Town to celebrate launch of canal improvement project

Work has already been taking place to improve the look and accessibility of the canal from Todmorden to Sowerby Bridge. The towpath surface and its access points have been improved.

The Mayor of Todmorden, Coun Richard White, and the Deputy Mayor of Calderdale, Peter Wardhaugh, will officially open the scheme with a ribbon- cutting ceremony by the canal at 2pm in Lever Street car park in the town centre. The project is a joint scheme between Calderdale Council, Todmorden Pride and Todmorden Town Council.

Groups involved include members of Incredible Edible, who will help visitors make bug houses to encourage bees to inhabit the area, while there will also be an opportunity to make seed parcels – a mixture of wild flower seeds and compost that can be used on spare ground to encourage flowers next spring.

Origami boats made from biodegradable paper will be launched on the canal holding miniature cargo of waterside wildflower seeds. Todmorden in Bloom will be revealing the secrets to their floral displays by demonstrating techniques for container planting.

The planters will then be installed on canal side walls to provide further colour and interest throughout the year.

Members of Todmorden Art Group will be demonstrating the traditional rose and castle art associated with canal barges, and there will be colourful canal boats moored up around Shop Lock and Fielden Wharf.

Calderdale Council’s Cabinet member for safer and stronger communities, Pauline Nash, said: “Canals are one of Calderdale’s important attractions and are well used and much loved by visitors and local people alike.

“I am grateful to everyone who has worked together to make these improvements possible. All their hard work is evident in the canalside today.”

Coun Wardhaugh added: “I’m extremely proud to have been asked to officially open this scheme. It’s great we are able to have such a fantastic canal network open that stretches from one side of the country to the other. There are tremendous benefits to be had by these improvements.”