Descriptions
Update 12 September 2025, 12:16pm
We regret to inform you that the full closure of the Rochdale Canal in the Yorkshire & North East region remains in place. This continues to apply to all locks from Lock 1 at Sowerby Bridge through to Lock 33 at Walsden.
Despite ongoing monitoring, the ground water and feeder streams remain unable to supply sufficient water to support navigation. In consultation with United Utilities, the feed from Chelburn Reservoir is operating at a reduced level to preserve drinking water supplies.
Where local water levels allow, short sections between locks may remain navigable, but through journeys are not currently possible.
We are continuing to review the situation and will provide our next update on Friday 26 September 2025, or sooner if there is any change. Locks will be reopened as soon as ground water, feeder streams and reservoir levels are safely replenished, but this is likely to require sustained rainfall over a number of weeks rather than isolated downpours.
If you spot any leaks or have concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us on 0303 040 4040 or via our [Contact Us] page https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/contact-us
Update 29 August 2025, 12:21pm
We regret to say that we are extending the extent of the closure on the Rochdale Canal to cover the full length of the canal in the Yorkshire & North east region. This includes all locks from Lock 1 at Sowerby Bridge to Lock 33 at Walsden. With little rainfall over an extended period of time, feeder streams that provide water to the canal are proving insufficient to enable navigation. In addition, following discussions with United Utilities, the feed we receive from Chelburn Reservoir into the summit of the canal is unsustainable, with reservoir water needed to protect domestic water supplies over the coming months. Where water levels permit, navigation is available between locks. We continue to monitor the situation daily and will share our next update on or before Friday 12 September 2025, or sooner if anything changes. Our priority is to reopen the locks as soon as rainfall replenishes the reservoirs to safe operating levels. If we do receive enough rainfall to allow for safe navigation, restrictions will be lifted immediately. However, this is likely to require steady, prolonged rainfall over several weeks, rather than a single heavy downpour. If you spot any leaks or have concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us on 0303 040 4040 or via our Contact Us page
Update 28 August 2025, 4:02pm
Water levels have improved in the stretch from lock 9-19, but it will remain closed to navigation. We have had to reduce the feeds to the summit of the canal due to the ongoing drought so there is less water than usual to replenish the levels. The pounds are in a better state than last week, which is good for biodiversity as well as our customers and we do not want to upset this fine balance. This notice will be updated if the situation changes significantly. If the current drought status continues, this closure will continue.
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.
