Notice Alert
Location: Lock Flight Operating Times, Macclesfield & Peak Forest Canals, Intersection of: Lock 1 to Lock 12 on Macclesfield Canal and Lock 1 to Lock 16 on Peak Forest Canal – Monday 3 April 2023 08:30 until further notice – Type: Navigation Restriction, Reason: Water resources
Update on 26/06/2023:
As a result of continuing dry weather, we will need to temporarily close the Peak Forest & Macclesfield Canals for navigation from 10th July until water supplies have recovered.
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. The water in Bosley and Sutton Reservoirs has been used carefully and the restricted opening times have been successful in prolonging the supply to maintain navigation.
Continued hot, dry weather means that holdings are now getting very low, even taking the recent rainfall into account, and so a navigation closure will be put in place along the Marple and Bosley Lock Flights. 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.
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. Trials are due to commence Monday 26 June to convey water along the feeder channel. If these are unsuccessful, we are planning to reinstate pumping to abstract water from Combs into the canal via the River Goyt at Whaley Bridge. If a feed from Combs can be reinstated, then a planned closure will come into effect on Monday 10 July, however if Combs cannot be brought back into use, the closure could take effect sooner. We will of course be confirming details with boaters and local businesses as soon as we possibly can.
We anticipate that these canals will remain closed for several weeks, but this is entirely weather dependent. Whilst the closures will prevent use of the lock flights, cruising between the lock flights will remain available.
Water holdings will be monitored carefully throughout the summer and if there is continued, significant rainfall then it may be possible to reopen to navigation. During the planned closure the Trust is looking into bringing forward essential maintenance along the Marple Flight, which had originally been scheduled for this winter.
To conserve as much water as possible whilst these closures are in place, both lock flights will be padlocked closed and secured against operation and the gates will be ‘”ashed” to reduce leakage.
Customers should note that access on and off the peak forest canal is currently further restricted by recent third-party damage to Bridge 24, Wood End Lift Bridge which restricts any movement on or off the Peak Forest canal beyond this point. Updates on this closure can be found here
The Trust understands what an impact this has on boaters and boating businesses and apologises for the inconvenience and uncertainty that the closure brings.
For the most up to date information on waterways across the North West and surrounding areas that are unaffected along with active water saving restrictions and their locations please follow the link here.
Update on 06/06/2023:
As a result of the current and forecasted dry weather and the continuing repair works at Toddbrook Reservoir, we are implementing some further restrictions to support continued navigation across the Macclesfield & Peak Forest canals this summer.
To help manage and ensure a sustained water supply for as long as possible, we need to further restrict the use of the lock flights from Monday 19 June 2023. Our teams of volunteers will be onsite to oversee passage and to help conserve as much water as possible.
From Monday 19 June 2023, the following operating times will apply:
Bosley Lock Flight – open Sundays and Thursdays
- Open from 8:30am to allow passage through the flight. Last boat entry to the flight will be at 1pm, and all boats must have exited the flight by 4pm.
Marple Lock Flight – open Tuesdays and Saturdays
- Open from 8:30am to allow passage through the flight. Last boat entry to the flight will be at 12 noon, and all boats must have exited the flight by 4pm.
You can help us conserve water by ensuring paddles are fully closed once you have passed through a lock. You can see how working together can help us all save water here, and learn how the Trust manages our water here.
We apologise for the inconvenience and disruption this may cause to your boating plans. By implementing these operating times, we hope it will allow boaters to plan your journeys knowing what to expect over the summer months as our teams continue to work hard to conserve water at every opportunity.
Our teams will continue to monitor our reservoir holdings throughout the season and where possible, amend the operating times should the situation improve. Please note, these operating times will remain under review and could be subject to change.
For the most up to date information on waterways across the North West and surrounding areas that are unaffected along with active water saving restrictions and their locations please follow the link here.
Learn more about our current Northern Reservoir situation here.
Up until, and inclusive of, Sunday the 18 June, the times previously advised will be in operation.
Original message:
Lock Flight Operating Times, Macclesfield & Peak Forest Canals, 2023
Following the on-going repair works at Toddbrook Reservoir, we are starting the upcoming main boating season with much less water than normal. Unfortunately, this means that there will be limited supply of water to support navigation in the North West this spring and summer.
To make sure that the limited water that is available lasts for as long as possible, we need to restrict the use of the lock flights from Monday 3 April 2023.
The Trust is providing additional resources to this area to support our water management activities and will have teams of volunteer lock keepers helping to conserve as much water as possible.
From Monday 3 April, the following operating times will apply:
Bosley Lock Flight – open Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays
- Open from 8:30am to allow passage through the flight. Last boat entry to the flight will be at 1pm, and all boats must have exited the flight by 4pm.
Marple Lock Flight – open Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays
- Open from 8:30am to allow passage through the flight. Last boat entry to the flight will be at 12 noon, and all boats must have exited the flight by 4pm.
Both Lock Flights will be closed on Fridays to help the summit water levels to recover ahead of the weekend demand.
We apologise for the inconvenience and disruption this may cause to your boating plans. By implementing these operating times, we hope it will allow boaters to plan your journeys knowing what to expect over the summer months as our teams continue to work hard to conserve water at every opportunity.
You can help us conserve water by ensuring paddles are fully closed once you have passed through a lock.
Our teams will continue to monitor our reservoir holdings throughout the season and where possible, amend the operating times should the situation improve. Please note, these operating times will remain under review and could be subject to change.
You can view this notice and its map online here:
https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/notice/24494/lock-flight-operating-times-macclesfield-and-peak-forest-canals-
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