For the second time in six months, a stretch of the Rochdale Canal in Ancoats, which usually flows into New Islington Marina, has seemingly been drained. Passers-by have been noticing the issue, with rubble and litter visible on the canal bed, and boats left stranded.
Many will have seen boats floating lower than usual in the past few weeks, and now the usually idyllic city centre spot is far from its Venetian-inspired norm. The Canal & River Trust puts the issue down to a leak, stating: “Our team and engineers have now carried out detailed inspections and a leak has been identified below Lock 81.
“We are now planning a method of repair. We will provide further update Friday 17 April.”
An earlier statement also said: “Our engineers have been out to site to take a closer look at the lock gate, and they’ve confirmed that the timber has become badly rotten. Unfortunately, this means the lock can’t be used safely and will remain closed.”
The canal around Lock 81 last drained unexpectedly in September, which was also reportedly down to a leak, and canal boat owners in the area are understandably concerned with the frequency of these incidents. The main concern lies with what’s at the bottom of the canal, as debris can damage the bottom of the boats, causing punctures and leaks, but as a city built on canals, it does raise concern in the wider community too.
With warm(er) days set to continue across Manchester, and pub and cafe culture spilling out onto the canal banks in turn, there’ll most definitely be a few beady eyes on the progress of the water level in the Rochdale Canal.
You can find more information on the Canal & River Trust website.
