HOW TO HELP THE LEITH.

Evening Star, Issue 20139, 2 April 1929, Page 12

HOW TO HELP THE LEITH.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —I would like to offer, my suggestions how to alter the outlet of the Leith canal so as to give it double or more the width it has at present. The sides of the canal are formed of concrete sheet piles from the outlet to very near the highway bridge. My idea is to start on the north wall by drawing the piles and redriving them at a chain and a-half wider. I would start at the mouth and work up toward the highway bridge) thus every pile _ removed would give the extra width right away. The suction' pump could bo floated to the mouth of the canal and worked when the tide suited best to shift that strip of mud released by the drawing of the piles. When the new width reached the highway another abutment could be constructed and the bridge lengthened. The present north abutment would then become a pier. The work could then be pushed on, perhaps not quite so wide, right up to Forth street, hut in a straight line from the increased width at the highway, to Forth street bridge. This would stop the backing up of the water on that stretch of the canal which is so affected by the tide, and it would be an effort to bring the outlet back to what Nature desires. This could he gone on with immediately. There nonld ho no compensation for land required, as the Harbour Board controls right to Fortli street. We are badly in’ need of help, especially in Harbour terrace, where no are completely trapped by the raising of the exhibition grounds at our back door, thus putting our sections 5i below the present formation. —I am, etc., H. Barton. Harbour terrace, April 1.