HARECASTLE TUNNEL IS CLOSED to navigation, as from yesterday, 8th October.
The closure being caused by a fault in the land line between the two portals, Keith Gudgin reports.
With Canal & River Trust advising that the Harecastle Tunnel has been closed with immediate effect and will remain closed to navigation until further notice, with the trust telling:
Loss of communication
'This decision has been made due to a fault with the landline at the South Portal, (pictured) resulting in a complete loss of communication at that end of the tunnel. As there is no reliable mobile phone signal in the area, we are currently unable to safely operate the tunnel without effective communication between both portals'.
The trust is awaiting repairs to the landline that is provided by Vodafone and will reopen the tunnel once the fault has been discovered and repaired.
It is expected to give an update by the end of the week.
For those boaters wishing to wind, there is space to turn at both entrances, the one at the south portal seen in the picture and the one at the north portal where the Macclesfield Canal joins the Trent & Mersey.