Government-appointed inspectors have given the go ahead for the reservoir to be refilled. This follows the completion of the new dam overflow spillway on the edge of the town’s Memorial Park, replacing the one that was damaged back in summer 2019.
The reservoir will gradually fill up with water fed from the Todd Brook over the coming weeks and months before it returns to its primary function of supplying water to the Macclesfield and Peak Forest canals by late summer.
All the redundant concrete panels from the former 1970s auxiliary spillway have been removed and the popular former walkway across the dam wall crest is currently being reinstated, with a new bridge providing access over the spillway expected to reopen to the public by the autumn.
Extremely grateful
Dilwyn Parry, Toddbrook project manager, said: “We are extremely grateful for the continued support and patience of local residents. Now all the works on the spillway structure have been completed by our contractor Kier, we have been given the go ahead for Todd Brook to start re-filling the reservoir over the next few months. Subject to adequate rainfall, by late summer we should have reached the major milestone of returning the reservoir to its important role of supplying water to the Macclesfield and Peak Forest canals and as a vital resource for the local community.”
During the summer, the town’s Memorial Park will be re-landscaped with hundreds of new shrubs, spring bulbs and mature trees, and a new playground will be installed. The site cabins and equipment will be removed, and the football field will be returned to Whaley Bridge Athletic Football Club by autumn. The reservoir will then be restocked with fish and work to construct a new sailing club will also get underway, before the end of the year.
