Disaster waiting to happen!

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

We were all quite excited when a family of Badgers decided to take up residence at Etherow!

The Sett is very active and the spoil heap outside the front door is fresh every morning

The area is fenced off with sturdy posts…..But!…….

Imminent DANGER!…….

CAN YOU SEE HOW CLOSE THE SETT IS TO THE CANAL!

About 10 feet!

To the right of the picture is a 100 foot drop…..Down to the river!

When the break through comes…….The entire Etherow Lake complex will discharge into the river with very serious consequences!

Warning notices were put up yesterday……Asking the public to report any water seepage!

Surly……The Council need to act about six months ago?

I can`t imagine what the next move will be?

Close the road and dam the canal for starters!

Bob

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Etherow Country Park

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Latest news

Duckie was talking to the Warden yesterday and as a result……That is how the warning messages came to be posted!

I think I ought to phone the Warden……Before it`s too late

This is ridiculous!

Bob

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

I have just phoned the centre, but the Warden is not there at the moment

I was out of order really, advising the receptionist…..That the water level needs dropping right away!

But it had to be done!……..I just couldn`t rest, knowing the seriousness of the situation!

I feel rather embarrassed now, but what would you have done, in the circumstances?

At least, I can switch off now

Bob

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Latest news

The Warden has returned my call and actually thanked me for my timely warning this morning!

The water level is being dropped as we speak and the canal wall will be reinforced over a length of 150 metres!

Blimey!……That was a close call!

Bob

[Paul TParticipant @pault84577]

Well done Bob that was very observant and public spirited

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Thank you, Paul

Glad you think so, but today I was politely accused of being a busy body!

Bob

[Paul TParticipant @pault84577]

Bob

We all have what is called a Duty of Care to make aware and advise individuals, organisations or institutions about things that we perceive to be an imminent problem or danger.

How would you feel if you didn't tell anyone about your concerns and the earthwork bank collapsed?

Do you remember when the Bridgewater canal burst its banks at Dunham….this was caused by rabbits burrowing into the earthwork embankment.

Paul

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Well said, Paul

We called at Etherow this morning, for a general nosie and look round

Spoke to the Warden and they are about to reinforce 150 metres of the canal bank

Nice to see the water going down.

The main lake is a concern also, with the steep river bank, about a mile in length. there are inspection ports every 50 metres

The earthworks have been there for about 200 years…..But the Badgers are very active now

The clock is ticking……..Tick Tock

Bob

[Tony HadleyParticipant @tonyhadley]

Over the winter months, I went to lecture given by the society who are restoring the Manchester, Bolton and Bury canal. One of the items discussed was the 1936 canal bank collapse and your actions may have prevented such a disaster. This time the disaster wasn't caused by badgers, more colliery workings. Why don't organisations remember the old saying which grandparents would use – "a stitch in time saves nine".

**LINK**

Going off thread, the type of boats used when the canal was in use are interesting. They used a early type of container, a coal box. They found that the coal loaded into the barges was easy to get in, but a struggle to get out. The boats were lined with boxes which could be filled with coal at the colliery and craned out at the factory. Containers ships aren't a new idea.

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Thank you, Tony

Once the water trickles through into the Badger Sett…………Disaster!

There are such box type barges you describe, at the Boat Museum at Ellesmere Port

Here is an old Etherow Barge……..Built at the approx. same time as the Great Eastern

There is another barge upstream where nobody goes…..Really spooky

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

This mornings picture showing the pleasant surroundings and Badger Setts…..And the real Lady Joyce driving by

Note the new warning signs

Bob

[DuckyParticipant @ducky]

I didn't say you were being a busy body Bob, I said the warden knew about the situation and let him get on with his job and not try to tell him is job which he has been doing for the last 20 odd years.

Duckie.

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Ducky…..I hate to be a scare monger……But in my eternal looking for danger opinion….The situation is exactly a ticking time bomb!

The Badgers could break through the canal wall even as we speak and the water in the canal and lake could break out and wash the embankment away including any people there at the time!

Why has the path not been closed to the public?……..If the Warden knows his job?

Now then……What should we do now?

Phone the Emergency number or look the other way?

Bob

[Paul TParticipant @pault84577]

Bob

You have done your civic duty and raised your concerns with the relevant authority.

Now, as Ducky says, you have to stand back and let the responsible persons do their jobs.

Sometimes to the outsider it might not seem that anything is being done when in actual fact the responsible persons have undertaken their due duties to the fullest extent.

Paul

[DuckyParticipant @ducky]

Bob, this situation has been going on for weeks now, the fact that there have been signs put up in the past couple of days seems to me to say that the authorities are on the job and if you are still concerned why not ring the emergency number provided and have a word with them for your piece of mind.I won't be getting involved in this again and will let the authorities and nature take it's course.

Amen.

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

I'll put my faith in the Warden's judgement

Bob

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