Lock 1 Baddiley Lock to Lock 1 Swanley lock on the Llangollen Canal

Following our last update, our teams and engineers have carried out detailed surveys and investigations of the damaged canal embankment, towpath and culvert. The findings are currently being reviewed with technical specialists and will help form the design of the permanent repair and determine the scope of the construction works required. The team will also need to carry out further investigations before the repair works begin.

The team will continue to monitor the site and progress with their investigations to support the development of a permanent repair solution.  

The canal water levels remain stable, with normal water flows maintained, and Hurleston Reservoir continues to operate as normal.

While it is still too early to confirm a timescale for the repair works, due to the scale and complexity of the damage means we expect the permanent repair works to take months to complete once repairs begin. We will provide further details on the anticipated timeline as our investigations and design work progresses.

The sections of the canal that remain open and unaffected by the closure are from Llangollen Basin to Bridge 31A (Whitchurch By-Pass Bridge), and from there onwards to Swanley.

We understand the disruption this closure is causing and are continuing to work towards a safe and lasting repair. Our Customer Support team remains in contact with those most directly affected and will continue to provide advice and support where possible.

If you require assistance, or have specific circumstances that you would like to discuss, please contact our North West Customer Support Team on 0303 040 4040, and we will do our best to help.

We will provide a further update on or before Friday, 4 September.

Our teams and specialist contractors continue to work on the incident on the Llangollen Canal near Bridge 10 at Swanley, close to Nantwich.

Since our last update, we've successfully installed a temporary dam around the affected area, which has significantly reduced the leak. Canal water levels have recovered, normal water flows have resumed, and Hurleston Reservoir continues to operate as normal.

We've now completed our initial assessment of the site and have a much clearer understanding of the damage. Unfortunately, repairs will be needed to the canal bank, towpath and the culvert beneath it.

Our focus now is on carrying out surveys, tree works and further investigations so that we can develop a permanent repair solution. This work will help us understand exactly how the repairs should be carried out and the likely timescales involved.

The site remains safe and secure, with protective fencing in place around the affected area while this work continues.

Navigation and towpath at this location will remain closed while these investigations and repair plans are completed. Boaters can turn at Stoneley Green Winding Hole, located just south of Bridge 10.

The canal above the breach remains unaffected and open to navigation. The Public Right of Way is closed only along the section directly affected by the incident, and a signed diversion route is in place.

Our Customer Support team remains in contact with those most directly affected and will continue to provide advice and support where possible.

We'll provide a further update on or before 21 August.

Our teams have been working on a leak on the Llangollen Canal near Bridge 10 at Swanley, close to Nantwich. The affected section of canal has been secured, and water levels have recovered overnight.

Today, we're putting temporary dams in place so that our engineers can safely access the area, assess the damage and begin planning the repairs. Early investigations suggest the leak may have been caused by a suspected culvert failure, but at this stage it's too early to confirm the exact cause. We'll know more once the canal has been drained and we've fully inspected the site.

Hurleston Reservoir continues to operate as normal. The temporary dams being installed today will help us manage water more effectively while repairs are planned, reducing the impact on local boaters.

For safety reasons, the towpath and navigation remain closed while this work takes place. We apologise for any inconvenience and ask everyone to stay away from the area until repairs have been completed.

Although the affected section remains closed, most of the Llangollen Canal is still open, and the canal above the breach at Whitchurch remains unaffected and open for boaters to enjoy.

Our Customer Support team is in direct contact with those most immediately affected and will continue to provide advice and support where possible.

We'll provide a further update on or before 14 August.

Navigation is closed between Lock 1 Baddiley Lock and Lock 1 Swanley lock on the Llangollen Canal, this is due to a leak from the canal, our teams are currently on site investigating. .   The towpath will be closed between Bridge10 Stoneley Green Bridge to Bridge 9, Butchers Bridge.

We will provide a further update Friday 07 August