Raw sewage leak is killing off fish

This is kinda of a worrying development. The construction of the Manchester Ship Canal was somewhat environmentally insensitive, cutting through the meanders of the River Irwell to leave a series of man-made ox-bow lakes. These lakes have remained live freshwater environments, nurturing a diverse ecology. However, the stretch of the river in Irlam seems to have been compromised by a unpopular housing development constructed on land nestling between the old River and the Ship Canal. This area of unmanaged open space, although privately owned by Peel Holdings, was of high amenity value to the local community, young and old, for many decades, but has now lost to new housing. The Old River, however, remained, marking out a stretch of open space linking Princes Park to the Boathouse Pub and a new area of managed open space beyond. However, the pollution of the river since the construction of the new housing has largely eradicated the value of this remaining space.

This stretch of water, for example, was of particular importance to the Irlam and Cadishead Community Action Plan. In 2007, for example, the Boat House Junior Fishing Club was established with National Lottery Funding of £10k. Salford City Council also plans to refurbish the fishing pegs on the Old River. Such developments now seem futile as most of the fish appear to dead or wallowing in human sewage.


Source: Raw sewage leak is killing off fish - News - Salford Advertiser