Pennine Waterways News

Tuesday 31 July 2012

Marple Locks Stoppage


Boaters on the Peak Forest Canal are facing a stoppage at Marple Locks.
Because a large volume of water is leaking from the pound between the Locks 15 and 16, it is not possible to pass through the locks.

The lock flight has been closed and repairs are to be attempted today (31st July) but the Canal and River Trust say that at the moment the exact point of the water leaving the pound cannot be determined with any certainty.
Boaters are asked to moor up at the top or bottom of the lock flight - above Lock 16 or below Lock 1.

An update will be issued at 2.00 pm. Boaters requiring further information should contact the Canal and River Trust on 01782 785703.

This stoppage will affect boaters navigating the Cheshire Ring.

Update Tuesday 31st July, 4.00 pm:
The Canal and River Trust say that exploratory probing has been carried out but the source of the leak has not yet been located. They will bring in machinery to speed the process up.

At present the estimate is that the canal will re open on Friday 3rd August at midday. Further updates will be issued at 2.00 pm daily until the issue is resolved.

Update Thursday 2nd August, 4.00 pm:
The source of the leak was found yesterday evening. A temporary repair had been made and the pound re-watered by 10 pm. This morning the repair was still holding so the boats that were waiting above and below the locks were assisted through the locks. The pound was then de-watered again and a start made on a permanent repair. The repair work will take until Monday or Tuesday of next week.

The locks will be open for passage at the following times:
- Friday 3rd August: 7.30 am to 12.00 noon. Closed all pm.
- Saturday 4th August: open all day, with lock-keeper in attendance 8.00 am to 5.00 pm.
- Sunday 5th August: open all day, with lock-keeper in attendance 8.00 am to 5.00 pm.
- Monday 6th August: 7.30 am to 12.00 noon. Closed all pm.
- Tuesday 7th August: 7.30 am to 12.00 noon. Closed all pm.
- Wednesday 7th August: open normally if all goes to plan.

More recent updates can be found here.


The pound between Locks 15 and 16, Marple

Wednesday 25 July 2012

Rochdale Nine Update


It was reported here last Friday that the Rochdale Nine locks through Central Manchester were closed following an incident with a boat. [See original article.]

The lock flight remains closed today and it would appear that repair work has not yet been carried out. The photo shows water gushing up from under the towpath side head gate. This is because the gate has been lifted out of the pot that enables it to pivot and rotate. Not only does this make the gate difficult to operate, but the lack of a seal prevents the lock from being emptied. (The lock is three quarters full in spite of one of the tail gate paddles being completely raised.)

The Canal and River Trust have investigated the situation and found that the gate has sustained damage which requires the gate to be lifted out and repaired. This will involves the use of scaffolding and a temporary road closure to facilitate the use of a crane. The Canal and River Trust hopes to have the work completed by the end of Friday 27th July.

One report suggests that the bow of a boat became stuck under the beam as the lock was filling and lifted the gate. Another report suggests that a boater was using the boat to open the gate, although it is difficult to see how that could lift the gate.

The Rochdale Nine forms part of the busy Cheshire Ring route and the stoppage at the height of summer has caused disruption to boaters' plans and to boat hire companies, whose customers doing the Cheshire Ring have had to be turned around to retrace their steps.

Enquiries about this stoppage should be made to the Canal and River Trust on 01782 785703.


Lock 89, Rochdale Canal

Friday 20 July 2012

Rochdale Nine Closed


The "Rochdale Nine" flight of locks in Central Manchester is currently closed after a boat lifted a gate out of the seating pot on one of the locks.

As mooring is not possible on the flight, boaters need to wait at Castlefield, below Lock 92, or in the Piccadilly Basin/Ducie Street area above Lock 84.

Canal and River Trust staff are trying to remedy the situation but it is likely that the locks will be closed throughout the weekend. An update will be published on Monday 23rd July.

This stoppage affects boaters navigating the Cheshire Ring.

Enquiries regarding this stoppage should be made to the Canal and River Trust on 01782 785703.

Update, Monday 23rd July:
Investigations have shown that the gate has sustained more damage than was first thought. As a result, the gate needs to be lifted off, repaired and reset. This involves the use of a crane, scaffolding and a temporary road closure to enable the use of the crane.

The Canal and River Trust say they expect work to be completed by the end of Friday 27th July. This means that the "Rochdale Nine" flight will be closed all week from Lock 84 to Lock 92.

An update will be issued if works are completed before that date.

See photo and update of 25th July here.


Thursday 19 July 2012

Calder and Hebble Closed Again


The river sections of the Calder and Hebble Navigation are again closed to navigation.

The flood gates at Anchor Pitt, Cooper Bridge, Battyeford and Ledgard were closed this morning as water levels were rising. This afternoon the Canal and River Trust announced that all the flood locks on the Calder and Hebble are now closed.

The Canal and River Trust will review the water levels tomorrow morning.

Enquiries: 0303 0404040

Update, Friday 20th July, 9.00 am:
The following flood locks are still closed:
Anchor Pitt, Cooper Bridge, Battyeford and Ledgard.
Other flood locks have now re-opened.

Update, Friday 20th July, 5.00 pm:
Due to high water, all flood locks along the Calder and Hebble are closed and will remain inoperable until further notice. For up to date information over the weekend, please contact Freephone canals on 0800 47 999 47.


Thornes Flood Lock

Thursday 12 July 2012

Silt blocking Huddersfield Narrow


The eastern side of the Huddersfield Narrow Canal is currently blocked by silt and debris following heavy rainfall in the area this week.

The affected section is the pound between Locks 14e and 15e, between Linthwaite and Slaithwaite. This is in a location where a stream flows into the canal from the steep hillside and boaters have for years been experiencing difficulty getting over the silt that has built up. British Waterways, aware of this problem, had been working on a scheme to address this but a schedule for the work had not as yet been arranged.

It is not known at this stage whether the Canal and River Trust will bring forward the proposed dredging work now that the issue has become an emergency.

The Canal and River Trust say that they will issue an update as soon as more is known and have asked boaters with particular concerns, such as those with boats over 60 ft trapped to the east of the blockage, to contact them on 0303 040 4040.

Update Friday 13th July:
The Canal and River Trust say they are continuing to review and investigate the work needed to clear the channel in this area. They say it is already clear that the work required is likely to be extensive. Their contractor is being engaged with a view to them starting work next week.

As yet no end date can be given for the work but the current estimate is that this is likely to be at least 2 weeks.

Boaters with bookings for Standedge Tunnel between now and 6th August will be contacted by the Canal and River Trust to update them of the situation. No new bookings are being taken for the period up to to 30th July. Any bookings taken for after that date will be subject to short notice cancellation.

Update Tuesday 17th July:
The contractor will begin work on Monday 23rd July. The silt will be cleared and stored so that cannot re-enter the canal. It will then be removed from the area completely later in the year.

The Canal and River Trust plan for the channel to be re-opened by the end of Friday 27th July although if it can be re-opened sooner an update to that effect will be issued.

Update Tuesday 24th July:
A navigable channel has now been cleared and boats have been allowed past the affected area. Boaters are advised to proceed slowly past the work. The contractors expect to have completed the work by the end of Thursday, with some 80 tonnes of silt having been removed.


Pound above Lock 14e.

Monday 9 July 2012

Nicholas Crane coasts through Standedge Tunnel

Television presenter Nicholas Crane was at Standedge Tunnel today filming for a new BBC series.

Nicholas has featured in series such as "Coast" and "Map Man" but this programme is for a new series of the programme "Town", due to air next year, in which Nicholas explores aspects of various towns around Britain. The programme being made looks at Huddersfield and it is good to see that one of the area's features that the programme makers felt to be worthy of inclusion is the Huddersfield Narrow Canal.

The programme will include scenes of Nicholas legging a boat through part of the tunnel but, unlike other programmes in which celebrities have legged a British Waterways work boat, Nicholas had the use of Maria, a genuine horse-drawn boat. The crew also filmed the boat emerging from the Marsden portal at Tunnel End. The film crew were assisted by members of the Horseboating Society.


Nicholas Crane gets ready to try his foot at tunnel legging.

Friday 6 July 2012

Rochdale Canal Closed Again


The Rochdale Canal is closed once again as flood waters rise in the Calder Valley.

The closure is in the area around Lock 12, west of Hebden Bridge. This is the area badly affected by the floods of two weeks ago, in which sections of wall and towpath were washed away and a boat was swept from its mooring and left stranded right across the canal. It was from Lock 12 that a boat crew had to be rescued by the fire brigade.

Heavy rain has been falling in the River Calder catchment area all day, onto already saturated ground, with the water running straight into the river.

This item will be updated if further information arrives.

Update Monday 9th July:
The flood locks remain closed today. A further update will be issued tomorrow.

Update Wednesday 11th July:
There has been further severe rainfall in the area this week, which has resulted in a large amount of debris being swept into the canal, blocking it between Locks 11 and 12, west of Hebden Bridge. The canal, therefore, remains closed between Hebden Bridge and Todmorden.

The Canal and River Trust has issued the following statement, which boat users on the Rochdale Canal (and elsewhere) should note:
Following the floods in Hebden Bridge on 9th July 2012, the Fire and Rescue Service have expressed concern to us that customers had unilaterally chosen to raise lock paddles to run pounds down and that this had the potential to worsen flooding. We found paddles unexpectedly in the up position ourselves when attending the site.
If pound levels become a concern we would ask customers not to interfere with the water control equipment. If you need to report worsening water levels please do so via the emergency number 0800 47 999 47, and if you are concerned for your own safety contact the Emergency Services using 999.


Update Friday 13th July:
The canal channel has been cleared and is now open to navigation.

However, the previously announced restrictions continue to apply. These are: because of the dangerous condition of the towpath and lock landings at Lock 12 and 13, west of Hebden Bridge, these locks will be operated by CRT staff between 12.00 noon and 2.00 pm each day (7 days a week). Outside of these opening hours, these two locks will be padlocked so that they cannot be used.

Update Monday 16th July:
Further work has been completed and Lock 13 is now fully open to navigation. However, the above restrictions still apply to Lock 12, i.e. operated by CRT staff between 12.00 noon and 2.00 pm each day (7 days a week). Lock 12 is padlocked outside those hours as it is still unsafe for boaters to use it unassisted.

Update Friday 20th July. 5.00 pm:
The canal is now fully open to normal navigation. The restrictions at Lock 12 have been lifted.


Lock 12 and some of the damage to wall and towpath from the last flood.

New Junction Canal Closed


The New Junction Canal is closed to through navigation, because the flood gates at the Don Aqueduct (the "Don Doors") have been closed.

The River Don, which passes below the aqueduct, is contained within raised banks to prevent flooding of the surrounding flat land. These banks are higher than the canal level and, when the river is in flood, it can overtop the aqueduct. Therefore, when high river levels are expected, the guillotine gates at each end of the aqueduct are lowered, preventing the river from flooding the canal and, through the canal, the surrounding land.

There is very high rainfall today, with more expected in the next day or so. It is likely that the flood gates will remain closed for several days.

Update Monday 9th July:

The flood gates ("Don Doors") have been opened and the New Junction Canal is now fully navigable again.


Don Aqueduct, New Junction Canal

Calder and Hebble Closed


The river sections of the Calder and Hebble Navigation are closed to navigation. The flood gates have been shut are are expected to remain so for several days.

With very heavy rain falling in the South Pennines, on top of saturated ground, the river levels have risen rapidly.

Update Monday 9th July:
The flood locks remain closed today. A further update will be issued tomorrow.

Update Wednesday 11th July:
The flood locks remain closed today. The river levels are being checked regularly and further updates will be issued.

Update Thursday 12th July:
The water levels have now receded sufficiently, so the flood locks along the Calder and Hebble will open shortly.

Update Thursday 19th July:
Due to high water levels the following flood locks are closed:
- Anchor Pitt
- Cooper Bridge
- Battyeford
- Ledgard
The other flood locks remain open, however water levels are fluctuating so we may have to close these later. An update will appear this afternoon.

Update Thursday 19th July, 3.00 pm:
All the flood locks on the Calder and Hebble are now closed. The Canal and River Trust will review the water levels tomorrow morning.

Enquiries: 0303 0404040

Please see later news item for further updates on the Calder and Hebble.


Thornes Flood Lock

Monday 2 July 2012

Coxheads Swing Bridge Closed Again


Coxhead's Swing Bridge, bridge number 20, between Haskayne and Lydiate on the Leeds and Liverpool Canal, is closed to navigation following an act of vandalism.

The bridge was closed in April when parts of its mechanism were found to have been damaged.

The Canal and River Trust will issue an update tomorrow (3rd July). Any enquiries about this stoppage should be made to the Canal and River Trust on 01942 405700.

Update Tuesday 3rd July, 9.15 am:
The bridge has now re-opened to navigation.


Coxheads Swing Bridge

Goodbye, British Waterways. Hello Canal and River Trust!


Goodbye, British Waterways. Hello Canal and River Trust!

Today, 2nd July 2012, the employees of British Waterways woke up and found themselves to be employees of the new Canal and River Trust.

The Canal and River Trust is the new charity which has today taken over responsibility for most of the canals and many of the navigable rivers in England & Wales. A series of events to mark the change will take place on July 12th.

In the short term, most canal and towpath users are unlikely to see any difference as the biggest change is with the way the organisations are governed and financed. To keep costs down, re-branding of signage, etc. will be done gradually over a long period of time.

The charitable status will allow the Canal and River Trust to tap into funding sources that were not available to British Waterways. There will also be a change in culture which will seek to get waterway users and local groups and organisations more involved, as "friends" and volunteers.

This is a big day, as the change is one that has been planned and developed over a number of years. Boaters are often a cynical lot and some have been quick to find reasons to be negative about the change. However, there is a lot of goodwill out there and I, like most canal users, wish the new Trust well.

You can find out more about the Trust and its priorities in this downloadable booklet.

My main criticism of the Trust is the name it has given itself, with so much potential to get it wrong. I hear and read people talking about the Canals and Rivers Trust rather than Canal and River. Then there is the ampersand (&) that is rather ridiculously supposed to be in the name rather than the word "and". This caused a problem with the website domain name, as ampersands are not allowable characters, so the website domain name is canalrivertrust.org.uk which is easy for people to get wrong. However, I am glad to see that they are on the ball and have also acquired alternative names such as canalandrivertrust.org.uk and canalsandriverstrust.org.uk

Personally, I think Waterways England would have been a much more upbeat and friendly name. After all, the name in Welsh translates as Waterways Wales and the Scottish waterways do not come under the new Trust. I suppose the name needed to embrace both canals and rivers and emphasise the new Trust status, a bit like a camel being a horse designed by a committee...

Anyway, whatever the name, the Trust is in business today and I am happy to support it and do what I can to help it achieve its aims. The canals and rivers belong to all of us - let's all get behind the Trust and give it a go!

The Trust's new website is canalrivertrust.org.uk although it appears that content is still in the process of being transferred from the Waterscape site.



Canal & River Trust is a company limited by guarantee registered in England & Wales under number 7807276; and a charity registered with the Charity Commission under number 1146792.

Sunday 1 July 2012

Broken Cill Delays Boaters on Huddersfield


Boaters on the Huddersfield Narrow Canal face delays at Marsden after a boat damaged a gate cill at Lock 37e, closing the Marsden lock flight to navigation.

The incident is believed to have happened yesterday when a boat came out of the lock while the water level in the short pound above was too low. According to ground staff the boat ripped away the wooden cill that forms a watertight seal when the gate is closed. As a result, water is getting under the top gate, draining the pound.

The repair will not take long to carry out but will require scaffolding to be erected first and removed afterwards, which may add to the time the canal will remain closed.

The Canal and River Trust will issue an update an update tomorrow afternoon (2nd July).

Boaters with bookings for Standedge Tunnel can contact the Canal and River Trust on 01782 785703 to check whether their bookings will be affected.

Update, Wednesday 4th July:
Lock 34w on the Marsden flight is closed today to allow investigations to be carried out as to why substantial amounts of water are leaking out of the bottom of the tail gates.

As yet, no update regarding Lock 37e has been received.

Update, Friday 6th July:
There has still been no update from Canal and River Trust, which is not a good start for them, but I have been informed by a boater that the lock has been repaired and he has brought his boat through it earlier this week. Therefore it seems safe to tell you that the Marsden flight is now open to navigation.

Update, Friday 6th July:
Update from Canal and River Trust eventually received stating that the navigation is now open.


Lock 37e, Marsden.