CHILDREN living near the Bridgewater Canal at Bedford Basin will be safer in future, thanks to the quick action of council officials and the canal owners.

Urged by local councillor Brian Jarvis to attend a specially convened meeting, following the near tragedy of a three-year-old boy who almost died after falling into the water a fortnight ago, both sides have agreed to urgently erect a metre high metal fence.

The fence, which will have two spring loaded gates with bolts to allow access for fishermen and the like, will be constructed on a 160 metre length of the canal between Edward Street and Henry Street, close to where three-years-old Jason Oliver of Henry Street toppled into the canal after playing with friends only seconds after being checked upon by his mum, Marie.

It was only the heroic action of neighbour Gabrielle Lorenze and her 21 years-old neighbour Simon Unsworth who stopped the tragedy.

Gabrielle dived into the murky water from a barge while Simon helped to pull Jason onto the bank.

Cllr Jarvis had a meeting with representatives of Peel Holdings who own the Bridgewater Canal and Wigan Council.

"I emphasised the dangers of the open canal where no fencing exists and the outcome of the meeting was an agreement to build one a metre high. The order has already gone in for it and I hope it will be erected very quickly.

"I would like to thank Mark Hale for setting up the meeting and those who attended and have taken this in hand so quickly.

"This fence could stop a tragedy happening in the future."

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