Business 'drying up' after canal water levels fall

Earle Wightman says it will take a long time to refill the canal where his business is located

The boss of a boat hire company has said his business is being severely affected by a lack of water in the local canal network.

Earle Wightman, managing director of Heritage Narrow Boats in Scholar Green, Cheshire, said he had 13 hire boats which had not been able to move since July.

In addition, his retail business had suffered due to a lack of passing trade along the Macclesfield Canal, he said.

The Canal and River Trust said the waterways had been hit by a deliberate draining of the locks by vandals, which had been exacerbated by the driest spring on record.

The reservoirs which fed the waterways were almost empty due to the lack of rain, a trust spokesperson said.

"Without enough water, we took the difficult decision not to refill some of these stretches [of the canal]," they added.

"What little water we've had, we've used to protect boats on the summit and keep enough water in the canal for fish."

The trust said it was using water from recent rainfall to top up the Bosley and Marple lock flights and would then raise levels along the section where Heritage Narrow Boats is based.

"We share everyone's frustrations with the challenges the lack of rainfall has caused and will fully reopen our canals as soon as we safely can," the spokesperson added.

Holiday refunds

The canal section would take a long time to fill, Mr Wightman told BBC Radio Stoke, and meanwhile his business would continue to suffer.

"It's causing a major problem, with regards to our takings – as well as having to refund all our customers who've booked holidays," he said.

He added he had had to go to the bank to ask for financial help as a result of the drop in trade.

"Usually, loads of boats in the summer pass by this canal and call in for services."

He said his day hire boats were normally out seven days a week, but had not been out for months.

Howard Davis says people living on the canal have faced difficulties with daily tasks

As well as Mr Wightman's business, a number of people living on the canal have been affected.

Howard Davis, who has been living on a boat for 25 years, said he had not been able to move his boat at all.

"We're stuck on the bottom," he said.

He added some people could not have a shower, because of the angle their boats have ended up in.