A COUNCILLOR has called on the Canal and River Trust to "fix or close" the canal towpath in Skipton.

Skipton West councillor, Peter Madeley, who is one of the leaders of a long-running campaign to get the deeply-rutted path repaired, has renewed demands for action following the news 73-year-old Anne Whitmore slipped on mud and fell into the canal.

As reported in the Herald last week, Mrs Whitmore, of Mallory Court, could not get herself out of the canal and was almost up to her neck in water for ten minutes before being pulled out by a passer-by, Royal Marine sergeant Michael Anderson.

Cllr Madeley said the incident showed how urgently work needed to be carried out to make the towpath safer.

He added: "This stretch of towpath towards Aireville Bridge is widely used – by college students, schoolchildren, rail travellers and people just out for a walk – yet what happened to Mrs Whitmore shows it could be a potential death trap.

"At the very least, walking on it can be a deeply unpleasant experience, certainly in the winter.

"Something must be done quickly. I would say to the Canal and River Trust 'close it or fix it'. Repairs must be carried out as a matter of urgency. The problem cannot be allowed to drag on until next winter. Not to do anything would be madness."

Cllr Madeley had a meeting in March with the trust's enterprise manager, Nick Smith, at Craven District Council's Belle Vue offices.

Demonstrators demanded action beforehand, and a petition has been signed by several hundred residents.

Cllr Madeley added: "Mr Smith indicated that the trust is hopeful some money could become available for the work.

"The state of the path is a disgrace. What happened to Mrs Whitmore shows how urgent it is that something is done."

A Canal and River Trust spokeswoman said: “Although we cannot comment any further at this stage, the trust would like to let the local community know we are still actively looking at options with Craven District Council to repair the towpath.

"We, too, would like to see the towpath improved, and we hope we can find a solution in the near future.”