Water shortage to shut Rochdale and Huddersfield Canals

The continuing dry and warm weather will result in the closure of large parts of the Rochdale and Huddersfield Narrow Canals from Monday 6th August.

The sections of canal to be closed with locks padlocked are -

Huddersfield Narrow Canal:
Lock 1e (Huddersfield) to Lock 24w (Wool Road).

Rochdale Canal:
Lock 1 (Sowerby Bridge) to Lock 48 (Littleborough).

The section of the Rochdale Canal from Hebden Bridge to Todmorden (between Locks 6 and 19) will remain open but with navigation restricted to between 10.00 am and 2.00 pm under a local booking system.

Although the canal will remain open between Manchester and Littleborough it is unlikely that many boaters would decide to travel beyond New Islington Marina.

The Rochdale Nine lock flight in Manchester will remain open, linking the Ashton and Bridgewater Canals.

On the closed sections, the canal and River Trust says that "measures will be taken to make the locks inoperable" to prevent unauthorised use (e.g. by someone breaking the padlocks).

These closures will come into effect a week after the closure of the central section of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal from 30th July, meaning that all three trans-Pennine routes will be closed.

The Canal and River Trust says that it has reluctantly taken this decision due to the low levels of the reservoirs because of prolonged low rainfall and with the forecast for further dry weather.

The Canal and River Trust says that it is not known how long these closures will last for but that it's likely to be throughout August and potentially beyond if there is no significant, sustained rainfall. The towpath will remain open.

Update 27th July:
Because of the serious shortfall in water supply, the closures on the Rochdale Canal are brought forward and go into immediate effect.

This involves the closure of all locks between Sowerby Bridge (Lock 1) and Littleborough (Lock 48). This includes the section between Locks 7 and 19, which it had been hoped to keep open on restricted opening times. The Canal and River Trust will liaise with boaters on this section so that  they can access vital services when possible, offering restricted, controlled passage.  Other than this all locks will be secured and out of use.

Update 29th August:
The Canal and River Trust is to re-open the Rochdale Canal between Lock 1 (Sowerby Bridge) and Lock 34 (Warland) on Friday 31st August.
Locks 5 to 13 through Mytholmroyd and Hebden Bridge will be closed overnight from 4.00 pm until 9.00 am.
The canal remains closed for now between Locks 34 and 48 (Littleborough) while repairs to reduce water leakage through the locks are continued.
The canal remains open between Littleborough and Manchester.
Predictions of below-average rainfall for September mean that it may be necessary to close parts of the canal temporarily if water levels are too low.

Update 30th August:
The Canal and River Trust will re-open the Huddersfield Narrow Canal between Locks 24w and 1e on a trial basis but only for boats needing to pass through Standedge Tunnel.
The first tunnel passages will be on Wednesday 5th September.
- Boats booked to pass westwards through Standedge Tunnel on 5th September will be admitted through Lock 1e in Huddersfield on Monday 3rd September, before 12.00 noon. No other boats will be allowed to enter the canal.
- Boats booked to pass eastwards through Standedge Tunnel on Wednesday 5th September will be admitted through Lock 24w on the morning of 5th September.
Following this trial an update will be issued on Friday 7th September, with the hope of repeating these restricted passages on following weeks if available water supplies allow.
The canal remains open from Lock 1w (Ashton) to below Lock 24w (Dobcross).

Update 7th September:
The summit of the Rochdale Canal will re-open to navigation on a restricted basis from Saturday 15th September. The section between Locks 34 and 44 will be closed on Mondays and Fridays as well as being locked overnight. On Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays the section between Locks 34 and 44 will be open between 9.00 am and 4.00 pm.

 Update 7th September:
The arrangement for boats booked to pass through Standedge Tunnel will be repeated next week, with tunnel passage on Wednesday 12th September.
- Boats booked to pass westwards through Standedge Tunnel on 12th September will be admitted through Lock 1e in Huddersfield on Monday 10th September, before 12.00 noon. No other boats will be allowed to enter the canal.
- Boats booked to pass eastwards through Standedge Tunnel on Wednesday 12th September will be admitted through Lock 24w on the morning of 12th September.

 Update 13th September:
The arrangement for boats booked to pass through Standedge Tunnel will be repeated next week, with tunnel passage on Wednesday 19th September.
- Boats booked to pass westwards through Standedge Tunnel on 19th September will be admitted through Lock 1e in Huddersfield on Monday 17th September, before 12.00 noon. No other boats will be allowed to enter the canal.
- Boats booked to pass eastwards through Standedge Tunnel on Wednesday 19th September will be admitted through Lock 24w on the morning of 19th September.

 Update 27th September:
Restrictions on the summit section of the Rochdale Canal have now been lifted. Recent rainfall has meant  the reservoir levels have improved but it may be necessary to restrict access at short notice if levels fall again. Overnight closures remain in place from Lock 5 to 13 in the Hebden Briddge area, with locks being open between 9.00 am and 4.00 pm.

Looking towards the summit of the Rochdale Canal from Lock 38.