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Part of Lancaster Canal left 'severely low on water' after major leak and towpath collapse

Sunday, 21 July 2024 07:17

By Greg Lambert X @greglam72

Dam installed on Lancaster Canal following the breach. Photo credit: Dan Hulme

Water levels dropped at 'an alarming rate', a towpath collapsed, boats were grounded and waterways polluted after a major leak at Lancaster Canal.

Part of the 41-mile canal was left severely low on water following a breach to Aqueduct 38 at Hollowforth near Barton, said the Canal & River Trust.

The falling water levels 'grounded' several boats on the canal.

An eye-witness said the towpath had "given way" and "water levels have been dropping several inches" and "some Marinas have already isolated themselves to protect the boats". The towpath was closed near the breach.

Another eye-witness tweeted that there was a "large volume of water flowing into the brook and the towpath was not passable" near Aqueduct 38 on Saturday.

A member of the Lancaster Canal Users Facebook group said water was dropping "at an alarming rate".

Large amounts of silt also ended up in nearby waterways including the River Wyre due to the breach, and the Environment Agency has been informed. 

A breach is a break in the canal's embankment, which is the wall that holds back the water. 

The breach affected other parts of the canal including Tewitfield Marina near Carnforth, who said they were monitoring the situation and may have to take action.

The Canal & RIver Trust, the charity which looks after the country's waterways, was in attendance.

A report on the Canal & River Trust website on Saturday said: "Please be advised, following a breach to Aqueduct 38, Hollowforth on The Lancaster Canal, north of Hollowforth Aqueduct area on the canal is severely low on water. 

"Whilst navigation remains open, all customers wishing to proceed should do so with caution.  

"The local team are aware, along with contractors to repair and remove fallen tree.

"Once this is complete, we shall then proceed to feed water down to the affected area. We anticipate this will take number of days to regain a navigable level."

On Sunday, the trust posted:

"The towpath and navigation is closed between Bridge 36, Moons Bridge and Bridge 39, Hepgreave Bridge on the canal due to structural failure at the Hollowforth Aqueduct 38.  

"Emergency teams have been in attendance and are currently devising a safe means of access for further works to the structure. For your own safety, we advise customers not to enter the affected areas."

We have contacted the trust for comment and the latest update.

An Environment Agency spokesperson said on Sunday: "Our officers have been out investigating reports of significant silt pollution in the River Wyre and other watercourses.

"The source was an embankment breach on the Lancaster Canal near Woodplumpton. We are liaising with the Canal & Rivers Trust - who have been working on a repair - and have offered our support.

"Our Fisheries officers are out today assessing any environmental impacts. You can report any environmental impacts to us on our incident hotline 0800 80 70 60."

More than 8km of watercourses were affected, including the River Wyre, River Brock, New Draught, and New Mill Brook.

This post on X shows the breach.

Tewitfield Marina posted an "urgent update for boaters and moorers" on Saturday. 

"There has been a canal breach due to a fallen tree at Bridge 38. This is resulting in a rapid drop in the water levels. Cumbria Rivers Trust are on scene but it may take a while to repair. 

"We are monitoring the situation on site and may have to deploy the stop logs at the Marina entrance to prevent water levels dropping further."

A post on the NorthWest Volunteer Bailiff Group Facebook page on Saturday night said: "Canal & River Trust and contractors are on site and have dammed the canal to the south of the breach to preserve the water that’s still there.

"They are currently working through the night to dam the canal to the north of the breach so they have a dry area in which to work and repair the significant breach.

"Hopefully by tomorrow things should start to settle down."

*An update from the Canal and Rivers Trust on Monday July 22 said:

"We would like to extend thanks to boaters for their patience and support over the weekend.

"As you may know, there was a breach on the embankment next to Hollowforth Aqueduct.

"Our teams and contractors have secured dams either side of the affected area and we completed a fish rescue today.  

"Our main priority now is to restore the water levels in the canal either side of the dammed stretch and we are in the process of bringing in equipment to enable this.

"Throughout the week our teams will continue to secure access to the site and coordinate with neighbouring landowners so that repairs works can commence.  

"Currently, it is extremely difficult to provide a reopening date for the canal due to the numerous factors we need to investigate.

"However, we will ensure that regular updates on progress are provided throughout the closure.  

"We will be providing a further update on Friday, July 26.  

"Thank you once again for your understanding and support.

Should you have any questions about the works, please contact us at 03030 404040 and select the North West region to speak with one of our regional team members."  

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