'We've spent decades trying to sort it then you get barmpots like this'

Damon Wilkinson
·2-min read
-Credit: (Image: Kenny Brown | Manchester Evening News)
-Credit: (Image: Kenny Brown | Manchester Evening News)


A tumble dryer, shopping trollies, old tyres, a DVD player and even a cuddly toy.

They're just some of things found dumped in the Ashton Canal in recent weeks, in what one long-standing volunteer has described as the worst fly-tipping he's ever seen. Things have got so bad that the Tameside Canal Boat Trust has had to abandon some half-term boat trips because the canal was blocked.

Chair Mark Nield said: "It's real mess. I have been on the waterways for more than 20 years and it's the worst I have ever seen.

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"It's the largest amount of rubbish we have ever found. The shopping trollies are the major problem, but there's also a tumble dryer, bed frame, bicycles, a DVD player, cuddly toys.

"It's like something out of the Generation Game! I'm expecting Brucey to pop up."

The charity organises boats trips along the canal from the Portland Basin. But last week one had to turn back after it hit a tumble dryer submerged in the water.

Rubbish on the canal bank -Credit:Kenny Brown | Manchester Evening News
Rubbish on the canal bank -Credit:Kenny Brown | Manchester Evening News

Mr Nield says it's thought the fly-tippers are dumping the rubbish from the Cavendish Street bridge. And he's calling on the authorities to do more to catch those responsible.

He said: "It's just ridiculous. We have boatfuls of families enjoying a trip on the waterways, but sometime it feels like we're taking them through a rubbish dump.

"We are all volunteers and we have have spent decades cleaning up the canals trying to make them for everyone to enjoy, then you get barmpots like this. It's absolutely disheartening."

A Tameside council spokesperson said: "The Canal and River Trust are responsible for the canal network in the UK. The council have contacted the Canal and River Trust to report this matter and to request that fly tipped waste is removed.

"Fly tipping is illegal and dangerous, we do not tolerate it in Tameside. Clearing waste costs resources and money which would be better spent in our communities, residents can report fly tipping on www.tameside.gov.uk/flytipping."

Leon Edmondson, area operations manager at waterways charity Canal & River Trust, said: "It's so frustrating to see fly-tipping and littering along our canals and rivers. We work to clear any litter from our land as quickly as possible and our charity spends around £1 million every year tackling this issue.

"Fly-tipping costs us money that could be better spent elsewhere on our 250-year-old network, protecting this amazing heritage and looking after wildlife. Please help us keep our canals, rivers and towpaths tidy by taking your litter home and reporting any fly-tipping you find by calling us on 0303 040 4040."

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