Sunken boat owner criticised for ‘costing charity money’

It comes after the organisation, which manages waterways including the Rochdale Canal, removed a ‘sunken’ boat from the Rochdale Canal.

The boat had caused the canal to be closed for nearly a week between Failsworth and Manchester,

It was re-opened nearly a week later after one pragmatic Warrington boater took matters into his own hands and helped to move the boat, which he assessed had not sunk but was merely waterlogged.

Now, the Canal & River Trust has released photographs of the boat’s removal, while urging boaters to have a plan in place to remove their own vessels.

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Recovery ‘costs our charity money’

A spokesperson from the Canal & River Trust said: “The sunken boat, which had been abandoned, was craned out of Lock 74 on the Rochdale Canal and navigation has resumed between Lock 66 and Lock 80.  

“Our key concern was to remove the boat as safely as possible and we called in professional contractors.

"The temporary closure was essential to keep everyone using the waterway safe and to ensure no assets or infrastructure was damaged: fortunately, there was no pollution.

“Sadly, when boat owners don’t arrange the recovery of their boat themselves, it costs our charity money at a time we’re facing significant funding challenges. We’d urge all boat owners to have appropriate recovery plans in place for their vessels.”  

The boat was thought to be sunken (Image: Canal & River Trust)

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In August, the Canal & River Trust said it ‘shared boaters’ frustrations’ with the issues occurring on the canal, adding that government cuts would increase the challenge of managing the waterway.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said it ‘recognised the benefits’ of canals and that it had been discussing with the charity ways to increase income from other sources.

Some boaters have even called the waterway the dirtiest they've encountered, with one cruiser vowing that he would "never again" attempt the canal.

The Rochdale Canal was fully opened in 1804 and was used to carry cargo, including coal, agricultural produce, and materials for the region’s bustling textile industry.

However, by the 1950s, commercial carrying had virtually finished and the canal, which was still in private hands, closed.

The canal was restored decades later, with the full canal re-opened in 2002.

Prior to 2012, the canal was managed by British Waterways, which was wholly owned by the government.

However, this was replaced by the Canal & River Trust charity in July 2012.

According to the government, its policy is that the Canal and River Trust should become "progressively more self-sufficient financially".