Dane Feeder Project

As mentioned in my Chair report last issue, I have been representing the branch on an informal group that has been set up to investigate the possibility of reinstating the Dane Feeder to supplying water to Rudyard Reservoir, in the context of drought, climate change and other issues that have led to the reservoir not having been filled to capacity in recent years. This was very apparent last summer with the lengthy closures of the Caldon Canal (and even the Trent & Mersey summit), but follows on from closures of the Caldon in 3 of the previous 5 summers due to water shortages, after 20 or so years when no closures were necessary.

Historically, the Dane Feeder was built to supply water from the River Dane into the top end of Rudyard Reservoir when the Dane is in flood, except it hasn’t worked for over 20 years now. The footpath alongside the feeder is very overgrown with vegetation and trees, despite being a public footpath (and a good section of it being part of both the Gritstone Trail and the Dane Valley Way long distance paths).

An informal meeting of the interested parties, brought together by Margaret Clark, a retired hydrologist and historic boat owner who has been campaigning about waterway issues for many decades, took place in September. As well as Margaret this involved Howard Worth (IWA Honorary Engineer), Sarah Edgson representing Historic Narrow Boat Club and Rupert Smedley and myself representing CUCT and IWA NSSC. Following that meeting I agreed to raise questions about the reservoir and its feeders, with CRT via the West Midlands User Forum which was held in Tipton a couple of weeks later. Having raised the subject, we had a chat with CRT Regional Engineer, Sally Boddy, after the meeting, and she agreed to visit the feeder for an inspection and walk.

This was duly organised for 24th November, which saw Rupert and I, along with Margaret Clark and Howard Worth, meeting up with Sally Boddy, and CRT area engineers Rob Malpass and Colin Lowndes.

Dane Feeder Project

around some historic photos. We then discussed the key issues and concerns which included the capacity of the reservoir, the height (and condition) of the spillweir, concerns about the delivery feeder to the Leek Arm, the Dane feeder itself and the potential for volunteer involvement.

Sally Boddy talked through the various constraints they have with the reservoir and the two feeders and gave us the excellent news that CRT have allocated £100,000 next year for some investigations into Rudyard Reservoir and how to improve its capacity. This project will look at the dam hydraulics, flood risks, the weir, spillway and what happens further downstream if they were to reinstate the previous weir crest level. We are assured that the study would also look at the Dane Feeder. The outcome of the project will then determine what works would be carried out, which would then be scheduled for 2026.

The day started with a site visit along a section of the feeder path through Rushton Spencer. We discovered that the path was very overgrown in places (and we carried out a small amount of pruning while we were there!). After walking some way along the feeder path, and admiring several of the diminutive bridges, we drove round to Rudyard Activity Centre where a meeting room with a buffet lunch had been arranged.

Margaret gave us all some information about the background and history of the feeder and the reservoir, and passed

Since that very constructive meeting, we have been assisting CRT in identifying the exact locations of specific issues along both the feeders using “What 3 Words” locations. I have also been in contact with Waterway Recovery Group and CRT’s volunteer co-ordinator about the possibility of getting WRG involved in clearing vegetation and carrying out path repairs along the Dane Feeder path.

A site walk along the whole length of the Dane Feeder (approx. 4 miles one way) is to be arranged to help with progressing all of this. If anyone is interested in joining us for the walk, or getting involved with this project more generally, do please contact me.

Article (+ main photo): Alison Smedley (alison.smedley@waterways.org.uk)