Drought forces partial closure of Leeds & Liverpool Canal

13 July 2010

With some of the worst drought conditions for 100 years British Waterways, the body which cares for the country’s 2,200 miles of historic canals and rivers, has today 13th July, announced that it is taking the highly unusual step of partially closing a canal in the North West.

The planned closure of almost half of Britain’s longest man-made waterway – the 127-mile long Leeds & Liverpool Canal – will take effect from Monday 2 August, and will close for boating for 60 miles from Wigan in Lancashire to Gargrave in North Yorkshire. The remainder of the canal will stay open for navigation, however there will be a restricted lock schedule to minimise impact on neighbouring waterways. The towpaths are unaffected by the closures, although British Waterways is asking all visitors to take extra care to stay away from the towpath edge as water levels fall.

Vince Moran, operations director for British Waterways, explains: “Canals depend upon a complex system of reservoirs and rivers to remain topped up with water however, the lowest rainfall in almost a century combined with high temperatures has left the regions’ water supplies at record low levels. We have been doing all we can over the last three months to conserve water levels within what is a popular and 200-year old working canal, and we would only close it as a last resort. However, our reservoirs are expected to have fallen to 10 per cent of their capacity by the start of August, at which point we must close off the water supply so as to be better able to manage the impact on navigation and wildlife.

“Unless we have significant rainfall within the next fortnight therefore we will be forced to put in stop planks along the canal, and shut off the water supply to the canal from all seven reservoirs from 2 August. We anticipate the restrictions continuing through the current drought but will reopen the canal as soon as sufficient water supplies become available. In the meantime we are contacting all affected customers, including boaters, hireboat companies and angling clubs and will do all we can to minimise the impact on them during this difficult period.”

For up-to-date information on the restrictions visit www.waterscape.com or telephone 0113 281 6850.

ENDS

For media enquiries please contact:
• Tracey Garrett, Marketing & Communications Manager, British Waterways (T. 07917 846 254, E. tracey.garrett@britishwaterways.co.uk)
• Press office (T. 020 7985 7263 E. press.office@britishwaterways.co.uk)

Notes to editors

• The Leeds & Liverpool Canal is Britain’s longest man-made canal at 127 miles, and, as the name implies connects Leeds to Liverpool. It was built over a 40 year period from 1770 – 1816 with James Brindley as the primary engineer. The canal was used to carry coal, limestone, wool, cotton, grain and other farm produce. The canal is today primarily used for leisure boating, walking, angling and cycling.

• British Waterways is the public corporation that cares for a 2,200-mile network of canals and navigable rivers across the country and works with a broad range of public, private and voluntary sector partners to improve the social, economic and environmental benefits of the inland waterways.

• British Waterways spends approximately £100m each year in maintaining and repairing the 200-year old waterways, which are today used by more boats than at the height of the Industrial Revolution. Nevertheless the network is still underfunded by around £30m each year and British Waterways has proposed that its historic canals, rivers and docks be transferred into a new ‘national trust for the waterways’ to help close the gap and encourage greater community involvement. For more information visit www.britishwaterways.co.uk