Warning after dogs almost drown in weed infested canal

report & pictures by Paul Jackson

VOLUNTEERS battling to clear Warrington’s weed infested Sankey Canal are warning members of the public to be extra careful following reports of several dogs nearly drowning after mistaking it for solid land.

They are also calling for more support from Warrington Borough Council to help tackle the problem which is still resulting in the deaths of fish which are being starved of oxygen.

Marie, the elderly owner of Vixen, a 14 year old standard poodle explained how her beloved dog almost drowned.

“We come down here all the time and Vixen never goes near the canal, she doesn’t like water. On Sunday she was having her usual run around the grassed area when I heard shouting.

“I came over as quickly as I could and there she was in the middle of the water, matted with weed and going around in circles. I was terrified.

A young woman who we don’t know jumped into the water and dragged my Vixen to the bank. I fear if wasn’t for her heroic action I would have lost my dog. I wish I could thank her properly but she left.”

The basin area of the canal, near to Bewsey Lock, has now been cleared of the weed by local volunteers organised by Dallam and District Community Angling Club, but huge stretches of the canal are still a danger.

Club chairman Lou Morris said: ”One of our bailiffs heard splashing and went to help and saw the lady jump in and save the poor dog.

“It really does look like a grassed area and is very dangerous for dogs and children. We are clearing as much as we can but are only a small group of volunteers.

“We have removed dozens of bags of dead fish just from the basin area alone but more are dying every day, including over 200 kilos of mainly large carp and bream which would cost many thousands of pounds to re stock.

“The Environment agency have given us two aeration machines and a generator and our members have been manning it between them for 7 days.

“The problem is the equipment is supposed to run for 24 hours a day and we can’t cover through the night.

“We have pleaded with the Council for overnight security and they were able to provide somebody for two nights. They then said there was no more money for any further security. We called the office of chief executive Steven Broomhead, as we were desperate and ready to give up and received a call back saying that security would be provided for another night at least. We have also supplied two of our own pumps to help get oxygen into the water.”

“The public have been fantastic, helping out and bringing our bailiffs drinks and cakes. It is so sad to see such a beautiful part of the town in such a state.”

Meanwhile there is an A4 sized laminated sheet stapled to a fence at the cleared area of the canal warning of the dangers of the area to the public.

The borough council has introduced a biological control into the canal in order to try to eradicate the carpet of azola weed but until that has had a chance to take effect, members of the public are urged take extra care when walking dogs or when out with their children, as the canal is still a dangerous place.

A council spokesperson said:” “Warrington Borough Council continues to work with volunteers and the Environment Agency to address the azolla problem, azolla eating weevils have been released as a biological control, it will take a few weeks for the breeding populations released to significantly reduce the azolla.

“In the meantime oxygenation equipment provided by the Environment Agency is being deployed.

“This equipment is being monitored and protected by Dallam and district community angling group volunteers throughout the day and supervised by security staff working on behalf of the Council during the night– we have committed to sustaining this service while the oxygenation equipment is deployed.”