Thanks for the suggestion Will. I'll look into it, but the navagability (if such a word exists) of all three local streams is limited to canoes and kayaks. And at low water even they can be scraping bottom on some stretches. So I very much doubt if it comes within the BWB's definition of navigable.
I am presently attacking the local council, for they declared, at least on the Mersey, the canoe trail to be a public right of way. As I witnessed two kayakers in trouble, due to trolleys, one paddler of whom looked as if he might drown in front of me, I figure the council have to maintain such rights of way in a safe manner. No canoe trails on the Goyt and Tame, but their trolley problem is much less in any case.
I hope to persuade the local council to generate a bye law, to say all trolleys must be fitted with a coin slot device.

Old tyres are another problem. I am sure some company locally is dumping tyres into the streams. Catching them will be hard.

i dont know if anybody as seen the news about licenses. but the government are thinking of stoping the funds that go to the E.A whitch is about £9.4 million. so the E.A. are thinking of puting rod licenses up by £7.00 .?? just thought i would cheer you all up lads ..?? NOT..?? billy....

just had a circulation through the door ..one of the issue;s was kids jumping of the cliff into the weir in stockport.. anybody know whitch weir thay are talking about..???? i think its the goyt.billy

Originally Posted by billyfish

just had a circulation through the door ..one of the issue;s was kids jumping of the cliff into the weir in stockport.. anybody know whitch weir thay are talking about..???? i think its the goyt.billy

They regularly, sometimes daily in the summer holidays, jump off the cliff just above the weir in Woodbank. And then frequently into the weir itself. They have been doing it for years. A couple of years ago they got into trouble at least twice, one none swimmer being rescued by his mates having jumped off the top of the weir, and another who had the ambulance called after nearly drowning in panic.
There is warning notice on top of another cliff further downstream, so maybe they also jump from there. Heard some rumours also of kids jumoing into Harrison's weir on the Tame.

Very interesting thread this, I have spent quite a bit of time investigating different spots to fish the mersey and am keen to try a number of them but safe access and the sheer volume of rubbish in the river has seriously put me off having a go.

If you want to have another go at getting the river cleaned up send me a PM and I will add my voice and try to get as many others to join in as well, I also know a couple from the canoeing fraternety that I may be able to pursuade to join in for pushing for a clean up.

Martin.

I will try to organize a river clean in the Spring and liase with the canoe and fishing fraternity and hopefully EA and Stockport Rangers.

I have an idea to get the local supermarkets to sponsor an amount per trolley dragged out to go to local charity.

I know we tried to meet Jay Z. I'll catch up in the Spring.

If ever there is anything specific that you think needs moving then please PM me and I will try to get out to clear it.

The next big focus needs to be the tree debris at Brinksway weir.

Cheers Ian

Originally Posted by messingaboutonthemersey

I will try to organize a river clean in the Spring and liase with the canoe and fishing fraternity and hopefully EA and Stockport Rangers. I have an idea to get the local supermarkets to sponsor an amount per trolley dragged out to go to local charity. I know we tried to meet Jay Z. I'll catch up in the Spring. If ever there is anything specific that you think needs moving then please PM me and I will try to get out to clear it. The next big focus needs to be the tree debris at Brinksway weir. Cheers Ian

hi ian. i have been trying for 2 years + to get the weir cleaned up. jayzs even longer.its not just the trees.. they are recent. its the amount of trolleys and tyers thats been building up over the last 10 years.? because they have been left for so long they will take some shifting now, half buried in mud+ silt. i think it will take mechanical means to shift all that now. the E.A.told me its the councils responsibility not theres. but after many phone calls to them.NOT ONE REPLY..maybe you can get someone to listen and get something done.? i couldent. good luck billy

Originally Posted by messingaboutonthemersey

I will try to organize a river clean in the Spring and liase with the canoe and fishing fraternity and hopefully EA and Stockport Rangers. I have an idea to get the local supermarkets to sponsor an amount per trolley dragged out to go to local charity. I know we tried to meet Jay Z. I'll catch up in the Spring. If ever there is anything specific that you think needs moving then please PM me and I will try to get out to clear it. The next big focus needs to be the tree debris at Brinksway weir. Cheers Ian

Yes, we need to chat. I am never too worried about tree debris as an angler. I regard it as a quite natural event on the river system. Whilst it is there it will actually benefit the wildlife extensively. Very few anglers fish the Mersey, it is just too difficult. Much harder to fish than the other local rivers, so I would not expect too many anglers to be there to help. Brinksway weir though has an astonishing amount of trolleys, both visible, and many more sub surface, some of which I saw causing a couple of kayakers a severe problem. Grappling hooks will be a minimum requirement. I suspect that the weir will always have too many trolleys etc in the depths to make angling comfortable. Every flood brings new ones.
I am not sure whether the supermarkets will be up for the charity challenge, although if we can make a splash in the newspapers, they may have no choice about it. I would think that most trolleys that far down the river have been in it for some time, and will not be regarded as sufficiently hygienic for re-use.
Ideally I would like to see a local bye-law, that says all supermarket trolleys must have coin locks.

I tried to interest the supermarkets in trolley removal. Asda more or less refused to speak to me, and did not reply to letters, although they claim on their webite to be the greenest supermarket. Tescos say they have a policy for removal of all trolleys within a mile radius of the store, but they don't seem to enforce it too enthusiastically if the trolley is in a river. When I tell them of specific trolleys in the Tame, they say they will be removed, but often they remain until the next high water pushes them downriver. Tesco admit to losing many trolleys, but say coin locks are not customer friendly. At least Sainsbury have the coin locks on their trolleys. very few of their trolleys end up in the river.

I did get the council to say that they would remove the Brinksway, Ford Street, and Bleachworks trolleys. Trolleys were removed from the bleachworks but I suspect that the council was not involved. Otherwise no action.

The other issue is the utilities companies, whose sewage works on all three rivers still discharge sanitary towels and condoms into the streams. Can they not filter their output. Not exactly nice to see them festooning the banks and trees, and most unpleasant to hook them. Record: 6 towels in 6 casts on the Mersey.

Seems our friendly outflow was pumping more rubbish out this morning. It was a bit difficult to tell whether there was a marked difference in water colour as last nights rain has the river running a few inches up and a little coloured.

However, there's no mistaking the scum on the surface or that that's collecting in the margin. There's none of this above the outflow on either side. It only appears below the outflow on that side.

Another call to the EA? They're going to think I'm some kind of Eco Warrior.

The last two calls I've made have seemed a little pointless.

Its the best and only thing we can do.

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