Issue - meetings

            The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director, Enterprise, Community and Resources which provided an update on the effect of the closure of Fiddlers Ferry Power Station on the water level in the Sankey Canal.

            Since 1978 the Central Electricity Generating Board (CEGB) agreed to pump water for free in to the canal to facilitate recreational activities and an amount of locking in and out to the river. Halton’s section of the canal, which had largely been in open water since this date relied entirely on the input from the power station (see AECOM 2016 Hydrology Report). Warrington Borough Council was in a similar situation. 

            It was noted that SSE had announced they would cease generating operations at the Power Station by the end of March 2020.  The Station would then enter a period of decommissioning. From this point on any supplied water to the canal would be extremely unreliable and would likely cease altogether.

            The Board received a presentation on the various possible alternative water supply solutions ahead of the SSE closure of Fiddlers Ferry in 2020.

            RESOLVED: That the report be noted.