| Re: Grand Union Canal dries up during drought - ongoing issue and discussion Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 18:41, 28th July 2026 |     |
From the BBC:
Parts of canal closed amid record dry spell
The Grand Union Canal is suffering from water supply "challenges"
Parts of the Grand Union Canal in Leicestershire have been temporarily closed to boats due to a lack of rainfall and water supply "challenges".
The Canal and River Trust (CRT) has suspended boat passage for about 10 miles (16km) between Kings Lock, near Aylestone, and Kibworth until the water supply recovers.
The trust said it came as the East Midlands experienced the "longest unbroken spell of no recorded rainfall this century".
A spokesperson for CRT added: "We apologise for the disruption and thank boaters for their patience during this time."
Images taken by the BBC show areas of the canal bed are visible due to the lack of water.
A CRT spokesperson said the charity was doing all it could to save water, with the Met Office not forecasting any meaningful rain over the coming days. They said teams were out every day "managing water levels, helping boaters in the affected area get to where they need to be, and closely monitoring any impacts on wildlife".
The central England region is having the longest dry spell for 30 years
The spokesperson said: "The situation with low flows can be exacerbated because of lock misuse, plus the ageing nature of the canal network, where water naturally seeps away from the canal. We're targeting water-saving repairs and maintenance this summer to reduce leakage and better manage water flow as part of our year-round effort to care for these 200-year-old waterways. The towpath in this area, along with the canalside attractions and businesses, remain fully open for people to use and enjoy."
The closure comes amid unprecedented hot and dry weather, with the central England region suffering the longest dry spell for 30 years earlier in July.
(BBC article continues)
The Grand Union Canal is suffering from water supply "challenges"
Parts of the Grand Union Canal in Leicestershire have been temporarily closed to boats due to a lack of rainfall and water supply "challenges".
The Canal and River Trust (CRT) has suspended boat passage for about 10 miles (16km) between Kings Lock, near Aylestone, and Kibworth until the water supply recovers.
The trust said it came as the East Midlands experienced the "longest unbroken spell of no recorded rainfall this century".
A spokesperson for CRT added: "We apologise for the disruption and thank boaters for their patience during this time."
Images taken by the BBC show areas of the canal bed are visible due to the lack of water.
A CRT spokesperson said the charity was doing all it could to save water, with the Met Office not forecasting any meaningful rain over the coming days. They said teams were out every day "managing water levels, helping boaters in the affected area get to where they need to be, and closely monitoring any impacts on wildlife".
The central England region is having the longest dry spell for 30 years
The spokesperson said: "The situation with low flows can be exacerbated because of lock misuse, plus the ageing nature of the canal network, where water naturally seeps away from the canal. We're targeting water-saving repairs and maintenance this summer to reduce leakage and better manage water flow as part of our year-round effort to care for these 200-year-old waterways. The towpath in this area, along with the canalside attractions and businesses, remain fully open for people to use and enjoy."
The closure comes amid unprecedented hot and dry weather, with the central England region suffering the longest dry spell for 30 years earlier in July.
(BBC article continues)
| Re: Grand Union Canal dries up during drought - ongoing issue and discussion Posted by CyclingSid at 17:14, 5th September 2025 | |
Similar water problems on the Basingstoke Canal
https://www.hants.gov.uk/thingstodo/basingstokecanal/onthewater/locks
It is a canal without a reliable source. It didn't look unusually dry a few weeks ago (reported elsewhere on the forum). I do remember a few years ago when the section near Woking was that dry that a heron was methodically picking the fish out of the remaining puddles.
| Re: Grand Union Canal dries up during drought - ongoing issue and discussion Posted by grahame at 08:27, 4th September 2025 | |
i'm now wondering if there are locks anywhere on the system with both working sideponds and the expectation that they be used.
Research suggest that the last working sideponds on the British canal network were taken out of use around 2018 (I may be a year of two out). I certainly recall using them - more on principle rather that through official encouragement - in the 1980s. New sidepound (or equivalent side water storage) have been installed recently on the new, larger locks on the Panama Canal.
| Re: Grand Union Canal dries up during drought - ongoing issue and discussion Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 22:05, 3rd September 2025 | |
Mods please delete if you like
No - I won't delete your post! 
I merely quoted their 'News item' from the BBC. We all know they don't get things wrong, do they?
I'll do some more 'digging' (or possibly dredging) to find out more.
CfN.
I merely quoted their 'News item' from the BBC. We all know they don't get things wrong, do they?
I'll do some more 'digging' (or possibly dredging) to find out more.
CfN.
I've done some more 'dredging', and I've found that the BBC have previously used that same image to 'illustrate' their news stories about, for example, the Trent and Mersey Canal and the Oxford Canal.
It seems to be yet another use of a 'stock picture' to illustrate any 'canal story'.
| Re: Grand Union Canal dries up during drought - ongoing issue and discussion Posted by Mark A at 21:43, 3rd September 2025 | |
I think it's the case that depending on how it's operated, a staircase lock doesn't consume more water than two locks with the same fall arranged sequentially. Also, the staircase had sideponds which mitigates the water consumption.
i'm now wondering if there are locks anywhere on the system with both working sideponds and the expectation that they be used.
Mark
| Re: Grand Union Canal dries up during drought - ongoing issue and discussion Posted by Mark A at 21:35, 3rd September 2025 | |
I have memories of the Aylesbury Arm - dropping from the Grand Union at Marsworth down to Aylesbury. In those days, I don't think that big basin was there; a pretty tight space at the end. Memories not entirely happy - we ended up in A&E at Stoke Mandeville; we were very fortunate that ... no long term problem issue, but a lesson learned. As I recall the lock flight is narrow, but not back-pumped. I think it starts with a staircase, which doubles water consumption.
The Aylesbury arm... with ambitions to reach Abingdon and thereby bypass the horribly obstructive and influential Thames Commissioners, who duly slaughtered said ambitions...
Mark
| Re: Grand Union Canal dries up during drought - ongoing issue and discussion Posted by bobm at 20:01, 3rd September 2025 | |
On tonight’s BBC Points West there was a report on the Wilts & Berks canal. The volunteers have been forced to stop barge trips on two stretches as the water has dropped too low. Sadly another section is unlikely ever to see craft again as it has been filled in and grassed over. (And that’s the bit that goes past my office window!)
| Re: Grand Union Canal dries up during drought - ongoing issue and discussion Posted by grahame at 19:25, 3rd September 2025 | |
I have memories of the Aylesbury Arm - dropping from the Grand Union at Marsworth down to Aylesbury. In those days, I don't think that big basin was there; a pretty tight space at the end. Memories not entirely happy - we ended up in A&E at Stoke Mandeville; we were very fortunate that ... no long term problem issue, but a lesson learned. As I recall the lock flight is narrow, but not back-pumped. I think it starts with a staircase, which doubles water consumption.
| Re: Grand Union Canal dries up during drought - ongoing issue and discussion Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 18:49, 3rd September 2025 | |
No - I won't delete your post!
I merely quoted their 'News item' from the BBC. We all know they don't get things wrong, do they?
I'll do some more 'digging' (or possibly dredging) to find out more.
CfN.
| Re: Grand Union Canal dries up during drought - ongoing issue and discussion Posted by TonyN at 18:32, 3rd September 2025 | |
From the BBC:
Boats have been left stranded due to low water levels in a canal following the summer drought.
The Aylesbury Arm of the Grand Union Canal has been closed since 16 June by the Canal and River Trust.
According to the The Aylesbury Canal Society boats have not been able to leave the drydock while others have remained stuck in the canal.
Dale Canfield, from the Canal and River Trust, said the waterway is more than 200 years old and needs more investment to keep up with maintenance.
Four reservoirs supply the Grand Union Canal but a lack of rain has left them without water, meaning the canals cannot be topped up.
Nick Coolican-Smith, the chairman of the Aylesbury Canal Society, said the business could lose at least £10,000 as a result of the closure.
He said :"We've lost probably tens of thousands: boat cancellations, about a dozen dock bookings cancelled or postponed, and then the ripple effect to guys who come and work here on the boats or paint the boats. A lot of people's holidays have gone out the window. A lot of people trying to get their boats back from holiday and are stuck in various places. In some places are rows of boats just sat on the bottom of the canal, leaning sideways... They are stuck there indefinitely. Nothing they can do."
He added that while there are usually water problems in September, it was unusual to experience issues from June. "The last time it was like this, I am told, is 1976," he said.
Mr Canfield said: "It needs a huge investment to deal with the leaks, with all the problems we have got and then to maintain keeping navigation open which we'd all love to do. But there isn't the funding and the resource currently to do that."
A Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs spokesperson said: "Our canals provide a wide range of benefits, such as connecting people to nature. That is why we are investing more than £480m of grant funding to the Canal and River Trust between now and 2037 to support the essential infrastructure maintenance of our much-valued waterways."
Any Ideas where the picture shows its not AylesburyBoats have been left stranded due to low water levels in a canal following the summer drought.
The Aylesbury Arm of the Grand Union Canal has been closed since 16 June by the Canal and River Trust.
According to the The Aylesbury Canal Society boats have not been able to leave the drydock while others have remained stuck in the canal.
Dale Canfield, from the Canal and River Trust, said the waterway is more than 200 years old and needs more investment to keep up with maintenance.
Four reservoirs supply the Grand Union Canal but a lack of rain has left them without water, meaning the canals cannot be topped up.
Nick Coolican-Smith, the chairman of the Aylesbury Canal Society, said the business could lose at least £10,000 as a result of the closure.
He said :"We've lost probably tens of thousands: boat cancellations, about a dozen dock bookings cancelled or postponed, and then the ripple effect to guys who come and work here on the boats or paint the boats. A lot of people's holidays have gone out the window. A lot of people trying to get their boats back from holiday and are stuck in various places. In some places are rows of boats just sat on the bottom of the canal, leaning sideways... They are stuck there indefinitely. Nothing they can do."
He added that while there are usually water problems in September, it was unusual to experience issues from June. "The last time it was like this, I am told, is 1976," he said.
Mr Canfield said: "It needs a huge investment to deal with the leaks, with all the problems we have got and then to maintain keeping navigation open which we'd all love to do. But there isn't the funding and the resource currently to do that."
A Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs spokesperson said: "Our canals provide a wide range of benefits, such as connecting people to nature. That is why we are investing more than £480m of grant funding to the Canal and River Trust between now and 2037 to support the essential infrastructure maintenance of our much-valued waterways."
Sorry just worked out its further out of Aylesbury not the basin at the end of the Aylesbury arm.
Mods please delete if you like
| Grand Union Canal dries up during drought - ongoing issue and discussion Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 10:31, 3rd September 2025 | |
From the BBC:
Boats have been left stranded due to low water levels in a canal following the summer drought.
The Aylesbury Arm of the Grand Union Canal has been closed since 16 June by the Canal and River Trust.
According to the The Aylesbury Canal Society boats have not been able to leave the drydock while others have remained stuck in the canal.
Dale Canfield, from the Canal and River Trust, said the waterway is more than 200 years old and needs more investment to keep up with maintenance.
Four reservoirs supply the Grand Union Canal but a lack of rain has left them without water, meaning the canals cannot be topped up.
Nick Coolican-Smith, the chairman of the Aylesbury Canal Society, said the business could lose at least £10,000 as a result of the closure.
He said :"We've lost probably tens of thousands: boat cancellations, about a dozen dock bookings cancelled or postponed, and then the ripple effect to guys who come and work here on the boats or paint the boats. A lot of people's holidays have gone out the window. A lot of people trying to get their boats back from holiday and are stuck in various places. In some places are rows of boats just sat on the bottom of the canal, leaning sideways... They are stuck there indefinitely. Nothing they can do."
He added that while there are usually water problems in September, it was unusual to experience issues from June. "The last time it was like this, I am told, is 1976," he said.
Mr Canfield said: "It needs a huge investment to deal with the leaks, with all the problems we have got and then to maintain keeping navigation open which we'd all love to do. But there isn't the funding and the resource currently to do that."
A Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs spokesperson said: "Our canals provide a wide range of benefits, such as connecting people to nature. That is why we are investing more than £480m of grant funding to the Canal and River Trust between now and 2037 to support the essential infrastructure maintenance of our much-valued waterways."
