Basingstoke Canal – Navigation Update – Pollution Incidents at Woking and Mytchett
Basingstoke Canal – Navigation Update – Pollution Incidents at Woking and Mytchett
| Date Of Update: | 24 October 2025 |
| Title Of Update: | Pollution incident Mytchett Lake (and recurrence at Parley Drive, Woking) |
| Type Of Update: | |
| Area(s) Affected: | Mytchett Lake |
| Summary of Update: | Pollution incidents – navigation and fishery closures |
| Effect on Powered Boats: | Navigation closed at Mytchett Lake Rail Bridge AND between Parley Drive and Lock 11, Woking |
| Effect on Towpath Users: | Walkers and cyclists – do not allow your dogs do not swim in these parts of the canal. Anglers – fishery closed at Mytchett Lake (see detail below) AND between Parley Drive and Lock 7, Woking |
| Effect on Unpowered Boats(e.g canoes/kayaks/paddleboards: | Navigation closed at Mytchett Lake Rail Bridge AND between Parley Drive and Lock 11, Woking |
| Full Update: | We have been advised by the EA that a hydraulic oil leak occurred on the Ascot – Ash Vale Rail line in the early hours of 24 October. Oil is dripping off the railway bridge into the canal. Pollution control booms are being put in place either side of Mytchett Lake Rail Bridge. The oil on the towpath under the bridge has been cleaned up by Network Rail this morning. It is also noted that the diesel pollution has reoccurred between Parley Drive Bridge and Lock 7 at Woking – road drainage is now suspected to be the source. Booms have been put back in place at Parley Drive Bridge. Notes for site users: The navigation is closed to all traffic (powered and unpowered) until further notice at both Mytchett Lake AND Parley Drive – Lock 11 at Woking/St Johns Although the towpath has been cleaned at Mytchett Lake please do not allow pets to swim in either of the affected areas and seek veterinary advice if they have swum in the canal in this area today and then become unwell. Do not fish in an area between Deedman’s Bridge and Mytchett Lake Road Bridge at Mytchett AND between Parley Drive Bridge and Lock 7 in Woking until further notice as there are small areas of oil pollution outside the booms – as in landing fish you may get oil residues on both the fish and your hands. |
| Map Ref | Name of Lock Flight or Pound | Navigation Status |
| 1 | Woodham Locks (Locks 1 – 6) | OPEN – restricted hours Tues and Thursday only |
| 2 | Woking Pound (Locks 6 – 7) | Partial Closure -(upstream of Parley Drive Bridge) pollution incident (re-occurrence of previous pollution incident) |
| 3 | St Johns Locks (Locks 7 – 11) | CLOSED – pollution incident (as above) |
| 4 | Hermitage Pound (Locks 11 – 12) | OPEN |
| 5 | Brookwood and Deepcut Locks (Locks 12 – 28) | CLOSED – water shortage, ongoing |
| 6 | Mytchett Pound (Locks 28 – 29, Ash Lock) | PARTIAL CLOSURE – navigation closed at Mytchett Lake due to oil spill |
| 7 | Ash Lock (Lock 29) | OPEN – water levels have now sufficiently recovered to allow reopening |
| 8 | Hampshire Pound (Lock 29, Ash Lock – Greywell) | OPEN – Obey speed restriction signage – ongoing Note: upcoming closure for bridge works at Eelmoor from 3 November for approx. 16 weeks |
