Descriptions
Update 21 August 2025, 3:09pm
Over the past couple of weeks, on the section from locks 9-19, we have been unlocking this stretch at 9am on a Friday and leaving it open until Monday at 3pm. Unfortunately, the water levels are so low, that this stretch is not navigable for this coming Friday to Monday period. We will continue to closely monitor this section and should it recover enough to be sufficient to open in this period, then we will reopen and advise boaters through the notices on our Stoppages page. Unfortunately, locks 1-9 this stretch is extremely short of water and is also not navigable. We are not going to be able to assist passage through Tuel Lock on Bank Holiday Monday as we had hoped because the water is simply too low and the pounds are too big to recover. The next date we plan to open this stretch is 5th September. (work is going to be ongoing at lock 2 from 26th August to try to fix the leak).
Update 18 August 2025, 10:22am
Our teams have been closely monitoring the water levels and unfortunately, we are having to close the section from Lock 9 to Lock 19 with immediate effect due to low water levels. We are able to still keep the Lock 1 to Lock 8 section open until 3pm today as planned. We will continue to monitor the water levels all week to allow the water levels to recover for Friday.
Update 15 August 2025, 12:13pm
Our volunteers will be available to assist passage from 10am, rather than 9am as previously stated.
On Monday 18th August, the stretch from lock 1-19 will be open until 3pm. Locks will then be reinstated in Hebden Bridge and the canal will be closed from 1-19 to allow water levels to recover. We will then reopen locks 9-19 again on Friday 22nd August.
We will continue this pattern as long as water levels allow until further notice.
Update 15 August 2025, 9:06am
Locks 1 - 8 Work has been underway to try to identify and fix a leak near lock 2 on the Rochdale Canal. This work is not yet complete and while other solutions are being explored, we have an opportunity to re-open the canal for a short period to assist boats through Tuel Lane Lock 3/4. Volunteers will be available on Monday 18th August between 0900 and 1500 to assist boats through Lock 1-4 and they will be carefully managing the water levels. As long as water levels permit, we will aim to repeat this assisted passage the following Monday. This notice will be updated by 29th August. Locks 9 - 19 There is no change to the current arrangements. Water levels on the Rochdale Canal remain sufficient to allow boat movement between Lock 9 (Hebden Bridge) and Lock 19 (Todmorden) on weekends. This section continues to open at 09:00 on Fridays and close at 15:00 on Mondays until further notice. Between these times, the gates will remain padlocked to allow the canal to recharge water levels.
Update 15 August 2025, 8:43am
Locks 1 - 8 Work has been underway to try to identify and fix a leak near lock 2 on the Rochdale Canal. This work is not yet complete and while other solutions are being explored, we have an opportunity to re-open the canal for a short period to assist boats through Tuel Lane Lock 3/4. Volunteers will be available on Monday 18th August between 0900 and 1500 to assist boats through Lock 3-4 and they will be carefully managing the water levels. As long as water levels permit, we will aim to repeat this assisted passage the following Monday. This notice will be updated by 29th August. Locks 9 - 19 There is no change to the current arrangements. Water levels on the Rochdale Canal remain sufficient to allow boat movement between Lock 9 (Hebden Bridge) and Lock 19 (Todmorden) on weekends. This section continues to open at 09:00 on Fridays and close at 15:00 on Mondays until further notice. Between these times, the gates will remain padlocked to allow the canal to recharge water levels.
Original 28 July 2025, 3:45pm
Water levels on the Rochdale Canal have improved to a level that we are able to allow boat movement from Lock 9 (Hebden Bridge) to Lock 19 (Todmorden) on weekends. This section will be opened at 9am on Fridays and close on Mondays at 3pm until further notice.
Between these times, the gates will be padlocked up again to allow the canal to recharge water levels in the intervening period.
