THE Canal & River Trust intend to close both the Macclesfield and Peak Forest canals in early June 'for several weeks' due to lack of water.
The flights on these two waterways are already suffering restrictions, but should there be no heavy rain in the near future the navigations will be completely closed from 10th July until water supplies have recovered, Keith Gudgin reports.
Various reasons
Various reasons are given for the closures, boaters being told:
1 The Peak Forest & Macclesfield canals began the main boating season with much less water than normal following the on-going repair works at Toddbrook Reservoir.
2 The remaining reservoir holdings are required to protect the canal infrastructure and meet the trust’s legal responsibilities to protect the ecology and biodiversity throughout the summer.
3 We are currently reinstating a feed from Combs Reservoir, which has been rested this year as a result of the repair works to the feed channel. However if Combs cannot be brought back into use, the closure could take effect sooner.
Admits there is leakage
To conserve as much water as possible whilst these closures are in place, CaRT tells, both lock flights will be padlocked closed and secured against operation and the gates will be 'ashed' to reduce leakage.
It also tells that its customers should note that access on and off the Peak Forest Canal is currently further restricted by recent third-party damage (it was first stated as a 'fault') to Wood End Lift Bridge which restricts any movement on or off the Peak Forest Canal beyond this point.