Shrinking reservoirs shut down canals
SECTIONS OF THREE WATERWAYS IN REGION CLOSED DUE TO LACK OF WATER
SECTIONS of canals in Greater Manchester and Cheshire have been shut due to water shortages – and the lockdown could last into next month.
The Canal and River Trust has secured a number of locks, preventing use by boaters, to manage the ‘exceptionally dry weather.’ It means sections of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal at Wigan, the Rochdale Canal and the Macclesfield and Peak Forest Canals will be closed to boaters.
June was the third-driest month since records began in 1910. The warm weather continued into July. Although there was some rainfall last weekend, the mostly arid conditions have put pressure on reservoir reserves and other water sources that feed the canal network.
It has led to the closure of 5 per cent of the trust’s 2,000 miles of waterways.
The Leeds and Liverpool Canal has been closed to boats between Wigan and Gargrave since Monday. The trust said it had been ‘maximising’ the amount of water it is entitled to take from reservoirs feeding the Rochdale Canal but has still run out.
Rochdale is also supplied by feeder streams and rivers. But these have been depleted.
As a result, Rochdale Canal is closed between locks 1 and 48 to boats – from Sowerby Bridge to Littleborough.
The closure was due to start on Monday, but it has been brought forward.
A short stretch between locks 6 and 19 will be open for ‘restricted controlled passage.’ Other than this, all locks will be out of use.
Restrictions are in place on the Macclesfield Canal on the Bosley flight between locks 1 and 12.
Boats will only be able to use them between 8am and 2pm. Boaters are warned that the closure of the canal at Bosley, and of the Bugsworth Basin on the Peak Forest Canal, are expected from August 13. Boating on the Lower Peak Forest (below Marple) and Lower Macclesfield Canals (below Bosley) will remain unrestricted.
The Huddersfield Narrow Canal will also close to boats from Monday, between locks 24 West to 1 East (from above Uppermill across to Huddersfield).
A spokeswoman said it was yet to be confirmed how long closures will last – but it’s likely to be until next month and possibly beyond.
She said anglers and canoeists are still welcome and the towpaths will remain open. Jon Horsfall, from the Canal and River Trust, said: “There’s just no getting away from the fact that we haven’t had enough rain and that’s affecting our ability to supply certain sections of canal in the north with the water they need.”
He said restrictions had been in place to conserve water – but every time a boat goes through a lock it uses around 300,000 litres.
He added: “We’re continuing to work with boaters and boating businesses to try and minimise the impact on them as much as we possibly can, including giving them information to help plan their cruising.
“We’d like to thank them for their help and understanding in these exceptional circumstances and can assure them that we will re-open canals for boats to use as soon as the water supply is back to a sufficient level.”