Leeds and Liverpool Canal may run short of water

British Waterways has announced lock restrictions, warning that the Leeds and Liverpool Canal could run short of water later in the year.

BW reports that, following an exceptionally dry start to the year, they have needed to extract water from their reservoirs to feed some canals earlier in the season than normal. As a result, the reservoirs supplying the summit of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal all have holdings below their long term average for this time of year.

BW warns that there is a moderate to significant risk that the reservoirs supplying the Leeds and Liverpool Canal will not have sufficient water to supply the canal throughout the boating season.

In order to reduce this risk and keep the remaining water available for as long as possible, BW is introducing restrictions in opening times of locks on the central part of the canal.

These locks will only be open for navigation between 10.00 am and 6.00 pm until further notice.

The locks affected are Lock 30 (Holme Bridge) to Lock 51 (Barrowford). This includes all the locks of the Barrowford, Greenberfield, Bank Newton and Gargrave flights.

Holme Bridge Lock, Leeds and Liverpool Canal