Calls to remove 'dangerous' abandoned canal boats

Children have been seen playing on abandoned canal boats like this one in the Sandiacre area of Erewash Canal

Campaigners are calling for several abandoned canal boats along a stretch of water in Derbyshire to be removed.

About five boats have been left along the 12-mile (19km) stretch of the Erewash Canal, which runs from Trent Lock in Sawley to Langley Mill in Amber Valley, according to the Erewash Canal Association.

The group says some of the boats have been left for several years and pose a health and safety risk, particularly to children who have been seen climbing on them.

The Canal and River Trust, which is responsible for canals and rivers in England and Wales, said it was working to remove them but costs could be as high as £10,000 per boat.

Some of the boats have been in the canal for long periods of time

Glyn Stenson, vice-chair of the Erewash Canal Association and manager of the nearby Sandiacre Lock Cottages, said: "It's been difficult for boaters to navigate along the canal, but also there's a huge health and safety issue.

"Children, being children, just love to climb on the boats and have fun but at the end of the day it's very dangerous."

Mr Stenson also said there were concerns about the impact on tourism during what should be the busiest time of year for the canal.

"When boats get abandoned it puts the canal into disrepute," he added.

"The Erewash Canal is a lovely canal, lots to look at, lots of history, lots of wildlife.

"So having [abandoned] boats within the canal is disappointing and I think it'll be very sad if the canal had a reputation as an area where you can dump."

Glyn Stenson said the boats reflected badly on the canal at a time it should be attracting the most visitors

Some of the boats have partially disintegrated into pieces, having been in the water for a prolonged period, according to the group.

Others, such as one in the centre of the canal, obstruct the route for other boats.

The group has claimed attempts to engage the Canal and River Trust have not been successful.

"The issue has been lingering for a long time now and what we would like to see is a clear timescale of when the boats are going to be removed," Mr Stenson said.

The Canal and River Trust told the BBC it is doing what it can to remove the boats "as quickly as possible", but added they were expensive to remove.

"Before a sunken boat can be removed, we must first make every effort to trace the registered keeper and give them the opportunity to recover it," a spokesperson said.

"Unfortunately, we are often left in a situation where boats are abandoned and we have to organise and pay for the recovery ourselves.

"This requires specialist contractors and can cost thousands of pounds, diverting our charity's limited resources away from our core purpose of maintaining our waterways."

Makeshift warning signs have been placed above one abandoned boat that has sunk

Labour MP for Erewash, Adam Thompson, who recently visited the canal, added: "My first priority is the safety of my constituents, several of whom have raised concerns that children have been playing on these half-sunken boats.

"Having visited, I agree there is a significant danger here and I will continue to work with the Canal and River Trust to get these dangerous boats removed."