I FEEL I must write on behalf of St Helens Angling Association. A few weeks ago I received a letter from the council informing us that they intended to erect some gates across the entrance to the St Helens Canal at the Todd Road End.

I arranged a site meeting with them to see if it would restrict our access for anglers especially for the disabled in wheelchairs and the elderly who may need to use a trolley, also the problem of where to park.

First thoughts were that there didn't seem to be a great problem (apart from the parking). Not until the gates were erected that is.

Could you get a wheelchair through? No. Could an elderly angler get his trolley through? No. The gates are also on a new cycle way, could anyone get a cycle through? With great difficulty.

Obviously the designers of these contraptions don't have any disabled relatives, don't go fishing, and have never ridden a cycle.

We have a couple of clubs wishing to visit the canal shortly who have disabled members. Could someone from the council explain to me how they are going to get onto the canal bank?

St Helens Angling Association have held the fishing rights on the St Helens Canal for more than 100 years and it now seems that we are being denied access. Can anyone from the council come up with any solutions please.

Les Bromilow, St Helens Angling Association

(Ed. The Star reported on the plight of the disabled anglers in an earlier issue.)

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.