Bugsworth Basin needs some love again.
Bugsworth Basin is a cracking local asset, but it needs a bit of tender loving care before it gets too far gone. While plenty of folk pop by to enjoy the view, there are a few ongoing maintenance jobs piling up behind the scenes that need sorting. The local community have noticed that there has been almost no CRT presence since letting the local volunteer team go.
Maintenance Issues:
The Unfixed Sinkholes: Several sinkholes have been sitting in the basin for almost two years now, still waiting on fixes from those responsible for its repair. The water board? CRT?
Underground Complications: On the lower arm, where two major sinkholes are located, utilities like water and sewers were bored right through the clay layer, most likely back in the early 1960s, complicating ground stability.
Worn Out Walls & Puddling: The clay puddling behind the dry-stone walls has likely been there since the original build and is believed to be heavily degraded. The regular use of mooring pins by boaters may be making these fragile clay layers break down even faster. Signage to stop use of mooring pins (as was the case when BBHT ran the basin) could be a good idea?
The trackway needs a bit of love: The track used to get regular attention from BBHT volunteers, but it’s really starting to show signs of neglect. Keeping on top of the potholes while they’re small is the best way to stop them turning into bigger hazards, but it’s a job that’s slipped through the cracks recently.
BBHT Volunteers Getting Hands-On
The dedicated BBHT (Bugsworth Basin Heritage Trust) volunteers in days gone by were very hands on. They investigated and filled sinkholes, adding real, practical value where official upkeep falls short at present. This could be quite simply due to excessive red tape nowadays. Or simply lack of directed funding.
Sinkholes are nothing new for Bugsworth Basin and the clay puddling behind each dry stone wall will fail. Like mending a flat tyre, the basin will, forevermore need patching up. Sadly, since the BBTH wound up. Maintenance has slowed to almost a stop.
More recently, the local volunteer team did a brilliant job keeping the place looking tidy, cutting the grass, painting, and keeping everyone updated online. They put in a lot of heart, and their hard work made a real difference to how welcoming the basin looked.
Since those volunteer sessions stopped, things have definitely declined in the basin.
The basin looks like it is in dire need of a BBTH style task force to come about again. But how can this happen? Do you have any ideas?
Call to Action: The Basin Needs You!
Because the basin risks being overlooked, community action matters more than ever.
Are you a volunteer with practical trade, construction, or canal maintenance skills?
The basin needs people who can roll up their sleeves and add real value to keep the basin safe and functional. If you can offer your time to help protect Bugsworth Basin from being forgotten, get involved today!
Contact CRT North West with your skill set or just write to them to show your support for better maintenance there. The village needs local voices to help get CRT fully backed behind the basin, a place so many wonderful folk worked tirelessly to bring back to life, including many who are sadly no longer with us.
BBHT photo credits: Don Baines (A dedicated engineer who helped fix the basin)