The people of Yorkshire have been invited to attend a public meeting to find out how the county’s waterways are cared for and how they’re recovering after the destruction caused by the Boxing Day floods.
The Canal & River Trust is inviting anyone who cares about their local canal or river to give their views on the way they’re cared for at a meeting that is taking place in Castleford on Thursday 14th April.
With flooding affecting waterways from Selby to Sowerby Bridge the meeting will give people an opportunity to hear about what’s been happening on their local stretch and find out about ongoing works to get everything back up and running as quickly as possible.
The meeting will also focus on the ways in which communities across the county are taking amore active role in the day-to-day care of their local canals and rivers. It creates an opportunity to hear about the work that the Trust has put into making local waterways better for the people that visit them every year.
The region’s canals and rivers have always played an important part in daily life, attracting millions of visits each year, supporting local businesses and providing important wildlife corridors into the heart of our towns and cities. It is the responsibility of the Trust and the people who use them to care for the waterways so they can be enjoyed by local people and that their precious heritage and habitats can be preserved for many future generations to enjoy.
Jon Horsfall, waterway manager for the Trust, said; “Flooding will obviously be at the forefront of many people’s minds and this meeting will be an opportunity to highlight the great work that’s been taking place locally. We’ve had fantastic support from local volunteers and partner organisations that has resulted in us being able to open stretches of canal and towpath in time for the busy Easter period. There’s still much to be done however and the meeting will set out our plans for the coming months.
Whether you be a boater, walker, cyclist or fisherman everyone is welcome and encouraged to attend the meeting and share their opinion on how best the canals, rivers and towpaths can be protected.
The meeting will take place on Tuesday, 14 April from 17:00 to 20:00 at The New Wheatsheaf Conference & Banqueting Centre, Altofts Lane, Whitwood, Castleford WF10 5PZ. A buffet and light refreshments will be provided.
