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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/jul/23/hot-uk-weather-leeds-liverpool-canal-closure
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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Dry UK weather to cause closure on Leeds and Liverpool canal | Dry UK weather to cause closure on Leeds and Liverpool canal |
| (4 months later) | |
| A 55-mile section of Britain’s longest canal will temporarily shut at the end of the month as a result of the exceptionally dry weather. | A 55-mile section of Britain’s longest canal will temporarily shut at the end of the month as a result of the exceptionally dry weather. |
| All locks on the Leeds and Liverpool canal between Wigan in Greater Manchester and Gargrave, near Skipton in North Yorkshire, will be shut from 30 July. The towpath will remain open for walkers. | All locks on the Leeds and Liverpool canal between Wigan in Greater Manchester and Gargrave, near Skipton in North Yorkshire, will be shut from 30 July. The towpath will remain open for walkers. |
| Some parts of north-west England received as little as 30% of the average rainfall in May and June – with no rain at all in the first week of July – placing extra pressure on reservoir holdings, the Canal and River Trust said. | Some parts of north-west England received as little as 30% of the average rainfall in May and June – with no rain at all in the first week of July – placing extra pressure on reservoir holdings, the Canal and River Trust said. |
| The trust said the closure would probably last throughout August as it would only reopen the canal once there were sufficient resources within the reservoirs to avoid further closure or restrictions. | The trust said the closure would probably last throughout August as it would only reopen the canal once there were sufficient resources within the reservoirs to avoid further closure or restrictions. |
| The Leeds and Liverpool canal is the longest in Britain built as a single waterway, stretching 127 miles (204km) from Merseyside to West Yorkshire. After Liverpool, the canal passes through east Lancashire and crosses Pennine countryside and picturesque villages on the edge of the Yorskhire Dales before reaching Leeds. | The Leeds and Liverpool canal is the longest in Britain built as a single waterway, stretching 127 miles (204km) from Merseyside to West Yorkshire. After Liverpool, the canal passes through east Lancashire and crosses Pennine countryside and picturesque villages on the edge of the Yorskhire Dales before reaching Leeds. |
| It often suffers from a lack of water because the reservoirs that supply it rely on rainfall during the summer to provide enough water for the whole boating season. | It often suffers from a lack of water because the reservoirs that supply it rely on rainfall during the summer to provide enough water for the whole boating season. |
| Since 15 July, all locks from Gargrave to Barrowford in Lancashire have been locked nightly from 6pm in an effort to save water. Every time a lock is operated, 200,000 litres of water are used. | Since 15 July, all locks from Gargrave to Barrowford in Lancashire have been locked nightly from 6pm in an effort to save water. Every time a lock is operated, 200,000 litres of water are used. |
| The trust is also introducing restrictions on parts of the Rochdale canal and Huddersfield narrow canal. | The trust is also introducing restrictions on parts of the Rochdale canal and Huddersfield narrow canal. |
| Jon Horsfall, the head of customer service support at the trust, said: “Despite the prolonged dry weather and current heatwave the vast majority of our 2,000-mile network is available for boaters and holidaymakers to enjoy as normal, but some very localised parts of our network in the north west are starting to feel the heat. | Jon Horsfall, the head of customer service support at the trust, said: “Despite the prolonged dry weather and current heatwave the vast majority of our 2,000-mile network is available for boaters and holidaymakers to enjoy as normal, but some very localised parts of our network in the north west are starting to feel the heat. |
| “In particular the reservoirs which feed the summit of the Leeds and Liverpool canal have seen very little rainfall over the past few months and so we’ve been monitoring the situation closely and working with boaters and boating businesses to make best use of the available water. We’ve taken the decision to temporarily close part of the canal to boats very reluctantly and can assure everyone on that stretch of the canal that we’ll reopen for navigation as soon as we possibly can.” | “In particular the reservoirs which feed the summit of the Leeds and Liverpool canal have seen very little rainfall over the past few months and so we’ve been monitoring the situation closely and working with boaters and boating businesses to make best use of the available water. We’ve taken the decision to temporarily close part of the canal to boats very reluctantly and can assure everyone on that stretch of the canal that we’ll reopen for navigation as soon as we possibly can.” |
| Last week, a boater accidentally drained a stretch of the Kennet and Avon canal after leaving all the lock gates open. A section of the waterway was left with hardly any water on Tuesday near the Barge Inn in Seend, Wiltshire. | Last week, a boater accidentally drained a stretch of the Kennet and Avon canal after leaving all the lock gates open. A section of the waterway was left with hardly any water on Tuesday near the Barge Inn in Seend, Wiltshire. |
| A spokesperson for the trust confirmed what happened was not malicious but that the boater was “rushing and left the paddles up”. | A spokesperson for the trust confirmed what happened was not malicious but that the boater was “rushing and left the paddles up”. |
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