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Archive => Archived Boards => Local Issues => Topic started by: admin on November 01, 2018, 06:04:31 AM

Title: Repairs to Lock 11 via Memorial Park [November 2018 - March 2019]
Post by: admin on November 01, 2018, 06:04:31 AM
 Repairs to Lock 11 by CRT - November 2018 to March 2019

(http://www.marple-uk.com/locks/lock11_boat.jpg)

A number of people have asked what is going on in park at the moment. There is lots of digging and a large compound is being set up.

The Canal and River Trust is carrying out repairs to Lock 11. It's a major work similar to the Lock 15 repairs in 2017/18 but access is severely restricted, so CRT has negotiated access through the park with the council and Friends of the Park. They are currently creating their compound. They need a lot of room as the stone has to be all laid out carefully and numbered etc when removed.

The work is expected to be ongoing until around Easter next year. Everything will be reinstated by CRT when they are finished. There are at least two large mature Silver Beech trees that have to be removed for access to the lock itself and these will be replaced with new trees. There is one Silver Birch in particular that has lots of character and kids love to climb and we have been able to agree that this will not be removed. You can read about the two meetings that Friends of the Park have attended (September and October 2018) in the minutes of meeting on their web site. https://www.marplememorialpark.org.uk/monthly-meetings.html (https://www.marplememorialpark.org.uk/monthly-meetings.html?fbclid=IwAR1qk7aSLv2C6jo7GHuXG9YALmWWzPNq0l0SPp5hRigUHFOyzrksIXEnaBE)

There are more details in the CRT notice via the link below and no doubt there will be updates from them as the work progresses:

https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/notice/13560/peak-forest-canal-lock-11-marple-marple-flight
Title: Re: Repairs to Lock 11 via Memorial Park [November 2018 - March 2019]
Post by: ringi on November 01, 2018, 11:16:41 AM
Why could they not use Canal boats for access, so avoid destroying nice trees?    If need be taking the stones away on boats as they remove each stone.

Also how many weeks until the next lock needs the same doing to it?
Title: Re: Repairs to Lock 11 via Memorial Park [November 2018 - March 2019]
Post by: admin on November 01, 2018, 01:39:51 PM
Why could they not use Canal boats for access, so avoid destroying nice trees?    If need be taking the stones away on boats as they remove each stone.

That would be completely impractical. This is a major project requiring significant plant and equipment that could not be transported on or operated from a canal boat. Even if it could, because they are dismantling the lock there would be no water to fill the other locks - they would have to transport everything either up the locks or down the locks and couldn't do this without water. It simply would not be possible. There is also a huge amount of piling to be done to ensure that the neighbouring property and the park do not slip into the canal too - all this work has to be done from the park and there is no way to do it differently. As a retired construction planning engineer (and with my Friends of the Park hat on) I'm completely satisfied that the approach they are taking is the best and most practical way to do this.

Also how many weeks until the next lock needs the same doing to it?

That is a very interesting point that I have made myself. All the locks are around the same age and probably in similar condition. It is quite likely that over the coming few years more and more of them will fail and need similar repairs. So it's good that CRT seem committed to repairing them. If any one of the 16 locks is not repaired when needed then our flight of locks and the Cheshire Ring will be closed permanently. That would definitely not be a good thing for Marple. So in my view we should be very happy that they have done 15 and are now doing 11. That means they only have 14 more to go!
Title: Re: Repairs to Lock 11 via Memorial Park [November 2018 - March 2019]
Post by: ringi on November 01, 2018, 04:01:39 PM
"requiring significant plant and equipment"  I find this not believable given how the locks were built.........

"So it's good that CRT seem committed to repairing them. If any one of the 16 locks is not repaired when needed then our flight of locks and the Cheshire Ring will be closed permanently."

If it will be closed for most of the year, most years, as each lock fails and is rebuilt, it might as well be closed permanently.
Title: Re: Repairs to Lock 11 via Memorial Park [November 2018 - March 2019]
Post by: Howard on November 02, 2018, 08:07:33 AM
"requiring significant plant and equipment"  I find this not believable given how the locks were built.........


The canals were built by navvies on on open ground without any environmental or health a safety concerns. In the imortal words of Michael Gove, "Britain has had enough of experts."
Title: Re: Repairs to Lock 11 via Memorial Park [November 2018 - March 2019]
Post by: andrewbowden on November 02, 2018, 09:27:20 AM
"requiring significant plant and equipment"  I find this not believable given how the locks were built.........

Quick!  Flood Marple with Irish navvies!
Title: Re: Repairs to Lock 11 via Memorial Park [November 2018 - March 2019]
Post by: corium on November 02, 2018, 04:03:49 PM
As an aside the locks & canal near the Memorial park were prominent in part of the "Ambulance" episode shown on BBC 1 last night
Title: Re: Repairs to Lock 11 via Memorial Park [November 2018 - March 2019]
Post by: hatter76 on November 03, 2018, 08:58:56 AM
What an absolute mess in Memorial Park!

Who the heck has agreed to this?

It's nothing short of a building site. I don't remember planning notices being issued on lampposts in the park stating that this was going ahead. The Dog walk footpath is completely blocked, vegetation and mature trees removed, heavy vehicles moving around and a large part of the northern section fenced off.

This is not some worthless land that no one cares about, the request to use the park should have been met with a firm NO IMO.
Title: Re: Repairs to Lock 11 via Memorial Park [November 2018 - March 2019]
Post by: wheels on November 03, 2018, 09:46:58 AM
When lock 1 to 7 were being worked on they had an equally large compound and they did an excellent job of restoration after they left.
Title: Re: Repairs to Lock 11 via Memorial Park [November 2018 - March 2019]
Post by: amazon on November 03, 2018, 12:06:09 PM
What an absolute mess in Memorial Park!

Who the heck has agreed to this?

It's nothing short of a building site. I don't remember planning notices being issued on lampposts in the park stating that this was going ahead. The Dog walk footpath is completely blocked, vegetation and mature trees removed, heavy vehicles moving around and a large part of the northern section fenced off.

This is not some worthless land that no one cares about, the request to use the park should have been met with a firm NO IMO.
So what would you sugest then were they use for storage and equipment .thought the dog walk would come into it .
Title: Re: Repairs to Lock 11 via Memorial Park [November 2018 - March 2019]
Post by: hatter76 on November 03, 2018, 12:46:40 PM
So what would you sugest then were they use for storage and equipment .thought the dog walk would come into it .

Well what would the canal trust have done if it was a built up area?
They would have had to create a secure compound on canal trust land off site to accept HGVs. Smaller scale equipment and low quantities of materials would be brought to site by canal as Ringi stated earlier or by light vehicles using the canal footpath. Yes it would have increased the cost of the job but frankly that's the canal trusts problem.
Title: Re: Repairs to Lock 11 via Memorial Park [November 2018 - March 2019]
Post by: amazon on November 03, 2018, 12:55:10 PM
Well what would the canal trust have done if it was a built up area?
They would have had to create a secure compound on canal trust land off site to accept HGVs. Smaller scale equipment and low quantities of materials would be brought to site by canal as Ringi stated earlier or by light vehicles using the canal footpath. Yes it would have increased the cost of the job but frankly that's the canal trusts problem.
HOW DO THEY BRING IN BY CANAL WHEN ITS EMPTY .All your concerned with is your walking routes blocket were you take your dog .
Title: Re: Repairs to Lock 11 via Memorial Park [November 2018 - March 2019]
Post by: hatter76 on November 03, 2018, 01:04:30 PM
HOW DO THEY BRING IN BY CANAL WHEN ITS EMPTY .All your concerned with is your walking routes blocket were you take your dog .
Maybe I enjoy walking in nature not through a building site.
Title: Re: Repairs to Lock 11 via Memorial Park [November 2018 - March 2019]
Post by: andrewbowden on November 03, 2018, 01:14:23 PM
What an absolute mess in Memorial Park!

Who the heck has agreed to this?

If only someone had thought to provide this information.  It really should not be the complete and utter mystery that it is.
Title: Re: Repairs to Lock 11 via Memorial Park [November 2018 - March 2019]
Post by: andrewbowden on November 03, 2018, 01:17:19 PM
Maybe I enjoy walking in nature not through a building site.

Such a shame we live in a completely overbuilt up urban area with no alternative parkland.
Title: Re: Repairs to Lock 11 via Memorial Park [November 2018 - March 2019]
Post by: admin on November 03, 2018, 06:41:06 PM
Who the heck has agreed to this?

The original post in this thread explains who agreed to it. To provide more detail: the council's Greenspace Team were approached by CRT, the programme of works was discussed, the compound area was laid out and discussed on site with a Greenspace Officer and Friends of the Park, changes were made to avoid having to remove or damage commemorative trees at the top end of the park and it was also agreed which trees would be saved / removed and what reinstatement measures would be taken afterwards. All this was agreed by Greenspace on behalf of the council and supported by Friends of the Park. I was the Friends of the Park representative at these meetings and I agreed to it too.

It's nothing short of a building site.

That's correct, it is a building site until the lock is repaired and the park reinstated. This is why you can't walk through it.

I don't remember planning notices being issued on lampposts in the park stating that this was going ahead.

Notices are on lampposts in the park. There are also larger notices now showing the canal closure (see pic).

The Dog walk footpath is completely blocked, vegetation and mature trees removed, heavy vehicles moving around and a large part of the northern section fenced off.

It's not a Dog walk footpath specifically but the woodland walk along the park's perimeter with the canal is blocked. The canal tow path will also be blocked soon. This is unavoidable as the park is the only area that can be used to gain the necessary access to carry out the repairs. As others have pointed out, there are alternative places that one can walk a dog while this path is closed. The minimum number of mature trees possible to get access to the lock have been removed. Heavy vehicles will be moving around for many months, so the area has been fenced off to keep the public safe - because it's a building site.

This is not some worthless land that no one cares about, the request to use the park should have been met with a firm NO IMO.

The Friends of the Park care greatly about the park and were pleased to be involved in the discussions and be able to influence how the park is to be used and to assure ourselves of the level of reinstatement to be applied afterwards. We also believe that the canal and locks are a significant assess for the Marple Community and should be kept open. I would also say that I've been very satisfied with the professionalism of the CRT Team members that I've been in discussions with.   

If you have any other concerns it is recommended that you take them up with the manager of the council's Greenspace team or one of your local councillors.

[attachment deleted by admin]
Title: Re: Repairs to Lock 11 via Memorial Park [November 2018 - March 2019]
Post by: Snowball on November 03, 2018, 09:32:19 PM
Well said Mark, there are some people that like nothing better than to whinge.
Title: Re: Repairs to Lock 11 via Memorial Park [November 2018 - March 2019]
Post by: prestbury on November 03, 2018, 10:30:17 PM
What an absolute mess in Memorial Park!

Who the heck has agreed to this?

It's nothing short of a building site. I don't remember planning notices being issued on lampposts in the park stating that this was going ahead. The Dog walk footpath is completely blocked, vegetation and mature trees removed, heavy vehicles moving around and a large part of the northern section fenced off.

This is not some worthless land that no one cares about, the request to use the park should have been met with a firm NO IMO.

What a nimby attitude to the repair of a prime asset of Marple, you should really give your head a shake and consider what you have said..

I would further my comment with a couple of salient points.

1.  The canal brings a fair amount of business to Marple with boaters and walkers.

2.  Those with a memory will remember the dereliction of the 1960's and early 70's which was well fought against by many people near and far, followed by an excellent restoration by the Peak Forest Canal Society, British Waterways Board and many volunteers from across the country.

3.  We are talking about a 200 year old infrastructure which has to be repaired to exacting standards that conform to the requirements of Historic England.

4. When the canal was built there was not any property nearby and access  was unlimited.

5. To the comments with regard to using the canal or towpath as access for the works, the canal will be drained both sides of the lock therefore canal access is prohibited. If just the towpath was used for access then the full towpath between lock 12 and Brabyns Brow would be closed to public access along with having to find a suitable compound within easy reach of the site.

The works are already going to cost a 7 figure sum without adding unnecessary obstacles to the job.
Title: Re: Repairs to Lock 11 via Memorial Park [November 2018 - March 2019]
Post by: Steve Gribbon on November 03, 2018, 11:15:47 PM
Good evening

I’ve had a look at the site whilst returning home from Brabyns bonfire tonight. I was impressed by what I saw, a safe secure compound which clearly identifies itself as that. The large amount of people who walked through the site did so with no problem or danger.

I accept is not how we normally love the park but also accept this work needs to be done, ‘breaking eggs to make the omelette’ as I used to describe my own house/building site whilst being extended. As Andrew Bowden said, previous lock work has been done to an excellent standard and for one I will have faith that when the work is complete the park will be like we know it normally is. I will be keeping an eye on this and no doubt the excellent friends group who work tirelesssly on the park will be doing the same.

I’m happy to meet with any residents and have a walk round with them and perhaps speak to the site manager if there are real concerns but on a personal note I’m confident this will be brought to a successful conclusion.

Kind regards

Steve.