Pennine Waterways News

Wednesday 29 July 2009

Overnight Stoppage at Dobson Locks

There will be a overnight emergency stoppage at Dobson 2-rise Locks, near Apperley Bridge, Leeds and Liverpool Canal.

The locks will be closed from 4.00 pm on Thursday 30th July until 8.00 am on Friday 31st July.

The stoppage is to enable emergency repairs to be made to a damaged cill.

Any enquiries regarding this stoppage should be made to BW on 0113 281 6860.


Dobson 2-rise Locks

Tuesday 28 July 2009

Emergency One Day Stoppage at Bank Newton

There will be a one-day emergency stoppage at Lock 37 on the Bank Newton Locks, Leeds and Liverpool Canal on Friday 31st July.

Because the locks are already subject to restricted opening hours, this means that the locks will close at 6.00 pm on 30th June and re-open at 10.00 am on 1st August.

There is also a one day stoppage at Barrowford Locks on 30th July [see below].

Any enquiries regarding this stoppage should be made to BW on 0113 281 6860.

Update:
The stoppage has been amended so that the canal at Bank Newton should re-open at 2.00 pm on 31st July.


Lock 37, Bank Newton

Monday 27 July 2009

Collapsed Wall Shuts Canal at Rotherham - now navigable

The Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation has been closed at Rotherham following the collapse of a wall.

A large section of wall, understood to be part of the old Beatson Clark glass works, has collapsed - partly into the canal - about a quarter of a mile north of Rotherham Lock.

A further section of wall is in danger of collapse.

The canal will remain closed until the wall has been stabilised and debris removed.

Update (31st July):
The debris in the canal from the wall has now been buoyed off. Half of the channel is now navigable to a depth of 1.8 metres. Boats should keep to the side away from the buoyed area.

Any enquiries regarding this stoppage should be made to BW on 0113 281 6860.

Saturday 25 July 2009

Another One Day Stoppage on Leeds & Liverpool

A one-day stoppage on the Leeds and Liverpool Canal at Barrowford should help to reduce water losses.

Lock 47 on the Barrowford lock flight will be closed on Thursday 30th July.

Because the locks are already subject to restricted opening hours, this means that the locks will close at 6.00 pm on 29th June and re-open at 10.00 am on 31st July.

Anyone needing more information about this stoppage should contact BW on 01942 405700.

This stoppage follows two earlier one-day stoppages on the Bank Newton flight in June.


Wednesday 8 July 2009

Broken Cill holds up Huddersfield Canal

Lock 35e of the Huddersfield Narrow Canal, Marsden, is shut until Friday after the wooden cill has "blown".

Wooden cill blocks form a watertight seal when lock gates are closed. If a cill block is damaged or dislodged, there is no watertight seal and it becomes very difficult either to fill or to empty the lock, depending on which end of the lock is affected.

In a previous incident of a "blown cill" the bolts holding the wooden sill had corroded. When the lock was filled, the pressure of water in the gap below the gate forced the cill block upwards and washed it several yards downstream.

British Waterways intends to have the repair to Lock 35e completed by 9.00 am on Friday 10th July.

Any enquiries regarding this stoppage should be made to BW on 0113 281 6860.


Lock 35e, Huddersfield Narrow Canal

Monday 6 July 2009

Tide Out at Wigan Pier

Vandalism has led to a section of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal being closed in Wigan.

The pound between Bottom Lock (87) and Pagefield Lock (88), the section which passes Wigan Pier, has been drained, making it un-navigable.

British Waterways staff are currently filling the pound, however, due to low levels in the feeder river and the long length of the pound, it is only filling slowly.

BW will issue an update once levels have been restored. Any enquiries regarding this stoppage should be made to BW on 01942 405700.

Update (7th July):
Water levels have been restored and the navigation has now been re-opened.


Wigan Pier, Leeds and Liverpool Canal

Wednesday 1 July 2009

Careless Boater shuts Huddersfield Canal

The careless actions of a boater have left the Huddersfield Narrow Canal closed at Golcar, between Milnsbridge and Slaithwaite.

BW reports that a boater has left paddles open at Lock 12e, near Milnsbridge, draining the long pound across Golcar Aqueduct to Lock 13e.

Normally this situation could be remedied within a day by BW staff penning water down from further up the canal. However, the current water shortages on the canal mean that the pound can only be filled slowly, which is expected to take several days.

BW will issue an update when navigation is re-opened.

Any enquiries regarding this stoppage should be made to BW on 01942 405700.


Lock 12e, Huddersfield Narrow Canal