HIRE COMPANIES are suffering with the numerous canal closures impacting on their businesses.
In the North West they are causing 'very severe problems' they tell the BBC, Janet Friend reports.
Boats cannot move
Guy Holding of Portland Basin Marina in Ashton-under-Lyne, tells the effect was like a motorway that's had two ends of it cut off, and boats cannot move, which is 'massively disrupting his business'.
Being at Ashton-under-Lyne the basin is where three canals meet, the Ashton, Huddersfield and Peak Forest canals all at present closed to navigation.
Other hire companies are suffering with most of the Rochdale Canal closed, all the flights on the Leeds & Liverpool out of action with the Ashby Canal and Huddersfield Narrow Canal completely closed.
With one owner remarking that he cannot get a boat out or get any in, and passing trade is non-existent., so now no pump-outs, gas or repairs can be carried out.
Important six weeks' holiday season
Yet this is the important season of the six weeks' holidays.
But every boat hire company in the North West is severely affected and could see more close.