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All closures / Why they close / Pollution

Pollution

Too few unplanned closures with this cause in June to August 2026 and the same months a year earlier to tell a change from luck: 1 against 0. How a change is tested.

On record: 17 closures since May 2025

In force today

No closure with this cause is in force today.

By canal

13 canals have had a closure with this cause. A closure naming two canals counts on both.

Closures with this cause on each canal since May 2025, most first.
Canal	Closures
Grand Union Canal	3
Regent's Canal	2
Wyrley & Essington Canal	2
Birmingham & Fazeley Canal	1
Bradley Arm (Old Main Line)	1
Bugsworth Arm (Peak Forest Canal)	1
Calder & Hebble Navigation	1
Caldon Canal	1
Chesterfield Canal	1
Liverpool Link	1
Ripon Canal	1
Stourbridge Canal	1

Show 1 moreShow fewer

Canal	Closures
Walsall Canal	1

Every closure on record

Showing 17 closures whose cause reads “Pollution”.

PeriodFrom To

Rank byClosure daysNumber of closures

Population

2 closures are in neither group: 2 unplanned with no day in the cruising season since May 2025.

Status

Duration

Cause

Asset affected

Water problem

Unplanned failures naming one

CRT reason

Region

closures

365

closure-days since May 2025

228

in cruising season

no reopening date

What these figures mean

Population: Which closures a figure counts. All closures is everything; Unplanned closure drops the works CRT flags as its winter programme and any day outside the cruising season (the Friday nearest 15 March to the Sunday before the first Monday in November). Scheduled work CRT does not flag as winter works still counts here. CRT Planned closure is the flagged winter programme alone.
Defensible duration: The days between a closure's start and its reopening date, counted only where the dates allow it. A cancelled notice, or one whose reopening precedes its start, has no defensible duration and is in no total.
Closure-days: One day on which one closure was in force. Two closures on the same day are two closure-days; where the question is how long a canal was actually disrupted, overlapping notices are unioned into single intervals. They are counted from 1 May 2025, when this archive begins: a closure that started earlier adds only its days since then, though its own row shows its whole length. Every figure and chart counts only the days inside the Period chosen above them.
In force: A closure is in a Period, and a day is one a closure affected, if it was in force at any time that day, including the morning it reopened. Closure-days measure how long, so they count whole days and not the reopening day: a closure can be in a Period and add no closure-day to it.

Closures in force each month

closures active during the month

May 25Jun 25Jul 25Aug 25Sep 25Oct 25Nov 25Dec 25Jan 26Feb 26Mar 26Apr 26May 26Jun 26Jul 26Aug 26Sep 26

Canals ranked by the season's closures

share of the period's cruising-season days up to today — a closure somewhere on a long canal is likelier, and does not mean the canal was impassableclosures in force on the period's cruising-season days — a longer canal has more to go wrong on

Where

closure-days by regionclosures by region

Yorkshire and North East2073

North West782

West Midlands677

London and South East135

West Midlands767

London and South East513

Yorkshire and North East3207

North West278

A region with more canal has more to go wrong on, so these totals partly measure its size. Regions compared by length of canal are on the Reliability page.

CRT's reason

closure-days by the reason CRT filedclosures by the reason CRT filed

Pollution Incident35815

Information72

Pollution Incident15358

Information27

What fails

closure-days by assetclosures by asset

Canal or river35114

Lock71

Tunnel72

Canal or river14351

Tunnel27

Lock17

What fails on a lock

closure-days by part — unplanned lock failures naming a partclosures by part — unplanned lock failures naming a part

How long they last

closures by full length, including any days before May 2025 — the bands are not equal in width

<=1d2-7d8-30d31-90d91-365d>365d

17 results · every closure whose cause reads “Pollution”Jump to list

Tame Valley No 1 Bridge to Birchills Junction, including Walsall Lock Flight
Walsall CanalWest Midlands
308 days
From 1 August 2024
Reopened 5 June 2025
35 of them since this archive began on 1 May 2025
Where
Tame Valley No 1 Bridge, Ocker Hill to Birchills Junction Bridge
CRT reason
Pollution Incident
Cause
Pollution
Asset
Canal or river
After being closed since August 2024, we are planning to reopen the Walsall Canal to boaters on Thursday 5th June. The towpath remains open for walkers and cyclists. The canal has been dredged to remove cyanide-contaminated silt, further reducing risks to wildlife and supporting…
Latest of 3 CRT updates, 30 May 2025.
Pollution Incident spanning Pudding Dyke Bridge to Dog Kennel Bridge
Chesterfield CanalYorkshire and North East
200 days
From 31 October 2025
Reopened 19 May 2026
Where
Bridge 34, Thorpe Pudding Dyke Bridge to Bridge 31, Kiveton Dog Kennel Bridge
CRT reason
Pollution Incident
Cause
Pollution
Asset
Canal or river
Contractors have visited site and removed all of the containment methods, the navigation is now open for use as normal.
Latest of 10 CRT updates, 19 May 2026.
Liverpool Link
Liverpool LinkNorth West
78 days
From 23 April 2026
Reopened 10 July 2026
Where
Bascule Bridge - Stanley to Mann Island Lock
CRT reason
Pollution Incident
Cause
Pollution
Asset
Canal or river
The Liverpool Link remains closed to navigation following the identification of a suspected blue-green algae bloom in Princes Dock. Additional water samples have been taken, and we are currently awaiting the results of laboratory testing. As a precaution, steps are being taken…
Latest of 2 CRT updates, 26 June 2026.
Between Pratts Mill Bridge and Hildicks Bridge
Wyrley & Essington CanalWest Midlands
17 days
From 13 March 2026
Reopened 30 March 2026
Where
Pratts Mill Bridge, Bloxwich Road to Hildicks Bridge
CRT reason
Pollution Incident
Cause
Pollution
Asset
Canal or river
Navigation on the Wyrley & Essington Canal, between Pratts Mill Bridge and Hildicks Bridge, will remain closed while our teams work to contain an ongoing oil pollution incident. Extra containment booms have been added along the canal to help limit the spread of the pollution. We…
Latest of 2 CRT updates, 17 March 2026.
Maida Hill Tunnel Closed
Regent's CanalLondon and South East
7 days
From 29 April 2025
Reopened 6 May 2025
5 of them since this archive began on 1 May 2025
Where
Bridge 1, Warwick Avenue to Lock 3, Bypass Weir Kentish Town Lock
CRT reason
Information
Cause
Pollution
Asset
Tunnel
Further Update: Specialist contractors have started to empty the generator tanks and will continue overnight. Clean up of the canal is underway and the western portal has been skimmed today and booms still in place. We plan to start to draw the water through the tunnel tomorrow…
Latest of 3 CRT updates, 2 May 2025.
Stourton Top Lock to Wordsley Junction, Stourbridge
Stourbridge CanalWest Midlands
7 days
From 3 March 2026
Reopened 10 March 2026
Where
Stourton Lock 1 (Top Lock) to Wordsley Jct Bridge, Stourbridge
CRT reason
Pollution Incident
Cause
Pollution
Asset
Canal or river
Navigation remains closed between Stourton Top Lock and Wordsley Junction while Severn Trent continues to carry out clean-up and remediation work. These operations will continue over the weekend as efforts to improve water quality progress. Ammonia levels within the canal are…
Latest of 3 CRT updates, 6 March 2026.
Oxclose Lock - Reopened
Ripon CanalYorkshire and North East
7 days
From 20 March 2026
Reopened 27 March 2026
CRT's title says reopened
Where
Lock 3, Oxclose Lock
CRT reason
Pollution Incident
Cause
Pollution
Asset
Lock
The booms have been removed and a reed clearance and pollution clean up from the spill has been carried out by Third Party Contractors. Oxclose Lock is now open for passage.
Latest of 3 CRT updates, 27 March 2026.
Below Bridge 176, Springwell Lane
Grand Union CanalLondon and South East
5 days
From 16 August 2026
Reopened 21 August 2026
Where
Lock 83, Springwell Lock to Bridge 176C (Sewer Pipe)
CRT reason
Pollution Incident
Cause
Pollution
Asset
Canal or river
Addler and Allan will be on site this morning, 21/08/26, to finalise the clean up. This will hopefully allow the canal to be reopened this afternoon, withstanding any unforeseen complications.
Latest of 5 CRT updates, 21 August 2026.
Pelsall works bridge to Freeth bridge
Wyrley & Essington CanalWest Midlands
4 days
From 4 May 2026
Reopened 8 May 2026
Where
Freeth Bridge, Fishley to Pelsall Works Bridge
CRT reason
Pollution Incident
Cause
Pollution
Asset
Canal or river
The pollution incident is ongoing and is currently being investigated by our team. Navigation remains closed at this location while the investigation is underway. A further update will be provided by the end of the week.
Latest of 2 CRT updates, 5 May 2026.
Inshaw Basin to Chelston Road Wharf Bridge, Aston
Birmingham & Fazeley CanalWest Midlands
3 days
From 12 September 2025
Reopened 15 September 2025
Where
Inshaw Basin to Chelston Road Wharf Bridge
CRT reason
Pollution Incident
Cause
Pollution
Asset
Canal or river
Due to an HGV collision near Chelston Road Wharf Bridge, a large amount of diesel has entered the canal. West Midlands Fire Service is currently managing the incident. Navigation at Aston Lock Flight is already closeddue to low water levels. We remind all boaters to refrain from…
CRT's only update, 12 September 2025.
Maida Hill Tunnel Closure
Regent's CanalLondon and South East
2 days
From 12 May 2025
Reopened 14 May 2025
Where
Bridge 1, Warwick Avenue to Lock 3, Bypass Weir Kentish Town Lock
CRT reason
Information
Cause
Pollution
Asset
Tunnel
Our team have confirmed that we've reopened the Maida Hill Tunnel. Thank you for your patience around this situation.
Latest of 5 CRT updates, 14 May 2025.
between footbridge 69 and bridge 70A Wolverton
Grand Union CanalLondon and South East
1 day
From 24 May 2025
Reopened 25 May 2025
Where
Bridge 69, Footbridge to Bridge 70 (Railway)
CRT reason
Pollution Incident
Cause
Pollution
Asset
Canal or river
Due to an oil spillage that has contaminated the canal we have closed navigation between these two points. Contractors have been called to assist us with cleaning the contaminants. Booms are being used across the water to isolate any further movement.
CRT's only update, 24 May 2025.
Deepfields Junction Bridge to Gas Pipe Bridge, Blue Button Weir
Bradley Arm (Old Main Line)West Midlands
1 day
From 12 April 2026
Reopened 13 April 2026
Where
Deepfields Junction Bridge to Gas Pipe Bridge Near Blue Button Weir
CRT reason
Pollution Incident
Cause
Pollution
Asset
Canal or river
Due to a significant factory fire in the vicinity of Deepfields Road Bridge, the navigation has been closed. Run off water from the fire ground is entering the canal via surface water discharge outlets,resulting in pollution within the affected area. A substantial amount of coal…
CRT's only update, 12 April 2026.
Bugsworth Arm
Bugsworth Arm (Peak Forest Canal)North West
same day
From 3 October 2025
Reopened 3 October 2025
Where
Bridge 56
CRT reason
Pollution Incident
Cause
Pollution
Asset
Canal or river
Due to a pollution incident at Bridge 56, navigation is closed on the Bugsworth Arm whilst our teams continue to clean the polluted area, working closely with the Environment Agency. Booms and pads placed within the canal to contain the pollution. A further update will be…
CRT's only update, 3 October 2025.
Between locks 54 - 53 Berkhamsted
Grand Union CanalLondon and South East
same day
From 22 December 2025
Reopened 22 December 2025
Where
Lock 53 to Lock 54
CRT reason
Pollution Incident
Cause
Pollution
Asset
Canal or river
The team have attended and the navigation has now been re-opened. Thank you for your patience.
Latest of 2 CRT updates, 22 December 2025.
Between Lock 13 (Cheddleton Top Lock) and Bridge 44 (Basford Lane Bridge)
Caldon CanalWest Midlands
same day
From 20 May 2026
Reopened 20 May 2026
Where
Lock 13 Cheddleton Top Lock to Bridge 44, Basford Lane Bridge
CRT reason
Pollution Incident
Cause
Pollution
Asset
Canal or river
Please be advised that the navigation is currently closed on the Caldon Canal between Cheddleton Lock 13 and Bridge 44, Basford Lane Bridge due to an oil spill. We have temporarily closed the canal in this location to allow our teams to assess the situation and carry out the…
CRT's only update, 20 May 2026.
Top lock at Brighouse Basin is closed due to a pollution incident
Calder & Hebble NavigationYorkshire and North East
same day
From 25 September 2026
Reopened 25 September 2026
Where
Lock 11, Brighouse Top
CRT reason
Pollution Incident
Cause
Pollution
Asset
Canal or river
Brighouse Top Lock will been closed due to a pollution incident. A powder fire extinguisher has been found in the canal causing a white powdery film affect in the water. This can harmful be to wildlife and the ecology should it get into the river. Our Ecology Team will be…
CRT's only update, 25 September 2026.

Showing the 17 longest of 17. Every row links to the notice CRT published.

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