Bid to establish Friends of Greenberfield Locks group in Barnoldswick (From Craven Herald)

Bid to establish Friends of Greenberfield Locks group in Barnoldswick

11:00am Monday 31st December 2012 in News

People in Barnoldswick are looking to establish a Friends of Greenberfield Locks group to restore the award-winning locks to their former glory.

Greenberfield Locks was named national champion of British Waterways’ Lock and Bridge Competition in 1998, but local councillors have spoken out about how in recent years the area has fallen into a state of disrepair and neglect.

Local councillors joined Barnoldswick resident Mike Clarke, president of the Leeds-Liverpool Canal Society, to meet with representatives of the Canal and River Trust to discuss how to make improvements to picnic tables, benches, signs and landscaping in the area.

“We’ve agreed to a programme of work to address the dilapidated areas around the locks,” said Coun David Whipp, chairman of the West Craven Area Committee. “We’ve also drawn up a volunteer programme of work.

“We’d like invite anybody interested in joining a Friends of Greenberfield Locks to complement the works the Canal and River Trust are doing to make it a beauty spot once again.”

Coun Ken Hartley also believes the work could be aimed at an education or skills programme for young people.

He said dry stone walls around the locks need improving, so learning how to build these walls would be a good skill for people to have.

Coun Hartley said the Lock Stop Cafe at the canal site was protected by a dilapidated hedgerow, which would be an ideal training opportunity for hedge laying.

He also believes it would be good idea to develop a natural or built heritage feature.