Leeds to Liverpool Canal to be repaired by offenders
16 Apr 2009
Lancashire Probation Trust has began a new partnership with British Waterways which could see upwards of 20,000 hours of Community Payback, at an approximate value of £140,000, being completed by offenders for the benefit of local communities each year. The Partnership is being piloted in Burnley on the Leeds & Liverpool Canal.
Offenders on Community Orders will be working on the canal from Gannow Tunnel to Westgate Bridge for the next 10 weeks as part of their sentence. They will be clearing overgrown vegetation and cleaning litter from the banks of the canal as their punishment to pay back for their crimes.
Offenders will also be rebuilding walls that have fallen into disrepair and cleaning graffiti from the walls and bridges of the canal. After which they will be repairing and maintaining the towpath which runs along side the canal.
Lancashire Probation’s County Partnership Officer, Asad Shiekh said: “This is a great opportunity for offenders across the county to be seen cleaning up the environment and creating cleaner and safer communities. This will be a highly visible way in which offenders can be seen paying back into the communities which they have committed crimes against.”
British Waterways North West Contracts Manager, Daniel Greenhalgh said: “The works completed to date have made a huge impact to this wonderful heritage asset and have brought encouraging comments from our customers and members of the local community. British Waterways is excited about this partnership and hopes to extend the scheme throughout the North West.”
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