*** This event has been postponed to 2026 owing to water shortages on neighbouring waterways ***

We’ve made the difficult decision to postpone the Rally for the Bridgewater Canal, which was due to take place at Agden Bridge over the August Bank Holiday.

This rally was always about more than the disastrous New Year’s Day breach on the Bridgewater: it was a united display cross the waterways community, calling for action and investment in our increasingly fragile, historic canals.

However, ongoing closures, stoppages, and unpredictable water levels across the network, some of them in the last few days, have created significant challenges for boat movements and event planning. At a time when boaters were meant to be coming together, many are simply unable to get there.

This decision only underlines the rally’s original message: our waterways deserve the same urgency and commitment as other national infrastructure. We remain determined to ensure that message is heard.

This is a postponement, not a cancellation. We’re actively working towards the August Bank Holiday next year so the event can have the impact it was designed to do and offer the accessibility it deserves.

Thank you to everyone from traders to boaters who had signed up, shared the word, or planned to attend. We’ll be in touch with updates soon.

Our original plans were:

This August Bank Holiday,  join IWA and the wider boating community for a weekend gathering at Agden Bridge, united in support of restoring full navigation to the Bridgewater Canal.

Following the recent breach earlier this year, this waterway which is part of a vital north–south route, faces a critical moment. While not caused by poor maintenance, the incident is a reminder of the growing threat that extreme weather poses to our waterways.

This is more than a local inconvenience. If a road or rail link of national significance were to fail, rapid restoration would be a given. We believe our inland waterways deserve the same urgency, visibility, and commitment.

Why It Matters

• A Turning Point for the Bridgewater Canal
  The breach highlights the fragility of even well-managed waterways in the face of climate pressures.
• Opportunity to Engage
  As the private owner of this historic canal, the Bridgewater Canal Company now has the chance to engage with the community, share their plans for restoration, and demonstrate transparent leadership.
• A National Waterways Issue
  This disruption impacts navigation across the western side of the country, affecting livelihoods, tourism, and heritage. The response must reflect that scale.
• Community in Action
  This gathering is a proud show of unity. Boaters, anglers, families, local businesses, and supporters will come together to champion a cause that has an impact on all of the network.

What to Expect

• Live music, great food, a real ale bar, and family-friendly fun
• A vibrant, visible show of support for resilient, connected waterways.
• Opportunities for direct dialogue with the Bridgewater Canal Company

Be part of this weekend.
Celebrate our canals. Demand their protection. Shape their future Save the date: 23–25 August 2025 | Agden Bridge, Lymm

[Photo credit: Mike Sumner]