as does the lack of rings bollards.

with regards to bw operating the locks , i was told bw were looking at contracting the job of escorting the boats through to liverpool from the running horses o a private company , if that comes about will the escort then go with boats right down the locks and through the link.

 

I don't know. My contacts are with the engineers, but they will not be making the decisions on operational matters. I doubt whether it has been decided yet.

[cheshire~rose]

I was lucky enough to enjoy a very pleasant day in Liverpool yesterday and was very impressed by what I saw. The sunshine certainly makes a difference!

 

 

I was very interested to see the construction work of the new lock at Princes Dock as well:

 

 

 

 

[MartinClark]

Some photos from those harder-to-get-to angles!

 

 

 

See four pages of new photos of the Liverpool Canal Link here.

[gaggle]

I cant find the thread where it was reported the pub "running horses" at maghull was shut down but anyway it is now back open.

This pub is adjacent to bridge that boats would wait at for bw men to escort them through to liverpool.

Closure was because of fire it is reported and total refurbishment of the pub has been done.

Capitals used to make c b think he has made a difference , now back to normal.

[gaggle]

pics from today.

[gaggle]

http://www.yoliverpool.com/forum/showthread.php?t=11352

 

Details of free party at the pier head canal link . edit - post no 5 on thread.

Edited January 8, 2009 by gaggle

[gaggle]

The rest of the pier head section being cleared of hoarding to allow it to be opened to the public , the worlds press are getting ready to report from the party taking place tomorrow eveing.

giant film screen being put up on the museum and banks of speakers spread around for the music and singalong.