Extract from The Inland Waterways Association Head Office Bulletin – December 2003
Ashton Canal - Stockport Branch
A letter in the Stockport Times, which explained how the Manchester Bolton and Bury Canal has a society to promote its restoration, and the progress being made, has led to calls for the Stockport Branch of the Ashton canal to be restored.
Following expressions of interest from local people, an informal meeting was held in December, at which David Sumner, former chairman of Huddersfield Canal Society spoke, and those present decided to form a society. An inaugural meeting of the new society is due to be held on Tuesday 3rd February at 7:30pm at Stockport Town Hall.
Ashton Canal - Stockport Branch
Inaugural meeting. 3rd February 2004
Well they’re off and what a meeting. The inaugural meeting originally booked to take place in meeting room 106 was so well attended that Peter Scott was forced to move the venue to the Council Chamber.
Attended by 50 - 60 people including many well known personalities on the Northwest canal scene, the meeting was a complete success.
Officers were appointed to lead the society which provisionally will be called the Manchester & Stockport Canal Society. This name is intended to reflect the local interests along the canal line and not just the society base.
An official web site will follow as soon as possible, the address of which will be given on this site when available.
This embryonic society needs your help and support to survive so why not make a difference by becoming a member. An application form will be available on this site shortly but in the meantime why not e-mail me and I will send you details of how to join.
Manchester & Stockport Canal Society
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Thanks to an opportune offer from Sheffield Hallam University to undertake a feasibility study regarding the restoration of the Stockport Arm, this is now underway and it is hoped to have it available for the next society meeting
Canal walk - Clayton to Stockport. 20th March 2004
The canal walk has now taken place and was a complete success.
Starting out from the Navigation Pub after receiving best wishes from the Mayor of Stockport, 
we boarded our coach for Clayton where we were met by local councillor Neil Swanwick who walked with us to his constituency border. For most this was a walk of exploration, learning of the existence and line of the canal as well as appreciating some of the structures that are required for a functional canal.
Despite inclement weather we made good time back to our final destination, the Navigation pub where the landlady kindly laid on sandwiches for us.
Although some of the canal line is built on at the Stockport end, most people where surprised by how much of the original line is still in existence and were enthusiastic that it was more than possible to recover it.
From the Manchester Evening News -22/03/2004
From the Stockport Express 24/03/2004
From the Advertiser 26/03/2004
Local people start to discuss the return of the canal.
Recent newspaper articles have prompted local people in East Manchester to use their web forum to discuss the return of the Stockport Arm of the Ashton Canal.
This web site can be found by clicking on the link below.
To follow the discussion :
Click on discussion in the top text menu.
Click on take me to forums
Go down to Local Issues under Forum and click on it.
Select topics relevant to the canal.
Our society gets a mention on Jim Sheads ‘Clicking on canals page’ in the May issue of Waterways World
© W Bates, 2002
Last update: 01 October, 2004