Marple Wharf Update

British Waterways Development Manager Jeremy Harrison contacted the Civic Society in April this year with a view to arranging a meeting.  After two years of silence this was, to us, an interesting development.  Unfortunately we have not heard from him since then.  

The Stockport Express (see article here) recently reported that Mr. Harrison said BW and H2O Urban still aspire to develop the wharf and bring it back into "sustainable" use, whatever that means!  In the past, during our conversations with BW this has meant the development of houses at the Wharf.


However, he is also reported as saying that boating facilities and retention of the New Horizons charity boat will be included in any development of the wharf. Whilst we welcome this change to the original proposal we will have to see what this means in practice, for example where will the boating facilities be located and will New Horizons retain 'their' yard? 

We believe that a planning application may be imminent and if so we would expect BW to begin a pre-planning application public consultation process soon.


In the meantime, Marple Wharf is deteriorating and several members have written to us expressing concern about this.  The wharf is suffering from vandalism, rubbish and lack of maintenance.  One of our committee members recently spoke to a member of BW's staff at the Wharf.  Click here to read a summary of the conversation.   

Vandalism to warehouse steps 

       

Rubbish at Marple Wharf

         
     
More photos here