Cleaning
The old canal arms still contain oils and contaminants from their former use, some of the sites used to carry heavy industry. Whilst the spectrum of contamination in Cardroom is relatively modest - especially when compared to a coalfield - the site still needs treating...
English Partnerships are providing the funding to make this possible.
Best practice solutions suggested that soil washing and cement based fixation were the best options, which is just what we did. We certainly didn’t want to dig and dump - making our problem someone else's. The levels on the site also help us. The creation of the link between the two canals means that the line of the new canal passes through one of the lowest areas of the site.
To create the new canal we had to build land up. We did this by taking contaminated fill from areas required by foundations, cleaning it and dumping it in the lowest part of the site.
That way we made something good, out of something bad. Easy peasy lemon squeezy.
Summary of earlier industrial uses relating to contamination.
1794 Greens Map
A series of open fields divided by the meandering run of Shooters Brook. The faint dotted outlines refer to the proposed infrastructure and plots of land to compliment the planned Ashton canal.
1831
Rapid industrial development. This progress was measured by the construction of the canal arms, wharves, engineering works such as cotton mills, dye works, foundries and coal yards. The centre is primarily filled with terraced houses and a Methodist church.
1893
Densely packed industrial buildings near the canals consisting of mills, a galvanising factory and a wire works. The southern section of land has now been developed into the large Ancoats Hospital Complex.
1993 Ancoats
Hardly recognisable from the industrial era. The big mills have disappeared into the Cardroom. The canals have become disused and canal arms are in-filled.
