Recent heavy rains in the north of England closed a fifteen mile stretch of the Trent and Mersey Canal to through boat traffic. Tuesday’s torrential downpours damaged an embankment near Croxton Flash just above Middlewich and breached the bank of the canal at Dutton Hollow south of Preston Brook Tunnel at the northern end of the canal. UPDATE As of 28th September the section between Bridge 179 at Croxton and Bartington Wharf, which includes Anderton Lift, has been reopened, but the canal is still severed at 2 places by embankment damage and breaches.
Spectacular results of embankment failure at Dutton Hollow. Thanks to Matthew Veasey, Little Leigh.
The Canal and River Trust says repairs at Croxton ‘will take a number of weeks to complete’ but that Dutton will take ‘longer still’. At Dutton Hollow the canal is dry, nine boats are reported to be currently stranded between stop planks at Lodge Lane and a clay dam at Acton Bridge. Hundreds more are unable to move more than a few miles and through passage from the T&M to the Bridgewater Canal is impossible.
Canal and River Trust say they ‘believe that that the access to Anderton Services and water supply can be achieved within the next week but is dependent on our completion of engineering surveys of the rest of the length as well as successfully reinforcing some of the measures that we have had to put in place’. They are asking anyone who is affected to contact their Red Bull Offices, enquiries.manchesterpennine@canalrivertrust.org.uk, or by phone on 01782 785 703.
It must be likely that the canal will not be reopened to through traffic this year, closing the popular Cheshire Ring and restricting canal access to the Anderton Lift. With 4 weeks left of the 2012 ‘cruising season’, including the popular October half term, this has been a difficult year for many boaters and operators; first not enough water, then too many Jubilee and Olympic distractions, then not enough sun, now too much rain!
