Collapse of the Bridgewater Canal
Guidance and advice following the collapse of the Bridgewater Canal in Little Bollington.
What happened at the canal
Significant rainfall resulted in flooding and the collapse of the Bridgewater Canal in Little Bollington, near Dunham Massey, on New Year’s Day 2025.
The flooding was classified as a major incident, with a multi-agency response by local partners.
Emergency stoplogs – which are designed to cut off or stop the flow of water –were installed at Adgen and Dunham by the Bridgewater Canal Company, which is part of the Peel Group, to isolate the affected section. This led to around 1.9 miles (3kms) of the canal being drained of water.
This action also prevented a full loss of the canal and helped to stop further flooding which had been caused by extreme weather leading up to the incident.
The current situation
As a result of the incident on New Year’s Day, flood water and sediment from the canal spilled over into neighbouring farmland, and the site and surrounding public rights of way were closed off by the council due to possible contamination and the protection of the public.
Testing confirmed that flood-affected soils at the site do not pose a risk to people using the site or to the environment. It also confirmed there is no threat of pollution to nearby surface waters, including the River Bollin, or to groundwater.
If flood-affected soils are required to be disposed of, the tested material is classified as non-hazardous.
Following the results of the testing, which were endorsed by multi-agency partners, the public rights of way that were impacted by the incident were reopened.
The area directly surrounding the canal breach, including the canal towpath between Woodhouse and Little Bollington underbridges, remains closed to the public.
Since the breach at Little Bollington, the Bridgewater Canal Company team has been working to protect the canal and surrounding infrastructure.
In December, The Bridgewater Canal Company confirmed that the repair programme had moved into its next phase, with stabilisation works nearing completion and the formal design process for reinstating the embankment now underway.
Extensive work has already been carried out to protect and secure the canal. Temporary dams, stoplogs and embankment support have stabilised the site, and the unnavigable stretch has been reduced to under half a mile.
The work so far has enabled full access for specialist surveys to be completed, with the result informing the design process, which is underway.
Further targeted ecological and environmental surveys will take place in the coming weeks. Subject to the outcomes of these surveys and engineering design, it is expected that construction works will begin in summer 2026, with a completion by the end of 2026.
For questions or more information about reopening the canal, visit the Bridgewater Canal website or email the Bridgewater Canal at Peel.
Safety of the public
Signage is in place to advise the public of the remaining closures as outlined above and we recommend people keep clear of these sections.
See the map on our interactive mapping
If you have been impacted by the incident and need support
Any affected boaters, who need further assistance are asked to contact the Bridgewater Canal team, by email or calling 0161 629 8432.
Anyone in the Little Bollington area impacted by the incident and needing assistance from the council should contact: 0300 123 5500.
United Utilities
The incident damaged part of the public sewer that discharges into Dunham Massey wastewater treatment works.
Currently, the part of the sewer network that transports wastewater from Little Bollington to Dunham Massey wastewater treatment works is damaged and not useable.
To maintain service to residents of Little Bollington, United Utilities have put in place alternative arrangements to transport wastewater to the treatment works via tankers. The Wastewater Treatment Works continues to operate as normal.
You may see tankers in the local area around Park Lane and Park View, helping United Utilities to transport wastewater to the works.
Unfortunately, due to the complex repairs that need to happen, a definitive timeline cannot be given of when these works will be completed or when flow into the treatment works can be restored from this part of the sewer network.
United Utilities continues to look at options to minimise disruption and put the sewer back into operation and would like to thank residents for their patience throughout this incident.
Contact United Utilities.
Page last reviewed: 18 December 2025
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