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This is a link post Ongoing volunteer work on my local canal I made this!
I'm filming progress for the society. Basically, the canal splits at this junction. It heads for Bolton in one direction and Salford in the other, but the canal is dry at the junction. Under one of the remaining junction bridges, a huge pile of spoil has built up over a period of decades, so we're removing all that crap. We'll use that spoil to build a new dam further up the dry section. Then we'll see about flooding the dry section with a few feet of water, so the forest of trees we cut down don't grow back.

If anyone's in the area (Little Lever), feel free to pop by and take a look. You can even volunteer if you like.
(I helped save b3ta! Pew Pew Pew! Lasers! wannabe Gong Farmer, Sun 15 Jul 2012, 20:07, Reply)
This is a normal post That's an ace thing to do!

(pissflaps. FSPW, Sun 15 Jul 2012, 20:20, Reply)
This is a normal post Great project.
Are you going to put it back into operation and run it, like restored railways?
 (I helped save b3ta! MyFrontFellOff ; his mouth full of teddies, urinating defiantly, Sun 15 Jul 2012, 20:25, Reply)
This is a normal post The plan is to restore it fully
But with this economy...

I wrote the Wikipedia article, which explains the canal's history and why it fell into disuse. It boils down to a fuckoff massive breach that occurred over 70 years ago. It was never repaired and thus the canal slowly became obsolete.

It starts at the Irwell near Granada TV in Manchester, heads up past Salford University, through Agecroft, under the M60, and meets up where the above footage was filmed. Then it heads in one direction off to Bolton, and in the other to Bury.

We've spent ages chopping trees down, but if we just leave it, they'll grow back. So we want to clear that bridge (water beyond there), build a new dam, and flood a big section. It'll be prettier, nothing will grow back, and it'll keep the canal in people's thoughts. There's plenty of sections still in water so it isn't bone dry, but the more dry sections we can flood, the better.

I read that the opening ceremony for the Olympics cost £27M. That's about what it'd cost to get most of this canal back open. It runs through some fairly deprived areas, but also some utterly stunning countryside.

£27M for something that lasts a few hours, or £27M for something that's been around since 1791. Go figure.
 (I helped save b3ta! Pew Pew Pew! Lasers! wannabe Gong Farmer, Sun 15 Jul 2012, 20:37, Reply)
This is a normal post I wish you all the best with this
Is it too late to have canal restoration declared an Olympic sport?

Also, I think this has to be restored, as a priority www.penninewaterways.co.uk/mbb/mbbc34.htm
 (I helped save b3ta! MyFrontFellOff ; his mouth full of teddies, urinating defiantly, Sun 15 Jul 2012, 20:54, Reply)
This is a normal post That's where we're working
Right at the top of those locks.

There's a new bridge going in shortly, once that's there then we can start digging those locks out.
 (I helped save b3ta! Pew Pew Pew! Lasers! wannabe Gong Farmer, Sun 15 Jul 2012, 21:11, Reply)
This is a normal post Do you find many dead prostitutes at the canal?

(pissflaps. FSPW, Mon 16 Jul 2012, 9:34, Reply)
This is a normal post Good on you.
Nice to see someone doing something rather than sitting about whingeing/saying it's someone else's job.
 (I helped save b3ta! DrPrunesquallor is determined to post more as of, Sun 15 Jul 2012, 20:57, Reply)
This is a normal post It's not really fair to make a direct comparison
Obviously the project is worthy, but it doesn't bring in billions of pounds of tourist revenue.
 (I helped save b3ta! Lord Keeps meaning to procrastinate., Sun 15 Jul 2012, 23:46, Reply)
This is a normal post I vote for the latter.
A navigable waterway for leisure use is an excellent benefit for any urban or rural area, in addition to being one of the few things I miss out here. I'm formerly from HI, so water sports were a part of my life, albeit somewhat minor compared to most residents. To the north of me, some Denver residents obtain their fishing licenses and you can see the occasional urbanite flycasting the Platte River near the downtown area.

I just checked that on the global maps: that does look lovely and I wish you and the society all the best in getting it done. Can they take or use donations? I can't really physically help from Colorado and would enjoy giving what little I can towards that effort.
 (I helped save b3ta! Felis Concolor, Mon 16 Jul 2012, 5:51, Reply)
This is a normal post lazy

(Ol' Ginger Bastard a role model for the children, Mon 16 Jul 2012, 10:34, Reply)
This is a normal post Pffft!
Nob End
 (I helped save b3ta! TownsendsPublisher is all gravy baby, Sun 15 Jul 2012, 20:33, Reply)
This is a normal post Nob End locks
connect Twat Face Canal with Stupid Cunt Whore Water
 (Ol' Ginger Bastard a role model for the children, Mon 16 Jul 2012, 7:29, Reply)
This is a normal post You kept your camera on the dump tractor for quite a while
You either like tractors or Mr. Arm Tattoo
 (I helped save b3ta! BrokenCoccyx doesn't mind if you grope on, Sun 15 Jul 2012, 21:33, Reply)
This is a normal post He's not so keen on them these days.
He's an ex-tractor fan.
 (I helped save b3ta! Purple Martin is board sigless, Mon 16 Jul 2012, 4:22, Reply)
This is a normal post Impressive.
I've walked some of this, between Bury and Manchester. It's currently awful - but it'd be great to see it come back to life in time.

I'm even tempted to sign up to give you a hand once I've got my current projects out of the way in a couple of months.
 (I helped save b3ta! Enzyme is powered by sunlight, Sun 15 Jul 2012, 21:44, Reply)
This is a normal post The more the merrier
You don't have to be a society member to volunteer, so just check the society's website (or gaz me).

www.mbbcs.org.uk/

(for some reason the society website is down, very odd...)
 (I helped save b3ta! Pew Pew Pew! Lasers! wannabe Gong Farmer, Sun 15 Jul 2012, 22:52, Reply)
This is a normal post The domain expired 2 weeks ago
Whoever has the enom login details better get in there quick and renew it

webwhois.nic.uk/cgi-bin/webwhois.cgi?wvw7yesk=3hryr4hby3&wquery=mbbcs.org.uk&submit=Lookup
 (I helped save b3ta! magnum, Sun 15 Jul 2012, 23:13, Reply)
This is a normal post too late
I've nabbed it for donkey porn
 (Ol' Ginger Bastard a role model for the children, Mon 16 Jul 2012, 4:46, Reply)
This is a normal post Good thing to see
I live in Wigan and the Leeds-Liverpool canal is near enough on my doorstep, its a great walk during the summer, this is good to see. I might pop down.
 (PieEater, Sun 15 Jul 2012, 22:16, Reply)
This is a normal post Good on you!!! a really worthy project!

(I helped save b3ta! skeltonator Needs some new daps., Sun 15 Jul 2012, 22:27, Reply)
This is a normal post Tree murdering bastards!

(Ol' Ginger Bastard a role model for the children, Mon 16 Jul 2012, 3:38, Reply)
This is a normal post whats the benefit in restoring the canal?
/question out of genuine interest, not snarkiness
 (augsav forgot about B3ta, Mon 16 Jul 2012, 3:47, Reply)
This is a normal post Lovely walks through the countryside
Reinvigoration of old industrial land, more wildlife habitat, new housing, jobs, increased property values, etc. Plus there's the opportunity to build new marinas along its route, so more trade for local businesses.
 (I helped save b3ta! Pew Pew Pew! Lasers! wannabe Gong Farmer, Mon 16 Jul 2012, 8:12, Reply)
This is a normal post Add to this fishing rights,
also cheap housing (Houseboats).
Generally good for the local economy.
 (I helped save b3ta! sumdarkplace is what really killed the radio star, Mon 16 Jul 2012, 11:24, Reply)
This is a normal post always handy for drowning a few kittens too

(Ol' Ginger Bastard a role model for the children, Mon 16 Jul 2012, 11:35, Reply)
This is a normal post cool beans :)

(I helped save b3ta! prodigy69 broke b3ta and made everyone leave, Mon 16 Jul 2012, 9:30, Reply)
This is a normal post I'm interested in voluteering
but the website is down. Can someone gaz me some contact details?
I used to live on a canal boat, and have always had a fascination for waterways, so would like to give some of my time to a local project.
 (I helped save b3ta! sumdarkplace is what really killed the radio star, Mon 16 Jul 2012, 11:20, Reply)