Hale Independent Issue 196

3 SEPTEMBER 2026 Visit our website: www.independentnewspapers.co.uk SURVEY and design work on the Bridgewater Canal breach at Little Bollington is complete, but repair work will start later than hoped after the August target was missed. The Bridgewater Canal Company is now seeking a contractor. Construction cannot begin until technical reviews and responses come back from the Environment Agency, National Gas, Cadent Gas and United Utilities. The proposed works include rebuilding the embankment, replacing the canal wall, installing a new culvert, then reflooding the canal and removing the tempo- rary dams. Peter Parkinson, managing director of the Bridgewater Canal Company, said: “We recognise that the continued A BLUE plaque has been unveiled at a Bowdon house to mark the life of WilliamWood, the social reformer known as “The Climbing Boys’ Friend”. The plaque is at Willow Cottage, 28 Stamford Road, where Wood lived after retir- ing there in 1847. It was unveiled at a cere- mony organised by Trafford Council’s Local Studies team, attended by residents, histo- rians, council members, Con- nor RandMP and the Friends of Bowdon Churchyard. Wood, born in 1782, was a wool merchant who began campaigning in 1826 after seeing a young boy fall to his death inside a chimney onto a live fire. “Climbing boys” were children sent up chimneys to sweep them, often suffering burns, res- piratory illness, deformity and suffocation. From Bowdon he funded prosecutions against mas- ter sweeps who broke child labour laws, put up placards at railway stations and wrote to newspapers. He also challenged mag- istrates and even Queen Victoria over the use of a child sweep at Windsor Castle. His work with Lord Shaft- esbury included testimony to the House of Lords in 1853, which helped lead to the Chimney Sweepers Act of 1875. Wood died in 1868, aged 85, seven years before the practice was banned. Six chimney sweeps from five towns carried his coffin to TOTAL Fitness has invested approximately £90,000 in a refurbishment of its Altrincham club, creating additional space and variety to help members feel more confident and comfortable working out across all areas of the club. The upgrade was driven by data gathered at the club, including footfall patterns, demand across different areas of the gym and chang- ing member demographics, with younger members increasingly using the club at peak times. The work has transformed underused studio space into a new hybrid cardio and func- tional training area, while also improving the layout and flow of the wider gym floor. The former second studio space now includes treadmills, stair climbers, cross trainers, bikes, a sled track, SkiErg, rower and functional training kit, giving members more ways to work out in one dedicated space. The investment also includes new flooring in the Women’s Workout Space, alongside the relocation of a squat rack into the area following mem- ber feedback. The wider refurbishment also includes changes across the upper and lower gym floors, with equipment repo- sitioned to create a better sense of space and make it easier for members to move through the club. Additional resistance, cable and free weights areas have been introduced to give mem- bers more choice in how they exercise. £90k gym refurb Canal repair delayed after target missed restriction is frustrating for boaters, local residents, busi- nesses and everyone who uses and enjoys the canal. “While we had hoped to begin construction in August, there are a number of technical and statutory requirements that need to be resolved before works can safely commence.” The canal breached on New Year’s Day 2025 after heavy rain. Temporary dams have since kept a stretch of less than half a mile unnavigable. In December the company said it hoped construction would start in the summer of 2026 and finish by the end of the year. A further update is due in mid-September after the next stakeholder meeting. The newly installed blue plaque (Image: Supplied) Plaque honours social reformer St Mary’s Churchyard. Wil- liam Wood was known as “The Climbing Boys’ Friend” Cllr Eve Parker, Trafford Council’s Executive Member for Leisure, Arts, Culture and Heritage, said: “William Wood’s story is a remarka- ble piece of local history, and it’s a privilege to honour his life’s work. “Fromhis home in Bowdon, he fought tirelessly against unimaginable cruelty, using his own time and resources to protect vulnerable children across the country.” WHYSTOPAT CARD AND CANS? YOUR CRUSTS AND CORES CAN BE RECYCLED TOO Start using your food recycling service today! Visit recycleforgreatermanchester.com/food