Descriptions
Update 20 July 2026, 11:57am
Due to the current low water levels, navigation remains closed between Lock 1 and Lock 18 on the Ashton Canal.
We will continue to monitor the situation daily, and as soon as the water levels have recovered sufficiently to allow for safe navigation, the closure will be lifted.
A further update will be on or before Monday, 27 July.
Update 17 July 2026, 2:01pm
Due to low water levels, navigation remains closed between Lock 1 and Lock 18 on the Ashton Canal.
The Ashton Canal's water supply is fed from the Peak Forest Canal and the Huddersfield Narrow Canal, both of which are currently experiencing limited water. This has significantly reduced the amount of water feeding into the Ashton Canal, resulting in insufficient water levels to support safe navigation.
We will continue to monitor the situation daily, and as soon as the water levels have recovered sufficiently to allow for safe navigation, the closure will be lifted.
While water holdings across the canal network are higher than they were at this point last year, hot and dry weather can create extra challenges for boating and water supply.
To make the most of the water we have in the reservoirs, we're trying to tailor the feed very accurately to the demand so water doesn't go to waste. If the demand is greater than we predicted or paddles get left up, then we may need short breaks to rebalance the supply, sometimes at short notice. We apologise for the disruption and thank you for your patience during these periods.
If you see that water levels are looking unusually low, please let us know. Our teams actively manage water levels and can carefully refill low pounds, checking for problems and making sure moored boats on adjacent pounds stay safe.
A further update will be on or before Monday, 20 July.
Original 15 July 2026, 1:32pm
Navigation is closed between Lock 1 and Lock 18 on the Ashton Canal due to low water.
Water levels have dropped due to the current dry weather we have been experiencing.
As soon as water levels have recovered sufficiently, the closure will be lifted and navigation will resume.
A further update will be provided on or before Friday 17 July.
