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Popular reservoir walk is reopened for Christmas

19 Dec 2024

The popular walking route around Anglezarke Reservoir will re-open for Christmas this weekend.

United Utilities is currently carrying out a £2 million maintenance project at one of the reservoir’s historic dams. But with work temporarily on hold over the Christmas period, the company is opening a footpath over the dam to enable walkers to get out and enjoy the popular walk.

Iain Pilling, United Utilities’ Area Engagement Lead for Lancashire explained: “This is a really popular walk and we know a lot of people like to get out for fresh air and a walk during the Christmas break.

“The team have secured their working area and left a pedestrian footpath over the dam, this means people can complete the full five mile circular walk around the reservoir. Hopefully we will have a few sunny days so people can make the most of it.”

The footpath will be closed again when work re-starts on Thursday 2nd January.

The engineering works at Heapey Dam are essential to ensure the ongoing safety of the dam which was first constructed in 1857.

Anglezarke Reservoir is the largest in the Rivington chain, it has three dams and a capacity of 4 million cubic metres, the equivalent of 1,600 Olympic-sized swimming pools. At 10m high and 85m long, Heapey Dam provides the embankment at the northern end of the reservoir and requires regular maintenance.

Iain Pilling, United Utilities’ Area Engagement Lead for Lancashire added: “All our reservoirs and dams undergo regular safety checks and maintenance to ensure their ongoing reliability. In the case of Heapey Dam, we have identified some maintenance work within the dam wall, and it is important we undertake this as quickly as possible.

“As we also have other works planned for the future, we are bringing these forward so we can combine it all together to minimise disruption. 

“Carrying out all of this work is complex and requires some significant excavations which means we need to close a section of Moor Road while this work is carried out.”

The work began in early December, and it is expected to be complete in May 2025. While it is ongoing the road is closed to vehicles, walkers and cyclists. A signed diversion via the southern end of the reservoir is in  place.