Navigation Restriction Update – Marple & Bosley Lock Flights Type: Navigation Restriction
Waterway(s): Peak Forest Canal, Macclesfield Canal
From: 4 July 2025, 8:30am – To: On-going
Region: North West
Reason: Low Water Levels
Subject to review on: 22 August 2025 Location 1 Closest waterway: Macclesfield Canal
Starts at: Bosley Lock 1 – Ends at: Bosley Lock 12 Location 2 Closest waterway: Peak Forest Canal
Starts at: Lock 1 – Ends at: Lock 16 Descriptions Update 24 July 2025, 4:02pm
Since our last update, despite some rainfall, the reservoirs that supply the Macclesfield and Peak Forest canals have not seen any significant refill. Additionally, we have now surpassed the level that Bosley Reservoir can safely provide a supply to the Macclesfield and Peak Forest canals. To protect the canal network, its infrastructure, and the surrounding ecology, we must carefully manage the remaining supplies to keep the canal in water. As a result, we must bring forward the planned suspension of navigation through the Marple and Bosley lock flights. Originally scheduled for Monday, 11 August 2025, the closure will now take effect from Friday, 1 August 2025. Please note that it may be necessary to close sooner at short notice should water levels continue to drop. We strongly recommend if your boat is currently in an area likely to be affected, please relocate to a place where you will continue to have access to customer services facilities, and support, over the coming weekend. We understand this will be disappointing and disruptive to your boating plans, and we assure you that this decision has not been taken lightly. We anticipate that the canals will remain closed for several weeks, but this is entirely weather‑dependent. Mooring restrictions will be suspended at the following locations to allow those waiting for the canals to re‑open to moor during the closure: Macclesfield Canal – Below Lock 12 Bosley Moorings Macclesfield Canal – Above Lock 1, between Bridges 53 & 54 Macclesfield Canal – Between Bridges 1 & 3 Marple Moorings Peak Forest Canal – Below Lock 1 to Marple Aqueduct To conserve as much water as possible, the lock flights will be padlocked closed, secured against operation, and the gates will be ‘ashed up’ to reduce leakage. Until the closure takes effect on Friday 1 August 2025, restricted operating times will continue: Bosley Lock Flight – open Tuesdays, Fridays, and Sundays Open from 8:30am; Last boat entry at 1pm, all boats must have exited by 4pm. Marple Lock Flight – open Thursdays only Open from 8:30am; Last boat entry at 12 noon, all boats must have exited by 4pm. Please help us conserve water by ensuring paddles are fully closed once you have passed through a lock. We will continue to monitor the situation and provide fortnightly updates, or sooner if conditions change. We understand this is disappointing news, and our priority remains to reopen these canals to full navigation as soon as possible. Thank you for your support in reducing water use across our network and for reporting leaks or concerns via 0303 040 4040 or our Contact Us page. Update 16 July 2025, 3:19pm Over the last few weeks, despite some rainfall the reservoirs that supply the Macclesfield and Peak Forest canals have not seen any significant refilling. Consequently, and unfortunately, we now need to suspend navigation through the Marple & Bosley lock flights from Monday 11 August 2025. We anticipate that the canals will remain closed for several weeks, but this is entirely weather dependent. Mooring restrictions will be suspended at the locations listed below to allow those waiting for the canals to re-open, to moor during the closure. Mooring Locations where restrictions will be relaxed are: Macclesfield Canal – Below lock 12 Bosley Moorings Macclesfield Canal – Above Lock 1 Between Bridges 53 & 54 Macclesfield Canal – Between Bridges 1 – 3 Marple Moorings Peak Forest Canal – Below Lock 1 to Marple Aqueduct To conserve as much water as possible, the lock flights will be padlocked closed and secured against operation and the gates will be ‘ashed up’ to reduce leakage. We apologise for the inconvenience and disruption this may cause to your boating plans. By implementing this closure, we hope it will allow our customers to plan your journeys knowing what to expect over the summer months as our teams continue to work hard to conserve water at every opportunity. In the meantime, the restricted operating times will continue, however following customer feedback, the days of operation have changed. From Monday 21 July up until Sunday 10 August, the following operating times and days will apply: Bosley Lock Flight – open Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays Open from 8:30am to allow passage through the flight. Last boat entry to the flight will be at 1pm, and all boats must have exited the flight by 4pm. Marple Lock Flight – open Thursdays only Open from 8:30am to allow passage through the flight. Last boat entry to the flight will be at 12 noon, and all boats must have exited the flight by 4pm. Please refer to the notice issued on 25 June for the current operating times and days. You can help us conserve water by ensuring paddles are fully closed once you have passed through a lock. We will continue to monitor the situation and will provide fortnightly updates, or sooner if conditions change. We understand that this continues to be disappointing news, and our priority is to reopen these canals to full navigation as soon as possible. We thank you for your support in reducing water use across our network and reporting leaks or concerns via 0303 040 4040 or our Contact Us page. Original 25 June 2025, 2:07pm This year, we’ve experienced one of the driest springs on record, consequently water availability across the region is significantly lower than in previous years. Although we are pleased the repairs to the breach at Bosley and the leaks at Bollington are completed, the prolonged dry conditions and the ongoing vital works at Toddbrook reservoir mean we must act now to preserve water resources and implement restrictions on opening hours to give the canal a greater probability of remaining open. To help make the available water last as long as possible, we will be restricting the use of the lock flights starting Friday, 4 July 2025. Volunteer lock keepers will be on hand to assist with passage and to help conserve water. From Friday, 4 July 2025, the following operating times will apply: Bosley Lock Flight – open Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays Open from 8:30am to allow passage through the flight. Last boat entry to the flight will be at 1pm, and all boats must have exited the flight by 4pm. Marple Lock Flight – open Saturday only Open from 8:30am to allow passage through the flight. Last boat entry to the flight will be at 12 noon, and all boats must have exited the flight by 4pm. We apologise for the inconvenience and disruption this may cause to your boating plans. By implementing these operating times, we hope it will allow boaters to plan your journeys knowing what to expect over the summer months as our teams continue to work hard to conserve water at every opportunity. You can help us conserve water by ensuring paddles are fully closed once you have passed through a lock. situations will continue to monitor our reservoir holdings throughout the season and where possible, amend the operating times should the situation improve. Please note, these operating times will remain under review and could be subject to change. |
