Restoring Toddbrook Reservoir A message from Richard Parry, The events last summer, although As a result, we have already put Canal & River Trust happening after heavy rainfall, in place a comprehensive range chief executive were unexpected. At no point in of measures to enhance the the Toddbrook spillway’s 50- management and maintenance of year history were design flaws our 72 reservoirs across England identified; successive inspections and Wales. Keeping local people safe is always our top priority. by independent engineers - from the Government-appointed All For Toddbrook these two Reservoir Panel, in accordance reports, along with the other with the Reservoirs Act - did engineering studies we have not raise any questions about commissioned, provide vital its design until the most recent information for the next phase in independent inspection report. the restoration of the reservoir This was received by the Trust – designing how and where to only three months prior to the rebuild the auxiliary spillway. incident and did not identify an immediate threat to safety, We have begun preliminary or direct that any urgent work on Toddbrook prior to its full restoration and we precautionary measures be taken. This month we welcome the remain fully committed to Government-commissioned keeping you up to date as our Lessons Learned Independent Reservoir Review repair work progresses. report from Professor Balmforth The Trust, along with other which examines the cause of reservoir owners, has important You can read Prof Balmforth’s the damage to Toddbrook lessons to learn from the incident. independent report produced Reservoir last summer and for the Government at makes recommendations for While the Balmforth report says gov.uk/government/ the improvement of reservoir the Trust was fully compliant publications/toddbrook- safety across England and with existing legislation, the Trust reservoir-incident-2019- Wales. Alongside that we have acknowledges that maintenance independent-review also published our own separate of the spillway in some periods of independent report, undertaken its 50 year life – including pre- You can read the full inquiry by Dr Andrew Hughes, an 2012 under Government-owned report from Dr Andrew Hughes eminent reservoir engineer. British Waterways – might have at canalrivertrust.org.uk/ restoring-toddbrook-reservoir been more stringent; although Both reports identify that both reports acknowledge serious hidden design flaws, Thank you for your support inherent in the concrete auxiliary that the inherent design flaws spillway from the time of its mean that, regardless of installation in 1970, were the maintenance, it is likely that underlining cause of its partial the spillway would have failed collapse on 1 August 2019. in an extreme weather event. March 2020 Managing water resources and keeping boats afloat on local canals this summer The Canal & River Trust has been unavailable, various maintenance and repair jobs at these and other nearby reservoirs will improve their working hard this winter to maximise reliability in the vital task of keeping water supplied alternative water supplies to the Peak to the two canals. Forest and Macclesfield canals to Our team of expert hydrologists have explored a mitigate for the loss of Toddbrook range of additional water resource options for the coming summer. This has involved carrying out Reservoir. extensive modelling to assess how the canal may perform under different rainfall scenarios. The two canals form a popular section of the Cheshire Cruising Ring and the Trust is aiming to The Trust is also in discussions with the keep them both operational for boaters throughout Environment Agency about abstracting additional the 2020 summer season as far as possible by water from the River Goyt and the River Dane – a ensuring they’re supplied with sufficient water. measure which is usually only considered during prolonged drought conditions. Over the last few months Combs, Bosley and Sutton reservoirs, which are the other main water As the Toddbrook repair project progresses, we will supplies for the canals, have benefitted from be consulting closely with our boating customers extensive works to their feeder channels, both about minimising the effect of any restrictions into and out of the reservoirs. With Toddbrook which may be required. Volunteers from the High Peak branch of the national building supplies firm Cemex worked with the Trust to deliver a fantastic job improving footpaths around Combs Reservoir. Big thanks to everyone at Cemex who helped on this project! Camex volunteers Before: Footpath by After: Improved Combs Reservoir footpath Rossendale Feeder before and after work We’re restoring and re-planting the hedgerow along Improving towpaths, dry Buxton Road from the Transhipment Warehouse stone walls and vegetation towards the Tesco entrance and we’ll be planting hundreds of new trees, plus wild flowers and fruit along the Peak Forest Canal trees, along the towpath from the warehouse towards Bugsworth and Furness Vale. We have just started work on a major community project to improve the towpaths, dry stone walls Get Involved. We will be hosting community and vegetation along the Peak Forest Canal. Some days on 16 and 17 April – calling for people to get overgrown trees and shrubs are being removed to involved with rebuilding the Toddbrook Reservoir allow damaged sections of walls to be re-built and boundary dry stone walls. Come and learn muddy towpaths to be resurfaced. a new skill! Keep an eye on the Trust’s website for more details. Update on temporary Dam Spillway works and improving Toddbrook inlet and bypass channel Our engineers have been working with Kier, our main In late spring this will be followed by work to the construction contractor, to make the Toddbrook Todd Brook inlet and bypass channel, including the Dam Spillway more resilient and able to withstand installation of a new sluice gate system, which will extreme weather events while plans for a permanent allow greater control over water flowing into the repair are prepared. We are currently creating a bypass channel and the reservoir. new waterproof nib wall along the crest of the dam, which will reach down and seal with the dam’s clay Nb During normal weather conditions, while the core. This will ensure that no water from inside the reservoir remains drained for repairs, all flow from reservoir can penetrate beneath the concrete slabs Todd Brook is sent down the by-wash channel – at the top of the spillway. The spillway crest will be none into the reservoir. increased in height by just over one metre, at either end, and sturdy waterproof barriers installed on the spillway slope to channel any overflowing water into the central undamaged section. A Big ‘Thank You’ to Whaley Bridge Athletic Football Club August to the inconvenience of the long-term repair project, the club’s volunteer organisers and players could not have been more helpful. “This is a situation that none us wanted or envisaged but we are trying our best to fix everything – a job which is made so much easier with the understanding and support of the club. We are delighted to show our appreciation of their efforts by sponsoring their Under 12’s new kit.” Canal & River Trust Whaley Bridge engagement manager Gillian Renshaw Whaley Bridge AFC development (back centre) with Whaley Bridge AFC Under 12s team, proudly sporting their officer John Hind said: “For the new football kit. Whaley Bridge AFC development officer John Hinds is back Junior Football club, it has been a row far left. challenging first season without The Canal & River Trust has sponsored new sports a pitch and we are indebted to Furness Vale FC and Chinley FC shirts for the Whaley Bridge Football Club Under for their help. We have enjoyed 12’s team as a ‘thank you’ for the club’s incredible tremendous support from the local community who have contribution towards the Toddbrook Reservoir continued to rally around after dam repair works. the events in August. We would like to thank the Canal & River Part of the club’s grounds, off Trust engagement manager Trust, Kier and also High Peak Park Road, have been occupied Gillian Renshaw said: “Everyone Borough Council, ‘Ditch your by construction site cabins, at Whaley Bridge Football Club Goretex’ ‘keep your chinook up’ installed by the Trust and its has been fantastic and made us discount football kits, Tesco and contractor Kier as a base while feel so welcome. From chinooks Waitrose supermarkets for their the damaged reservoir dam wall landing on their playing fields donations to the club.” is repaired. during the emergency last How do I find out more information? We are posting regular Weekly Wednesday Drop-in Sessions updates on our website at canalrivertrust.org.uk/restoring- Our weekly surgeries continue Alternatively, if you cannot toddbrook-reservoir to be held every Wednesday at make it along to the drop-in the Transhipment Warehouse by events, you can contact the the canal basin, from 11am–2pm Trust by email toddbrook@ where the Trust’s community canalrivertrust.org.uk and we liaison manager for Whaley will do our best to respond as Bridge, Gillian Renshaw, is soon as we can. available. Gillian Renshaw Derbyshire Fire & Rescue Service has warned people against the dangers of exploring the deep muddy bottom of the Charity no. 1146792 reservoir. Please don’t get stuck in the silt..