Obviously we're same neck of woods. Combs on the other side, I'd heard it was being used to feed canals but no idea how much water is needed for that and combs I think holds a lot less water. We went in over the weekend to spend a little money (which hurt, cos I've got none ), but town seemed pretty busy to me, so maybe others thinking the same. Just another example where community trump govt (despite taking all those taxes there's never any money for the actual people). Railway had apparently made up for losses already, though I may have heard that wrong.
Didn't know about the keepers cottage but I had seen pics week before taken by dog walker showing crumbling spillway- I doubt they did a serious check even in winter last year- and my guess is previous repairs had caused erosion of original concrete work (harder Portland cement doesn't help softer previous versions), which means it's been deteriorating and being ignored for a lot longer. Despite living nearby I've only once walked around that reservoir (prefer goyt valley and ladybower and combs for a wander).