Canal trips back under way at Ashton's Portland Basin

Tameside's waterways have welcomed back a popular attraction.

Tameside Canal Boat Trust (TCBT) has been operating boat trips from Portland Basin in Ashton since 1991, but because of the coronavirus pandemic it had to drop anchor until the lockdown was eased.

The charity, which specialises in operating boat trips across the borough for community groups, including disability, disadvantaged, well-being, schools, veterans and many other charities, is now back on the water with their 72ft, 51-seat passenger narrow boat ‘StillWaters’.

TCBT volunteer Mark Andrews said: “Tameside Canal Boat Trust is committed to the enrichment of people’s lives and we champion the mental health and the well-being benefits of our waterways. 

“As a UK-registered charity, we are committed to helping to preserve the history and caring for our heritage network of canals.

“Once a year we join forces with The Canal and River Trust (CRT), to clean up the historic Ashton Canal. 

“This year Tameside Council and Jigsaw Housing both helped organise the event, with officers from Greater Manchester Police volunteering to help with the clean-up. TCBT have also applied to adopt a stretch of the Ashton Canal.

“The Covid-19 epidemic has hit TCBT hard as we have not received any funding, mainly due to our needs not matching Government funds made available. 

“Before Covid-19, in order to meet our basic operating needs, we have strived to help ourselves, by providing public trips from Portland Basin Museum, also private trips for birthdays parties, wedding receptions, events for business etc. We have also organised special events, including a Halloween cruise and a meat and potato pie supper.”

Mark added: “We are now, once again, allowed to operate our boat trips from Portland Basin and will continue to operate all public, private and group trips, although we have reduced our seating capacity to 15 for safety as we take our customers’ health and safety extremely seriously. 

“We will also be asking everyone to wear a face mask and observe the two metre distance rule while aboard.

“Public trips will also have a 15 minute gap between each trip, whilst we sanitise the boat thoroughly.”

The group is always looking for volunteers and help. If anyone is interested in sponsoring StillWaters, they can contact a member of the team via email info@tcbt.org.uk. 

The group is also looking for donations of masks, hand sanitiser and signage.

Main image:

SHIPSHAPE: Mark Andrews makes ready for TCBT trips along the Ashton Canal once more.