INTERVIEW: Boat homes still grounded three weeks after major Lancaster Canal breach

A man who lives on his boat on Lancaster Canal remains stuck and unable to move his home three weeks after a major leak left canal water levels alarmingly low.

Mark, who spoke to Beyond Radio on Thursday, is one of many boat owners who have been grounded since a breach on the canal almost three weeks ago.

A towpath collapsed, waterways were polluted and water levels dropped after a break in the canal's embankment, which is the wall that holds back the water. 

Repairs have been taking place but levels remain extremely low everywhere along the canal, said Mark.

The Canal and River Trust (CRT), the charity which looks after Britain's waterways, said "getting the levels back to normal will take some time".

They said "completing the repairs to re-open the navigation for our boaters and all others who enjoy the canal is a priority (but) the works will take several months to complete, and we understand that in the meantime, the loss of full use of the Lancaster Canal will impact many customers profoundly."

This picture shows Lancaster Canal following the breach on July 20. Image by Dan Hulme.

Mark said: "It's got to the point where my boat and a lot of other boats are grounded on the mud in a position where we can't move them now.

"We're stuck where we are, for getting on for about three weeks now.

"The problem is narrowboats have an on-board water tank and mine is probably going to be running very low at the moment. I'm concerned that if it does run out completely, what do I do for water? Because I can't move the boat to a water tap which is what I normally do.

"We have to fill up a tank and use the water we've got, and if we run out, we run out.

"It's a nice way to live and I do enjoy living on the boat on the canal, most of the time, but I'm not enjoying it at the moment."

LISTEN to Mark speaking about the issues on Lancaster Canal

Our picture below shows a boat on Lancaster Canal grounded and unable to move

The breach on the 41-mile canal happened at Aqueduct 38 at Hollowforth near Barton.

Large amounts of silt also ended up in nearby waterways including the River Wyre due to the breach, and the Environment Agency was informed. 

Teams and contractors from the Canal and River Trust (CRT) secured dams either side of the affected area following the breach.

Mark said the CRT are "sending out emails about progress of the breach and what they're going to do with that but there's no information about when they expect water levels to go back to normal.

"I want CRT to email all their customers simply to ask, are you experiencing difficulties and if so, what difficulties are you experiencing? They really don't seem to care what's happening to people who are stuck."

A CRT spokesperson said: "We would like to thank boaters for their patience and support.

"We are in regular telephone contact with boaters affected by the navigation closure on the Ribble Link. It’s important to keep our boating customers updated about what is happening which is why we give regular and detailed updates about works affecting navigation on our website: canalrivertrust.org.uk/boating/notices-and-stoppages.

"Should boaters have any questions about any of the works, please contact us on 03030 404040 and select the North West region to speak with one of our regional team members."

Below, an image of Lancaster Canal before the breach occurred.

The CRT has been publishing regular updates on its website.

The latest, on August 2, says:

"This week, our primary focus has been on water management and finding solutions to the navigation closure caused by the breach.

"Our contractors have adjusted the pumping, which has helped raise water levels south of the dam, while our operations team has been diligently monitoring the levels north of the dam to ensure we’re getting the best flow from Killington Reservoir.

"Work will continue over the next week to raise the canal levels north of the breach, but getting the levels back to normal will take some time. Consequently, the Glasson flight will need to remain closed next week to help us increase the levels.

"Our engineering teams have conducted several on-site investigations this week, looking at ways to address the navigation for our boating customers. We are pleased to be able to share that we’re planning to set up a longitudinal dam around the breach area.

"This innovative solution would allow boats currently stuck north of the dam to pass through to the south and vice versa.

"Next week, our contractors will begin additional surveys to finalise the design, methodology, and gather the necessary materials. Site preparation will follow to allow the installation to take place.

"We’ll confirm more details on this plan over the next few weeks once the surveys are completed. If everything goes to plan, we should see our first boat pass the breach site by the end of August.

"Progress with our neighbours has gone well, and we’re gearing up to start installing the access paths next week. This phase will take about four weeks due to the distance we need to cover, and the extensive fencing required to keep the livestock in the adjacent fields safe.

"Our design team, along with our geotechnical engineers, has been on the ground putting together a solid plan to rebuild the embankment and the damaged aqueduct. We’ve also been busy with ecology and heritage surveys. The ecology surveys are complete, and we’ll be removing some trees that are in the way once the site is set up. On the heritage side, we’ve agreed on a plan that respects and protects the historical aspects of the site.

"We’ve had productive discussions with the Environment Agency as well. Their river runs right under the aqueduct, and they’ve given us the thumbs up to carry on with our emergency work.

"We really appreciate all the support from our customers and partners. Your patience and understanding mean a lot to us as we work through these repairs. We’ll continue to keep you updated regularly."

On July 26 the trust said: "The repairs required are substantial and will need significant funding. The works will have a material effect on the Trust's already limited resources.

"Nonetheless, along with the repairs to the sea gate on the Ribble Link, completing the repairs to re-open the navigation for our boaters and all others who enjoy the canal is a priority. The works will take several months to complete, and we understand that in the meantime, the loss of full use of the Lancaster Canal will impact many customers profoundly.

"On-site, our water engineers and contractors have been busy installing vital pumps to ensure water supply to the south side of the breach area. The final steps of this installation will be completed today, and we hope to bring the water levels back to a navigational level over the next week. In addition to over-pumping the breach site, our teams are also exploring other locations to bring water to the southern section of the Lancaster Canal to maintain a stable water level and protect our precious environment and heritage."

The next update from the Canal & River Trust is due later today, August 9.

UPDATE from CRT, August 9:

"As we continue to manage the breach on the Lancaster Canal, we’ve been making steady progress on multiple fronts. While the water levels remain low, our teams have been adjusting the over-pumping efforts, leading to gradual increases both north and south of the breach area. This is an encouraging sign, but there’s still more work to be done to fully restore the levels.

"Over the next week, we’ll keep pushing to raise the canal levels, especially north of the breach, with our teams focusing on keeping the feeder channels clear and carrying out vegetation removal to increase flows. Although this will take some time, it remains a top priority for all our teams on the Lancaster Canal. For now, the Glasson Flight will need to remain closed to assist with this effort.

"In line with our earlier investigations, we are developing a solution to install a temporary three-sided dam around the breach. This would allow restricted boat passage between the north and south of the breach area. Initial plans are going well, and we aim to have this dam in place by the end of the month. Our contractors are carrying out surveys this week to finalize the design, and we’ll keep you posted as this plan progresses.

"We’ve got a few important surveys lined up for next week as well. On Monday, 12th August, a bat survey will be conducted to ensure there are no roosting bats in the work area. Then, on Wednesday, 14th August, we’ll be carrying out a topographical survey to confirm that the embankment is safe for reinstatement.

"Our design team, in collaboration with our partners, are busy developing the repair solution and methodology, which will allow us to move forward more efficiently.

"Thank you again for your ongoing support and patience. We’ll provide another update on Friday, 16th August, as we continue to make progress on these critical repairs."

Read more: Part of Lancaster Canal left 'severely low on water' after major leak and towpath collapse - Beyond Radio