If you go down to the brook today...

PRUNERS at the ready . . . (standing, left to right) Catherine Hartley (Irk Valley project officer with Manchester City Council), Richard Hadfield (Oldham Countryside Service) and Simon Papprill (Oldham Council regeneration). Front, Eleanor Sykes (left) and Jenna Simpson (Oldham Council regeneration).

IMPROVEMENTS have made one of the borough’s waterways a more accessible and attractive place to visit.

Work has been carried out over the past couple of months on the Moston Brook and Rochdale Canal corridors in Oldham.

It includes the construction of three new fishing pegs — two of which are accessible to disabled anglers — on the Rochdale Canal at Wrigley Head, resurfacing of the entrance at Hale Lane, the replacement of two vandalised benches and putting in a new gate at the entrance on Dalmahoy Close.

Officers from Oldham Council, Manchester City Council, the Environment Agency, Groundwork Oldham and Rochdale and British Waterways finished off the job last week when they cut back shrubs and cleared the path and steps at Chauncy Road, Failsworth.

Councillor Mohib Uddin, cabinet member for regeneration said: “This is an excellent example of partnership working in order to improve a popular area of the borough for all.

“Improving and increasing access to areas such as these makes a significant difference to the quality of life as local people and here in Oldham we are committed to opening up as many areas like this as we can.”

Moston ward councillor Paul Murphy, who is chairman of the Irk Valley steering group, said: “Community support for the project has been strong and as a result of this funds were secured to improve the site.

“This work has had a positive impact that will benefit both local communities and visitors.”

The work has been carried out by Red Rose Forest and volunteers with £12,000 of funding from Greening Greater Manchester. They worked in partnership with Oldham Council, Manchester City Council, the Environment Agency and Lancashire Wildlife Trust.