ENGINEERS are still assessing the damage and extent of repairs needed at the Bridgewater Canal in Greater Manchester.
A section of the Bridgewater Canal embankment near Dunham Massey in Greater Manchester collapsed on New Year’s Day after sustained heavy rainfall, resulting in water pouring into neighbouring fields and flooding a sewage works.
It also left many boat owners, including those who live aboard their vessels, high and dry as water levels plummeted.
The canal is managed by the Peel Group and is an important link in the Cheshire Cruising Link. It is also an important north-south link between the Leeds & Liverpool Canal at Leigh and the Trent & Mersey Canal at Preston Brook, as well as part of the east-west routes across the Pennines on the Rochdale and Huddersfield Narrow Canals.
Peel Group was asked to comment but had not replied by the time Towpath Talk February issue went to press.
A statement on the Bridgewater Canal website said: “Early morning on January 1, 2025, the Bridgewater Canal team received a report of a possible canal breach in Dunham adjacent to the River Bollin. The maintenance team immediately undertook action to dam off the canal using emergency stoplogs at Agden and Dunham.
“This action has resulted in an approximately 3km of canal being dewatered but has prevented a full loss of the canal and prevented any further flooding caused by the extreme weather.
“Once a major incident was announced, the Bridgewater Canal team have been working as part of the Strategic and Tactical Command Group of multi-agency partners, which is chaired by Cheshire Police. This is to ensure a joined-up approach is undertaken to make the area safe and any affected parties are identified and assisted.
“While we continue to undertake emergency action, we ask that people stay away from the affected area and respect both canal and road closures.”
The Canal & River Trust is liaising with the Peel Group as the Bridgewater Canal connects to the charity’s 2000-mile network. A CRT spokesman said: “The breach illustrates the vulnerability that all canals and infrastructure of this age face due to climate change, and why we all work so hard to keep these national treasures open and safe.”
The collapse was dramatic in terms of the size of the breach and the subsequent flooding of the surrounding area. Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service reported evacuating nearly 1000 people during the incident.
The Inland Waterways Association has also expressed concern at the incident. Sue O’Hare, chairman of IWA’s navigation committee, said: “This is clearly a very serious breach with major implications for both the Bridgewater Canal and our waterway network as a whole. It is gratifying to see its significance recognised through attention by the mainstream media, but this needs to translate into action to secure our waterways against the effects of climate change. 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.”
The Bridgewater Canal runs for 39 miles from Runcorn to Leigh. More than 250 years old, it is thought to be the first true canal built in England. Initially constructed to move coal, it is now a popular waterway used by boaters and others.
