Idyllic village clouded by a deadly landmark whose future divides …

An idyllic Lancashire village described by its residents as a “perfect place to live” is clouded by a deadly landmark which has cost lives, yet keeps attracting daytrippers despite the clear dangers.

Situated between better known locations such as Parbold, Skelmersdale^[1], Chorley^[2] and Wigan, Appley Bridge straddles the border of Lancashire^[3] and Greater Manchester^[4]. This fact was never more apparent than when both counties were given different Covid restrictions and neighbours found themselves following different guidelines to each other.

The village is located minutes away from the M6^[5] and M58, making it an ideal base for those commuting to Liverpool or Preston^[6] as well as the other nearby towns. It is surrounded by idyllic countryside, as well as having the Leeds-Liverpool canal run through its centre right next to the River Douglas.

Both of those can be found very close to the train station, making it a pleasant place to visit on a day trip. Having three pubs – the Boathouse, the Wheatsheaf and the Ship Inn – within a few minutes walk also helps with that.

Its location within rolling hills and a series of connected villages also makes it a popular spot for cyclists and bikers and has helped with the success of The Gasket – a café which operates from within a converted shipping container on Skull House Lane. The cafe is filled with biking accessories and memorabilia and attracted dozens of guests to its inaugural biker night earlier this week.

The Boathouse pub sits at the canal side in Appley Bridge (Image: Jamie Lopez / LancsLive)

Unlike many villages, the centre has a remarkable industrial presence, with a timber yard, plant hire and factories among the many businesses located there and a very frequent succession of lorries passing through. This harks back to its industrial past when the quarries provided a major source of employment^[7].

Unfortunately, one of those quarries now offers a very different source of attraction as each summer, scores of teenagers visit to swim in the deadly water it is now filled with. The all too familiar sight of groups arriving at the train station and forcing their way through the security measures surrounding the water is one which fills those living nearby with dread.

Last summer, tragedy again struck when Southport^[8] schoolboy Jamie Lewin died in water, which is deeper than many realise. Jamie, a promising boxer described as “one in a million” by his heartbroken mum, was the third to lose his life in the water after Miracle Godson in 2015 and Craig Croston in 2019.

Despite its dangerous history and signs and fencing urging people to stay away, the quarry continues to be a source of attraction during hot weather^[9] and groups could again be seen visiting within days of Jamie’s death. Speaking at the time, Appley Bridge resident and mum-of-five Sarah Stephenson said: “You are dicing with death, definitely. They are going in there for fun – and coming out in the body bag, and they are carrying on doing that, despite the tragedy of Saturday night. One life is one too many in my eyes.”

The future of the quarry is one that divides opinion within the village. When LancsLive visited this week, there were arguments in favour of draining the water as a matter of urgency, while others said there were alternative options. One villager, who did not wish to be named, argued that the focus should instead be on educating young people of the risks to try to dissuade them from visiting.

Other arguments made against the plan have included the theory that an empty quarry would attract dirt bikes and quad bikes. Resident Julian Chambers previously told LancsLive: “Antisocial behaviour in abandoned quarries is astronomical with the illegal off-road communities. It would be an additional menace and not just one for when it’s sunny. Rain doesn’t put a dirt biker off.”

The current plan for owners, Maybrook Investments, is to drain the quarry completely, fill most of the space to a more shallow and flat level and refill with a much smaller amount of water. That process remains complicated by a planning row which will see the government’s Planning Inspectorate rule on whether a “certificate of lawfulness” should be granted to allow the works.

The idea of having the site filled with a much smaller volume of water is supported by a petition signed by hundreds^[10] and which suggests it could be a compromise which suits all parties. It calls for the creation of “a beautiful local recreational area for water sports and possibly a cafe” after the partial refill, reducing the risk while also providing an alternative to the possibility of housing being built there.

Away from the quarry, there is an undoubtedly friendly atmosphere within the village. As LancsLive walked along the streets and canal bank, which was lined by more than a dozen boats, not a single passerby missed the opportunity for a smile and friendly greeting.

Appley Bridge resident Norman Edwards

Inside the village’s scout hut, members of the Appley Bridge Community Association were spending their time trying to mend a broken table tennis table. The activity is one of a wide range carried out by those in the village.

The association’s work, and that of its volunteers, includes maintaining the grounds outside the hut which hosts a well-kept war memorial. They are also responsible for Appley Bridge Meadows – which offers an accessible, pathed route around an area of woodland.

Among those attempting the DIY repair job was 74-year-old Norman Edwards, a retired electrician who has lived in the village for three decades. He was effusive in his love for the village.

Norman said: “It’s a nice place to bring kids up. A lot of kids that are brought up here seem to go to university. It’s got a village vibe to it and it’s got schools which are very good.”

According to Norman, a lot of efforts are made by APCA to ensure the village feel is maintained across the county divide, with events held as part of this. He said: “We’ve run two duck races where we’ve had 3,000 people here – one just before lockdown and one just after. We’ve tried to do it for the whole community, we’ve had the public getting involved.”

Appley Bridge Meadows

The APCA also looks after the meadow, which is based at a space between the river and canal and was gifted to the community by its landowner. Norman said: “They’re trying to make it community bases. They have some groups go down there like wellbeing groups, they did an Easter egg hunt, they’ve got benches and they’ve got a hedgehog area so we’re looking after the wildlife.

Links to those other nearby villages can be seen in many forms and one example is Norman’s membership of the u3a – a charity run for and by retired and semi-retired people. As part of the Up Holland branch, the group is involved in more than 60 activities including walking, dancing, holidays, mahjong, bridge, Italian lessons and more.

Like some in the village, Norman was apprehensive to express his opinion on the quarry, knowing it can be a hugely contentious issue. He said it’s common knowledge that groups travel from locations places including Manchester, Kirkby and Southport and know it as “Wigan beach”.

Norman added: “It would be nice if it got sorted, either as a proper leisure place which is safe or if not, filling it in.”

References

1. ^{^} Skelmersdale (www.lancs.live)
2. ^{^} Chorley (www.lancs.live)
3. ^{^} Lancashire (www.lancs.live)
4. ^{^} Greater Manchester (www.lancs.live)
5. ^{^} the M6 (www.lancs.live)
6. ^{^} Preston (www.lancs.live)
7. ^{^} employment (www.lancs.live)
8. ^{^} Southport (www.lancs.live)
9. ^{^} weather (www.lancs.live)
10. ^{^} a petition signed by hundreds (www.change.org)