Water shortage to shut much of Rochdale and Huddersfield Canals from August.

[MartinClark]

The continuing dry and warm weather will result in the closure of large parts of the Rochdale and Huddersfield Narrow Canals from Monday 6th August.

The sections of canal to be closed with locks padlocked are -

Huddersfield Narrow Canal:
Lock 1e (Huddersfield) to Lock 24w (Wool Road).

Rochdale Canal:
Lock 1 (Sowerby Bridge) to Lock 48 (Littleborough).

The section of the Rochdale Canal from Hebden Bridge to Todmorden (between Locks 6 and 19) will remain open but with navigation restricted to between 10.00 am and 2.00 pm under a local booking system.

Although the canal will remain open between Manchester and Littleborough it is unlikely that many boaters would decide to travel beyond New Islington Marina.

The Rochdale Nine lock flight in Manchester will remain open, linking the Ashton and Bridgewater Canals.

On the closed sections, the canal and River Trust says that "measures will be taken to make the locks inoperable" to prevent unauthorised use (e.g. by someone breaking the padlocks).

These closures will come into effect a week after the closure of the central section of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal from 30th July, meaning that all three trans-Pennine routes will be closed.

The Canal and River Trust says that it has reluctantly taken this decision due to the low levels of the reservoirs because of prolonged low rainfall and with the forecast for further dry weather.

The Canal and River Trust says that it is not known how long these closures will last for but that it's likely to be throughout August and potentially beyond if there is no significant, sustained rainfall. The towpath will remain open.

 

 

[David Mack]

And Bosley Locks on the Macclesfield are restricted to 8am to 2pm from today, with full closure expected on 13th August.

 

Marple Locks will remain closed and access to Bugsworth Basin is also being closed from 13 August.

[billh]

Manna from Heaven for CRT! Lack of rainfall  shuts down the NW canals and deflects criticism away from their inability to effect proper repairs to Marple,Bollington,Bosley etc.etc.

I see they are closing the whole of the Peak Forest from some date in August- exactly how does this conserve any water, given that Marple locks are closed  anyway.?  A day out from Ashton to Marple bottom lock  is a regular pleasant trip in these parts, soon to be denied?

Re Marple, it looks like lock 11 wall  is moving again. Having compressed the expanding foam they injected in the walls last winter, the foam has  decided to expand again .

[PeterF]

Notice arrived in email today that Tuel Lane is being closed immediately as water level has become critical. Hopefully, CRT will still be able to pump water into the Sowerby Bridge pound from the river to keep the Calder & Hebble in water.

[MartinClark]

Rochdale Canal - urgent update:
Because of the serious shortfall in water supply, the closures on the Rochdale Canal have been brought forward and go into immediate effect.
This involves the closure of all locks between Sowerby Bridge (Lock 1) and Littleborough (Lock 48).
This includes the section between Locks 7 and 19, which it had been hoped to keep open on restricted opening times. The Canal and River Trust will liaise with boaters on this section so that they can access vital services when possible, offering restricted, controlled passage. Other than this all locks will be secured and out of use.