Description
Original 31 July 2025, 4:46pm
Following one of the driest springs on record, water availability across the region remains significantly below average. To help conserve increasingly limited water resources, protect canal infrastructure and ecology, and prolong navigation elsewhere on the network, we will be implementing the following change:
- From Monday 11 August 2025, Harecastle Tunnel will operate on restricted hours, with passages available between 9:00am and 1:00pm only. All passages must be pre-booked via our online booking system.
These measures are necessary to prioritise water supply to key areas of the network and support continued navigation where possible. We understand the impact this may have on boating plans and will continue to monitor the situation closely.
Where local water levels allow, limited cruising within long pounds may still be possible. If any short-term opportunities for passage arise, we will communicate them promptly.
We will provide updates as and when we have them. Should rainfall replenish reservoir levels sufficiently, restrictions will be lifted as soon as it is safe to do so. However, this is likely to require sustained rainfall over several weeks.
We appreciate your continued support in reducing water use and reporting any issues via [email protected] or by calling 0303 040 4040.
