The mainstream media is giving widespread coverage to the collapse of the Bridgewater Canal embankment near Dunham Massey in Greater Manchester on New Year’s Day following sustained heavy rainfall. Less widely reported is that the rain also led to a structural failure of the embankment supporting the side of Lock 11W on the Huddersfield Narrow Canal to the north east of Manchester. As a result Canal & River Trust (CRT) had to close the canal between Locks 12 West and 10 West on 1st January until further notice.
Lock 11 West sits on a narrow shelf above the River Tame. The narrow strip between the lock and river has partially slipped down into the river, leaving the lock chamber buttresses exposed. The cause of the failure of the embankment is not clear, but several possible factors have been identified locally. The river has been in spate, undermining the embankment. A culvert that passes beneath the canal between Locks 13 West and 12 West overflowed, with the resulting flood water overtopping Lock 12 West, continuing down the canal and overtopping Lock 11 West. There may have been water leaking into the site of the landslip which will have lubricated the slip face. The offside chamber wall at 11W has been bowed out for many years, suggesting earlier movement.
Although the cause is unclear, it is unfortunately clear that the repair will not be straightforward. The site is particularly difficult to access other than on foot or by canal, and even stabilising the area before starting on repairs will be challenging.
Like the Bridgewater Canal, this seems almost certain to be a long-term closure. CRT has mobilised quickly and its engineers and design team are currently carrying out inspections, to understand the extent of the damage and to prepare a suitable design for reinstatement works. Since the works are recognised to be complex and will require time to develop and deliver, progress updates will only be provided at the start of each month.
The closure of both the Bridgewater Canal and the Huddersfield Narrow Canal for a substantial period of unknown length will have a major impact on the ability of boaters and other canal users to use the waterway network around Manchester and more widely, with knock-on effects on local businesses and communities.
Sue O’Hare, Chair of IWA’s Navigation Committee, said: “It is deeply concerning to see the two major failures that have resulted from the recent heavy rainfall. Worse, this type of extreme weather event is becoming more common and more intense through climate change, and the potential for serious damage to our waterways and their surroundings is all too clear. IWA is campaigning through Fund Britain’s Waterways for adequate national and local government funding for all Britain’s navigable rivers and canals to ensure that future generations can continue to enjoy their many benefits.”
Photos by kind permission of Duncan Roberts (strictly copyright)
