Things seem quiet at the moment. Apart from basic staff (who are on site to keep a constant watch on the pumping and also monitor the embankment’s stability) it seems things may not start moving once again until after the holiday period – probably next Monday 29th December onward. There’s not a lot to do currently because all the emergency stuff has now been done. Any further substantial work will no doubt involve planning and preparation.
It must be mentioned virtually all the pumping equipment and staff provided has been down to United Utilities who do of course wish to see their vital water supplies continue uninterrupted.
Talk about uninterrupted supplies! United Utilities are certainly taking all steps to ensure they have the fullest possible flow of water from Wales to their treatment and distribution works at Hurleston! The new arrangement involves huge steel pipes too and these carry the pumped water across the canal. This water is then distributed via a number of smaller pipes across the fields to the new outflow location.
An emergency footbridge across the canal has also been built at this location to allow United Utilities to access the fields on the other side.
United Utilities’ new (temporary) pumping station at Whitchurch Marina. Image from SS Skies at Youtube.
Updated 16.45pm 26th December 2025.
The pumping arrangement at the breach site is temporary. An alternative system is being set up at Whitchurch marina and the pipes, already laid along most of the route, will follow the A41 and enter the canal further down from the breach and nearer to Grindley Brook.
Route of the new pumping arrangement from Whitchurch Marina to the canal where the A41 bypass crosses it. I have marked the pipeline route approximately. The breach site is denoted too on the right hand side by the red marked ring. Image sourced from Google Maps.
Update: 16.10pm 26th December 2025.
One thing that is expected to be done soon is the installation of a second cofferdam immediately behind the boat (N/B Pacemaker) that was dragged away from the breach site. Unless a means of craning the boat away from the empty canal has been worked out. Access is the problem, not only that the entire site that could have formed a basis for any crane to operate is now taken up by a number of pumps operating 24/7 to transfer water.
A question that has been asked on Youtube and in forums is how did contractors rescue the one boat that was teetering on the edge of the vast chasm caused by the canal breach? Its known the boat was dragged away from the danger area with a winch. and there’s no doubt it had to be done before any of the pumps were installed. Yet no-one has a video of this work and that is because it was done late at night on the 23rd of December!
This very short video (shown below) which was published today does show specialist winching equipment arriving at the site so that’s one record at least of the work that was done to rescue this particular narrowboat.
The main feature image shows N/B Pacemaker teetering over the hole left by the breach. New Mills lift bridge to where the boat was dragged can be seen in the background. Inage is from Canal & River Trust.
Update: 14.10pm 26th December 2025.
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