David Morgan of the Nantwich Guardian reports that:

Nantwich Road in Middlewich is currently closed after a HGV hit the canal bridge causing it to be ‘unsafe’ today, Wednesday.

The road is expected to be closed until Saturday, November 6 but this will be confirmed on Thursday, November 4 following further assessments.

The Worcester News reports that:

HOLIDAYMAKERS will be able to enjoy a 21-mile cruising ring around Worcestershire’s waterways after a missing piece of land needed for the project was finally secured.

Acquiring the missing link will enable workers to reconnect the Barge and Junction canals in Droitwich, a navigation route that . . . → Read More: Navigation route to be restored after deal]]> Monday 18th October 2010

The Worcester News reports that:

HOLIDAYMAKERS will be able to enjoy a 21-mile cruising ring around Worcestershire’s waterways after a missing piece of land needed for the project was finally secured.

Acquiring the missing link will enable workers to reconnect the Barge and Junction canals in Droitwich, a navigation route that was officially abandoned in 1939.

The work is part of the ambitious Droitwich Canals Restoration project, which aims to restore 12km (7.4 miles) of waterway linking the Droitwich Canals to the Worcester to Birmingham Canal and to the river Severn at Hawford to create the new cruising ring.

British Waterways plans to start work on Monday to convert a stretch of the river Salwarpe along Hanbury Road into the final link of the canal. Wychavon District Council leader Councillor Paul Middlebrough said: “This is fabulous news for the Droitwich Canals Partnership and the people and businesses of Droitwich.

“Securing this land means that the canals can be fully opened in 2011 and will enable the 21-mile cruising ring to become a reality.”

Jason Leach, senior regeneration manager for British Waterways, said: “It’s great to finally get work under way on the missing link.

“Thanks go to landowners Sunbury Engineering and Droitwich Garage, who are allowing our contractor to utilise their land as a works compound at no cost and have donated parts of their land to the council to ensure the project can go ahead.”

via Navigation route to be restored after deal (From Worcester News).

15th Sep 2010

British Waterways is today pleased to announce the phased reopening of the Leeds & Liverpool Canal beginning this Friday 17 September, with reservoir levels in North West at a sufficient enough level to get boat traffic moving again.

The stretch below Lock 51 at Barrowford to Lock 85 in . . . → Read More: British Waterways announces phased reopening of Leeds & Liverpool Canal]]>

15th Sep 2010

British Waterways is today pleased to announce the phased reopening of the Leeds & Liverpool Canal beginning this Friday 17 September, with reservoir levels in North West at a sufficient enough level to get boat traffic moving again.

The stretch below Lock 51 at Barrowford to Lock 85 in Wigan will reopen on Friday, allowing boaters to travel between Barrowford and Liverpool. The remaining 20-mile section between Lock 51 at Barrowford and Lock 31 in Gargrave will reopen the following week on Wednesday 22 September.

Restrictions on passages will remain on all lock flights between 9-4pm with single passage on the Wigan lock flight in each direction.

The closure has been in place since 2 August when the worst drought conditions for 100 years forced British Waterways to shut the canal between Wigan and Gargrave.

Significant increase in rainfall

Vince Moran, operations director for British Waterways, explains: “The significant increase in rainfall over the last few weeks has made it possible for us to reopen this section of the Leeds & Liverpool Canal. We are monitoring our reservoirs on a daily basis and will reopen the remainder of the canal at the earliest opportunity. In the meantime we would like to express our sincere thanks to all of our customers, boating businesses and members of the public for their patience and understanding during this demanding time.

“While the canal has been closed we have been able to bring forward a number of projects which would otherwise have been carried out during the winter, including lock gate replacements and repairs and leak prevention works. By completing the stoppages within the water restriction we will now hope to facilitate a much reduced maintenance program throughout the stoppage season.”

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

via British Waterways announces phased reopening of Leeds & Liverpool Canal | News | Waterscape.

British Waterways has finalised its winter stoppage programme, which has now been published exclusively on waterscape.

This year’s programme of planned engineering works has benefited from British Waterways’ largest ever consultation on the stoppage schedule with canal users.

Early May saw the organisation release its first draft of the stoppage programme, which . . . → Read More: BW winter stoppage programme on waterscape]]> 9th Sep 2010

British Waterways has finalised its winter stoppage programme, which has now been published exclusively on waterscape.

This year’s programme of planned engineering works has benefited from British Waterways’ largest ever consultation on the stoppage schedule with canal users.

Early May saw the organisation release its first draft of the stoppage programme, which attracted hundreds of comments from boat licence holders and canal user groups. Following a revision of the plans and further consultations with boating groups, the programme of stoppages has been finalised.

Waterscape has the latest updates

An up-to-date schedule of stoppage details, which will take account of any last minute emergency stoppages or adjustments to the programme, will continue to be maintained on Waterscape’s stoppages page. This will reduce the risk of making cruising plans based on of out-of-date information.

Sally Ash, BW’s head of boating development. Comments: “We’re very grateful to the boaters who gave up their time to help fine-tune and make suggested alterations to the original programme of winter maintenance works. We now have a schedule that allows us to undertake vital restoration and repairs works to the 200-year old network whilst causing the least disruption possible to boaters.”

Paper copies of the latest plans can be obtained by sending a stamped addressed envelope marked ‘stoppages’ to BW Customer Services, 64 Clarendon Road, Watford WD17 1DA. Postage amounts are as follows: A4 envelope 1st class = 50p, A4 envelope 2nd class = 40p, A5 envelope 1st class = 36p or A5 envelope 2nd class = 25p

via BW winter stoppage programme on waterscape | News | Waterscape.

The closure of the Leeds- Liverpool canal has had a severe effect on businesses .

A 64-mile stretch of the canal from Gargrave to Wigan was closed for boating last Monday, August 2.

British Waterways blamed the closure on the driest first six months of the year since 1929.

But since it . . . → Read More: Business is down as Leeds-Liverpool canal closes]]> 12th August 2010

The closure of the Leeds- Liverpool canal has had a severe effect on businesses .

A 64-mile stretch of the canal from Gargrave to Wigan was closed for boating last Monday, August 2.

British Waterways blamed the closure on the driest first six months of the year since 1929.

But since it took effect, trade has also dried up for many businesses whose livelihoods are dependent on tourists who hire canal boats.

The owner of Abbots Harbour, a café at East Marton just 50 yards from the canal, has seen trade drop by up to 50 per cent.

“This should a busy time for us,” café owner John Pilling said. “The summer is really a boost to our turnover.

”Mr Pilling said the café was now relying on its regulars and walkers on the canal towpath.

Just a few hundred yards up the road, the Cross Keys pub is also feeling the effects of the canal’s closure.

“There’s been a definite downturn in business,” landlord David Mennell said.

“Trade is down 20 to 30 per cent, but for me it’s the collateral damage that I’m concerned about.

”Mr Mennell said he could be forced to cut the hours of his five full-time and six part-time staff.

“It could get to the point where break-even is a target, rather than making a profit,” he said.

Mr Mennell said he was upset British Waterways had not contacted him about the canal closure.

“There has been no information from them at all. It’s appalling that they haven’t been in touch,” he added.

Debbie Foster, who runs the Anchor Inn at Salterforth with her partner Paul Wellock, estimated that half of the pub’s trade came from canal boats. She said: “I can see a difference already this week as a lot of our trade comes from the hire boats.”

Further down the canal at Gargrave, Anchor Inn manager Richard Haffield said while there had been a reduction in trade, the canal closure had not had a huge impact as much of their business came from people travelling through Gargrave on the way to the Lake District.

Skipton MP Julian Smith is demanding answers from Leeds-Liverpool canal bosses over the waterway’s closure.

He has been lobbied by canal users fearful that a long closure would affect their businesses. Mr Smith has now written to the chief executive of British Waterways demanding to know what measures he has taken to minimise the impact of the closure on businesses. And he wants answers over what could be done to mitigate problems in future.

He said: “In particular, there are concerns there has been a leak from the stretch of the canal which has been closed and that British Waterways has been aware of it but done nothing to mitigate it.

”He also wants to know how long the closure will last and whether the chief executive would be prepared to meet him and people affected to discuss the situation.

A British Waterways spokesman said: “Our chief executive, Robin Evans, has received a letter from Julian Smith. Following investigation into the questions raised, Robin will reply direct to the MP.”

via Business is down as Leeds-Liverpool canal closes From Craven Herald.

Jake Berry Rossendale and Darwen, Conservative asked the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether British Waterways plans to compensate a boat owners and business owners affected by the temporary closure of a stretch of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal.

Richard Benyon Parliamentary Under Secretary of State Natural Environment . . . → Read More: British Waterways: Compensation for Closed Waterways]]> 26 July 2010

Jake Berry Rossendale and Darwen, Conservative asked the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether British Waterways plans to compensate a boat owners and business owners affected by the temporary closure of a stretch of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal.

Richard Benyon Parliamentary Under Secretary of State Natural Environment and Fisheries, Environment, Food and Rural Affairs; Newbury, Conservative replied:

British Waterways is not able to refund license or mooring fees. The terms and conditions of mooring agreements and boat licenses explain that historic canals may on occasion need to be closed due to circumstances beyond British Waterways’ reasonable control. The planned closure of one section of the Leeds and Liverpool canal is due to the severe drought.

British Waterways have been working with affected boat businesses to minimise the impact of the closure, including assistance with relocation to other unaffected areas.

via British Waterways: Compensation: 26 Jul 2010: Written answers and statements TheyWorkForYou.com.

Lancashire Telegraph

* By Peter Magill » Burnley chief reporter

TOURISM bosses have pulled the plug on a popular boating festival due to the closure of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal because of the drought.

The annual gathering at Reedley Marina was due to go ahead in September but British Waterways . . . → Read More: Popular Pendle boat festival sunk by drought]]> Wednesday 21st July 2010

Lancashire Telegraph

* By Peter Magill » Burnley chief reporter

TOURISM bosses have pulled the plug on a popular boating festival due to the closure of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal because of the drought.

The annual gathering at Reedley Marina was due to go ahead in September but British Waterways has announced a 60-mile closure of the canal from the start of August.

The move is a fresh blow for the marina, which has moved its boat hire operation to the Llangollen Canal in Cheshire ahead of the planned closure.

For the first time in 15 years the canal will be shut, from Wigan to Gargreave, taking in Pendle’s stretch from Reedley to Barnoldswick.

Vaughan Jones, Pendle tour-ism manager, said: “The canal festival at Reedley Marina is one of the most popular days out on our events calendar, so it is a great shame we have to cancel it this year.

“However, as a responsible local authority, we are happy to show our support to British Waterways in order to protect the integrity of the canal and reservoirs and safeguard our aquatic habitat.”

Reservoirs in Pendle which serve the canal include the Upper and Lower Foulridge waters, Slipper Hall, Barrow-ford and Whitemoor in West Craven.

Water levels across the pools are expceted to dip below 10 per cent by the start of August. Recent rain has not yet affected drought predictions.

Council officials say they will still be promoting their Heritage Open Days programme, of which the canal festival was a highlight, on September 11 and 12.

An update on the canal drought situation is expec-ted from British Waterways on August 9.

Last year, the canal festival attracted more than 100 boat owners and featured canoeing demonstrations, circus performers and clowns.

The £1.2million Reedley Marina was built in 2008 by Jason Fildes, who still runs the attraction as well as owning Barden Mill.

via Popular Pendle boat festival sunk by drought (From Lancashire Telegraph).

With some of the worst drought conditions for 100 years British Waterways has today 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 – . . . → Read More: Drought forces partial closure of Leeds & Liverpool Canal]]> 13th Jul 2010

With some of the worst drought conditions for 100 years British Waterways has today 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 more informatio read our Q&A here or call 0113 281 6850.

via Drought forces partial closure of Leeds & Liverpool Canal | News | Waterscape.