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Recent rainfall not enough to prevent Leeds & Liverpool canal closure

The reservoirs levels, which had been running at around 10-12 per cent capacity, have seen a slight increase due to recent rainfall but this has been nowhere near the amount needed to prevent the temporary closure. 

 

The feed from all seven reservoirs has been turned off and a stoppage put in place on a stretch from Lock 30 (Gargrave) to Lock 85 (Wigan). Stop planks have been put in at seven key locations along this stretch which will protect the long pounds – thus offering better protection for the aquatic ecology and prolonging water levels for moored boats.

 

The seven reservoirs will continue to be monitored daily for dissolved oxygen levels and temperatures. If the fish within the reservoirs become distressed, pumps will be installed to oxygenate the water. Boat hire customers who operate within the affected stretched have been offered help to relocate their businesses.

 

Daily monitoring

 

Vince Moran, operations director for British Waterways, said: “We’re hopeful that this is a short-term measure and we will be continuing to monitor the reservoir levels on a daily basis. There has been some rainfall in the area, however, this has not been on the scale required. Much more rain is needed to get back to the levels we would normally expect to be at this time of year. We can assure our customers that we will reopen the canal as soon as sufficient water supplies become available. All the latest details will be available on our special drought news page on www.waterscape.com

 

“We are going to make use of the stoppage time to carry out some of our planned winter works now. These will include the refurbishment and repair of lock gates at Wigan and Johnson’s Hill and the replacement of lock gates at Greenberfield. We will also be using the time to carry out cill and paddle repairs and carry out a survey of the canal bed to allow us to plan future works.”

 

Although 60 miles of this canal was closed, it was important to remember that there are still another 67 miles of it to enjoy.

 

He added: “We know the closure is a source of disruption and concern to many but we’d like to reassure everyone that we are doing all we can to minimise this and keep everyone informed of events as they progress.”