IN ADDITION to the breach on the Macclesfield Canal on the Marple Flight, the Peak Forest Canal is now also closed.
The breach on the Macclesfield at Parmerston Embankment has now flooded a sports field, with stop planks at each side of the breach now inserted to stop any further water flooding the surrounding ground, Alan Tilbury tells us.
Broken gate
Meanwhile a broken gate at Lock 12 on the Marple Flight has consequently closed the Peak Forest Canal. The gate has separated completely from the lock wall, with Canal & River Trust concerned about its heritage aspect, the anchor being one of the last original iron gate fittings on the flight, with no actual date as to when it can be repaired, but it is hoped sometime next week after temporary repairs.
“We have had two issues at Marple (Peak Forest Canal) and Bollington (Macclesfield Canal) which have resulted in temporary closure of the canal navigations.
“The original canal structure here is clay laid on rock. The canal network is more than 200 years and inevitably leaks of this type do occur from time to time. Trust engineers will be working hard to repair the problem as quickly as possible so the canal can be re-opened to boaters. Further news will be available next week after the engineers’ inspection.
“Around 200 boats are now isolated from the rest of the canal network due to these two issues. Canal & River Trust staff are liaising with boaters to keep them informed of developments. We will re-open both canals as speedily as we can.”