Fears for safety on canal towpaths

Dave Wright is worried that the broken towpath and lack of lighting along the canal between the Diglis Lock and the Commandery in Worcester will cause an accident.

"People could be running along here or be on their bikes and could lose their footing on the broken towpath and fall in," he said.

He said the footpath was also uneven and in the summer months trees and shrubs grew over it.

"If someone is visiting here, it isn't going to create a good impression," he said.

"I'd also like to see some lighting down here, even if it's only a few lights on the bridge."

Although British Waterways owns the path, there is an agreement in which the city council takes care of the towpath.

"I talked to someone at the city council but they said they couldn't do anything about it until April because they don't have any money until then," said Mr Wright.

But Andy Rickman, assistant engineer for traffic management at the city council, denied they had told Mr Wright nothing would be done.

He said the council would carry out work when the weather was better and there was less risk of heavy rainfall or floods.

The council will repair the towpath by adding layers of self-compacting gravel.

"We need to carry out this work in the best possible weather," said Mr Rickman.

"We aren't talking about hundreds of pounds to carry out this work, we're talking about a four-figure number."

The council has had the agreement to look after the towpath since 1985 but other matters, such as lighting, are the responsibility of British Waterways.

Neil Bedford, waterways supervisor for Worcester and Birmingham Canal, said work was already being done to light other parts of the canal in Worcester, such as by Locks 1 and 2, the swing bridge, and the stretch of path near the Anchor Pub.

"I'd like to see lighting put in down by the towpath as soon as we have the money available," said Mr Bedford.