A campaigning group has criticised the state of a Nottinghamshire canal after it suffered a "catastrophic loss of water" during the recent heatwave. Grantham Canal, which runs from Grantham to West Bridgford, has seen its water level drop significantly due to poor maintenance and the recent pro-longed heatwave, according to the Grantham Canal Water Restoration Group [GCWRG].
The group said the canal, which has been mostly unnavigable for boats since it was classed as 'disused', successfully retained water for more than 200 years and that if leaks had been fixed the water level situation would be less severe. "GCWRG recognises that we have had much less rainfall this year and would expect this to be reflected in water levels in the canal to some extent," A statement from GCWRG said.
"But the Grantham Canal has successfully retained water for over 200 years, as it was designed to do, and it is mainly the lack of maintenance that has led to leaks and the catastrophic loss of water. If the leaks had been fixed then it would undoubtedly have retained more water than there is now. At a time of unprecedentedly dry weather, GCWRG believes that the importance of fixing leaks and retaining water is more important than ever.
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"This lack of maintenance is a consequence of the canal being classed as disused – a ‘remainder waterway’ – but, far from being disused, it is a 30-mile resource used by thousands of people every day. The mental and physical benefits of exercising and being next to water are well known - in the words of the blue signs on the canal: 'Life is better by water!' GCWRG believes that the Government, Councils and the Canal and River Trust need to redefine the canal as a vital local resource for health and wellbeing, prioritise funding accordingly and stop the water leaking away."
The GCWRG was established in 2019 after the Nottingham to Grantham Canal dried up at Kinoulton and levels were drastically reduced upstream at the Hickling Basin. GCWRG say they have been working with Canal and River Trust to push for canal repairs, with repairs scheduled for this autumn to Grantham Canal.
The Canal & River Trust said they were currently unable to improve the entirety of the canal, but have invested in works to reduce leakage. The trust expressed a long-term wish to see the whole canal restored for navigation.
A spokesperson said: "Most of the Grantham Canal is unnavigable for boats and the canal was designated as a ‘Remainder’ waterway in the 1968 Transport Act – meaning that no commercial or leisure use could be foreseen at that time. While the Trust has a long term aspiration to see the whole canal restored for navigation, and is working with the Grantham Canal Society and others to achieve this, the reality is that we are legally obligated to focus our resources on ensuring that our navigable waterways - 2,000 miles of them - are safe and working the way that they should.
"While we’d dearly love to be able to invest millions of pounds in large scale engineering works to reline the canal and improve water levels we’re sadly not in a position to do so alone. That’s why we’re really supportive of the work the Grantham Canal Water Restoration Group are doing to raise funds and awareness and for their help and local knowledge.
"We meet regularly with the group, looking into ways we can improve the situation. In recent years, on top of our ongoing maintenance work to keep the canal safe and accessible, have invested £40,000 in clearing reeds along a 10km length of the canal - including at Kinoulton - to improve the water flow. We’ve also carried out some works to reduce leakage and have others in the pipeline.
"We love the passion that the group clearly have for their local canal and are keen to keep working with them, and local authorities, to look at ways in which we can improve the situation. In the meantime if there are any immediate ecological threats there are things we can and will do quickly to keep wildlife safe."
Read next:
- Severn Trent outlines how people can 'use water wisely' in driest summer since 1911
- Worksop canal closed as wall collapses during flash flood
- Severn Trent refuses to comment on hosepipe ban leaked document
- Nottinghamshire council asks for bins to be put out early ahead of extreme heat
- Click here for all the latest weather news and views from Nottinghamshire Live
