The short length of the Sankey Canal which forms the Fiddler's Ferry Yacht Haven is dammed off from the rest of the canal at both ends, giving a length of the drained pound of around quarter of a mile. According to local boat owners, the lock which gives access to the upper Mersey has been suffering from leaking gates and paddles for some time but nothing has been done to remedy the situation by the lock’s owners, Warrington Borough Council, sighting budgetary constraints as the reason allegedly. Over the Weekend 13^th- 14^th June 2009, apparently Fiddlers ferry power station experienced some cooling water pumping problems- the spent cooling water serves to “top up” the canal level with the resultant loss of water in the length containing all manner of vessels from Tugs and ocean going yachts to canal barges and small cruisers.