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Polyurethane grout to be used to fix leaking canal near Gargrave

Tuesday, 6 January 2026 08:18

By Joe Willis

Canal

A leaking canal could be fixed by injecting polyurethane grout into the towpath.

Listed building consent is being sought for the repair on the Leeds and Liverpool Canal, near Gargrave, North Yorkshire.

The Canal and River Trust, which has submitted the application to North Yorkshire Council, says the canal is leaking as it crosses Priestholme Aqueduct — a grade II listed building.

A report adds:

“Canal water is seeping through the canal wash wall into the soil that forms the towpath over the canal.

“The canal water is then tracking down through the soil onto the stone arch of the aqueduct and through the arch into the river below.

“It is proposed to stem this flow by injecting polyurethane grout into the ground behind the canal wash wall to form an impervious curtain.”

The trust says the process will not alter the design of the aqueduct and does not involve any work to the historic masonry of the structure.

It adds:

“Consequently it is our judgement that the works will not cause harm to the character or significance of the listed structure.

“The proposed works will not be visible once completed.

“The appearance of the aqueduct will not be altered.”

The curtain will be five metres long and one and a half metres deep into the towpath.

The trust says the polyurethane grout is a solvent-free resin that reacts with water to produce a rapidly expanding foam that can stop flowing water.

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