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.
