Tensions have escalated at lock 20W on the Huddersfield Narrow Canal near the village of Greenfield, outside Oldham, where homeowners and boaters are locked in a dispute over water levels and flooding. Over the past few weeks, signs urging users to leave a canal paddle open to prevent property flooding have been repeatedly removed and replaced, fueling frustration on both sides.

Local residents have reported sewage flooding into their homes when the lock is kept full, attributing the issue to a nearby pumphouse whose overflow backs up into their properties. One homeowner described the problem as severe, saying sewage occasionally backs up into bathrooms and prevents toilets from flushing properly. To combat this, laminated signs, some reportedly created by a local resident, have been posted prominently on the lock, instructing boaters to leave the paddle open after use to allow water to drain.

Boaters, however, contend that low water levels caused by maintaining the paddle open have caused their vessels to run aground, jeopardizing their safety and the condition of their boats. Some boaters, such as Adam Byram and David Murray, describe frustration at having to navigate near-empty stretches of canal, with Murray expressing concern for potential damage to his boat resting on the canal bed. Byram also criticized unauthorized individuals for tampering with lock mechanisms and signs, suggesting that only officials or licensed boaters should manage the locks to preserve the waterway.

One individual willing to acknowledge involvement is an 80-year-old retired gardener who admitted to making and posting the signs. He said he used a windlass—a tool for operating the lock paddles—to open the lock in an effort to prevent sewage flooding into adjacent homes. He maintained that his actions were driven by long-standing flooding problems in the area and that existing official signage was too small to be noticed by boaters.

The Canal & River Trust (CRT), the charity responsible for maintaining the UK’s waterways, acknowledged the ongoing issue at lock 20W. The Trust confirmed that when the lock pound remains full, water leaks into the cellar of an adjacent cottage as part of an old canal wharf, which prompted the posting of signs advising boaters to leave the lock empty. CRT representatives said they are working to resolve the situation for both residents and boaters, adding that additional signage is planned to better inform users about the lock’s status.

Importantly, the CRT stated that recent low water levels on the Huddersfield Narrow Canal are primarily due to an increased number of boats using the waterway rather than paddles being left open. The charity emphasized the challenge of balancing the needs of homeowners concerned about flooding with those of boaters requiring sufficient water depth for navigation. The dispute highlights the complexities of managing historic canal infrastructure in a modern context where competing interests must be carefully reconciled.