A STRETCH of canal in Solihull was so ‘filthy’ it inspired a father and daughter into a clean-up operation by boat.
Now Lee Skinner and his daughter Hannah Skinner, 13, have appealed to residents to stop leaving rubbish at one of their favourite walking spots – and for help from the Canal and River Trust.
The duo were out on a stroll on the towpath near the Lincoln Road North bridge in Lyndon when they came across a stretch of the Grand Union Canal that ‘ruined’ their walk.
After seeing the water blighted with thick algae, plastic bottles and litter, they were inspired to take matters into their own hands.
The next day the committed environmentalists returned with their blow-up dinghy and took to the murky and uninviting waters.
Armed with nets provided by Olton Tory councillor Bob Grinsell, the duo swept up as much of the muck and litter as they could.
And after two hours of aquatic litter picking, they had two bags full of plastic bottles, drinks cans and sweet wrappers.
Mr Skinner, of Rock Road, said: “It was quite a challenge, but it was great fun. Most of the rubbish was floating on the non-pedestrian side, so we needed to come back with our dinghy.
“We want to create awareness. Because the core issue is people continuing to litter.
“This has got to stop because it is getting out of control. There are clumps of algae and litter culminating in the water.
“We want this to be long-term project. Because we do care about our canals.
“They (CRT) need to know that people are willing to clean it, but we need help. We can’t do it on our own.”
The pair were distressed to see ducks trying to eat plastic bags and other wildlife affected by the rubbish.
Members of the Lyndon Residents Association thanked the pair for their work, and many offered their services for future clean-ups.
Hannah said: “It upsets me to know that people are just too lazy to put their rubbish in bins.
“However, I think that we would see a massive change in the amount of rubbish that is in the canals if more bins are put there.
“Cleaning the canal is so important to me because I walk along the canal a lot and it is a beautiful place.
“But when you look into the water there is an unpleasant view.
“The more help we can get the more rubbish we can collect and we will have cleaner canals for the future.”
