A FISHING club has pooled its resources to plug a leaky Wombwell canal after years of campaigning to get it fixed.
Barnsley and District Angling Society got sick of waiting for the council to repair Elsecar branch canal and went ahead and did it themselves.
The work was finished on Easter Sunday and the water levels are now back to healthy levels.
Secretary Tony Eaton said: “The council had promised us £35,000 was put aside for the job. But it took us £1,000 in materials to solve the problem.”
Anglers have been telling the council for years that the canal was leaking, and during hot weather, fish were seen gasping. The breach at Birk’s Lock near Smithy Bridge Lane was affecting the stretch fished by the society at Intake Bridge, near Morrisons.
Mr Eaton said: “Three years ago, I was told the council had ordered the clay to do they job. But it was never done.
“Our three guys with shovels and one with a dumper truck have got it sorted for £1,000 and it now looks a picture down there.”
