Marsden stoppage after boat 'stuck'

There is a stoppage on the Marsden flight of the Huddersfield Narrow Canal after a boat became 'stuck' in Lock 41e just east of Marsden Station. This will affect boats booked for passage through Standedge Tunnel.

The nature of the incident has not been made known so it is unclear how long the stoppage might be expected to last.

Update Thursday 15th May, 8:00 pm:
Local information is that the boat has now been freed and the locks re-opened.
It is reported that the boat met the Standedge Tunnel width requirements and successfully passed through the tunnel without problem. It then became stuck in Lock 41e for a while and then later in Lock 32e.
Note: Some locks (e.g. 21w, 22w, 41e, 32e) are narrower than others or may have a slight banana-shape. Certain boats may, due to their length or profile, encounter problems with some of these locks. Most boats pass through these locks with no difficulty, however.


Lock 41e, Marsden

Tinsley Locks closed after boat sinks

The Tinsley Lock flight on the Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation was closed on Friday after a boat had sunk in the deep lock (7/8).

The Canal and River Trust staff attempted to recover the boat, but were not successful. It was decided to try a different way of raising the vessel using support from divers. Because of the complicated nature of the recovery of the boat, the divers have requested specialist equipment which is due to arrive tomorrow (Tuesday). Therefore, the recovery operation will now take place tomorrow.

An update will be issued when the canal has re-opened.

Update Tuesday 13th May, 5:00 pm:
The boat has now been recovered. The site is being cleared and the locks will re-open to navigation at 8.00 am tomorrow (Wednesday).


From Google Maps

Flood locks closed on Yorkshire waterways

Following heavy rain over the weekend all the flood locks are closed on the Calder and Hebble Navigation as well as some flood locks on the Aire and Calder Navigation in Yorkshire.

This affects navigation between Brighouse and Wakefield and between Leeds and Knostrop.

The Canal & River Trust will continue to monitor levels and will re-open the flood gates when levels return to safe levels. An update will be issued on Monday 12th May.

Update Monday 12th May, 9:30 am:
The flood gates at Clarence Dock and Knostrop on the Aire & Calder Navigation will be re-opened this morning.

Update Monday 12th May, 10:30 am:
Wakefield flood lock, Brighouse Basin and Anchor Pit locks will remain closed because of high water levels. It is hoped that Battyeford, Cooper Bridge and Ledgard flood locks can be re-opened later today.

Update Tuesday 13th May, 9:00 am:
All flood gates on the Calder and Hebble Navigation have now been re-opened.

A planned stoppage to replace a gate at at Anchor Pit flood lock (east of Brighouse), due for Wednesday 14th May, has been postponed.


Wakefield Flood Lock

Pollution shuts canal in Leeds

The Leeds and Liverpool Canal is currently closed between Office Lock (2) and Spring Garden Lock (6) following a pollution incident.

A fire in a building near the canal has led to the canal becoming polluted. Booms have been put in place across the canal to try and contain the escaped chemicals. The Fire Brigade and the Environment Agency have requested that the canal remains closed until the pollution can be investigated and a plan to manage it has been made.

An update should be issued later today.

Update Tuesday 22nd April, 5.45 pm:
The canal remains closed. A further update will be published tomorrow.

Update Wednesday 23rd April, 4.00 pm:
The canal has now re-opened to navigation.


Spring Gardens Lock, Leeds.

Broken paddles cause lock incident

A frightening incident took place on Friday at Johnsons Hillock Locks on the Leeds and Liverpool Canal. A boat had ascended Lock 64 and was starting to leave the lock when the paddles on the bottom gate 'blew', causing the water in the lock to drain very quickly, leaving the boat caught on the cill.

Staff from the Canal & River Trust and nearby Wheelton Boat Yard came to the boaters' assistance. The paddles were blocked up temporarily, allowing the lock to be refilled slowly. Luckily, the boat then refloated without any obvious damage.

Reports suggest that there have been previous incidents with this lock in the last few weeks and that the paddles have been faulty for more than a year. CRT are believed to have carried out a temporary repair recently and it was this repair that gave way on Friday.

It is not yet known whether Canal and River Trust plans to fit new paddles soon or whether a further temporary repair will be made. Boaters using the lock need to be alert to the possibility of further problems.

It is understood that nobody was injured in Friday's incident.


Incident at Johnsons Hillock Locks. Photo: Chris Brooks

Bridgewater boost will see boats return to Worsley Delph

The Bridgewater Canal is to receive a facelift as part of a scheme to regenerate the canal through Salford. The highlight of the scheme will be to open up the historic Worsley Delph to navigation and public access.

Salford City Council was recently awarded a grant of £3.6 million from the Heritage Lottery Fund which will contribute to the scheme's total cost of over £5 million. The project will see improvements to the five mile stretch of canal and adjoining areas between Barton Swing Aqueduct and Boothstown.

At Worsley Delph footpaths are to be opened up leading to the entrance to the Duke of Bridgewater's historic underground canal. The Delph itself will be made navigable once again, enabling visiting boats to moor up.


Image: Salford City Council

At Barton, a 'pocket park' will be developed,giving improved foot access from Barton Underbridge to the bank of the Ship Canal giving views of the Swing Aqueduct. Large areas of dense undergrowth is to be cleared, opening up views. Benches and interpretation boards will be provided. There will be a visitor centre and car park on the south side of the Swing Aqueduct. The aqueduct will be lit at night for the first time.

The towpath through Barton is to be improved to create 'Barton Promenade'. The Duke's Drive Country Park area to the north of the canal in Monton is to be enhanced with improved access and footpaths.

A new footbridge across the canal between Patricroft Station and the motorway will provide access to the towpath from new housing developments. A new footbridge across the canal between Monton and Worsley will link the towpath with Duke's Drive Country Park and a proposed marina and new housing in the Broadoak Park area. At Boothstown there will be a new car park, interpretation boards and improved paths.

Work is expected to start early in 2015 and be completed by the summer of 2016.

There appear to be some historical cross wires, as the Heritage Lottery website tells us that “Engineer James Brindley built the aqueduct to carry the canal over the River Irwell” but, of course, Brindley's manificent stone aqueduct was demolished for the construction of the Ship Canal and replaced by the present unique swing aqueduct.


Image: Salford City Council

Wall collapse closes canal in Burnley

The Leeds and Liverpool Canal has been closed in Burnley following the collapse of a retaining wall.

The offside wall has partially collapsed into the canal near Sandygate, in the "Weavers Triangle" area, following heavy rain saturating the ground. This section of canal has been drained by the Canal and River Trust to enable remedial work to take place. The towpath is also closed at this point.

This section of canal is expected to be closed to navigation for around four weeks.


Leeds and Liverpool Canal at Sandygate, Burnley. Photo: Burnley Express

Barton Swing Aqueduct stoppage brought forward

The Bridgewater Canal Company has announced that the annual maintenance closure of Barton Swing Aqueduct is to be brought forward to co-incide with a stoppage at nearby Monton.

The annual maintenance work, normally carried out around the middle two weeks of March, will take place between 17th February and 1st March 2014.

The canal will also be closed between Worsley and Monton on the Leigh Branch from 17th February and 3rd March to allow piling work to take place on the off-side bank at Monton.


Barton Swing Aqueduct

Tony Robinson on the Leeds and Liverpool Canal

Television presenter and actor Tony Robinson starts a new series of "Walking Through History" this coming weekend with a walk along the Leeds and Liverpool Canal between Liverpool and Wigan.

The programme is being broadcast at 8.00 pm on Saturday 8th February on Channel 4.

The programme looks at the few traces of the canal's original terminus in Liverpool and ends up at Wigan Pier, looking at some of the politics and problems behind the canal's construction.

Tony also takes time out to visit Bingley to see a horse-drawn boat in operation.


Leeds and Liverpool Canal at Wigan Pier

Work begins on Rochdale Canal culvert

Work is starting this week on repairing the failed culvert under the Rochdale Canal in Mytholmroyd. The canal has been closed between Lock 7, Broadbottom Lock, and Lock 6 at Brearley, to enable investigations to take place. The task has been made more complex by the strong flow of the stream that passes through the culvert and by the close proximity of houses.

Temporary dams and pumps are being installed to create a dry working environment. The previous temporary repair will be removed and the failed section of culvert will be uncovered.

A permanent concrete repair will be carried out to the culvert over the next week and then new puddle clay will be laid over the top to ensure a watertight seal. The contractors will then remove the temporary dams and pumps, refill the canal, reinstate the towpath, site compound area and rebuild the boundary wall.

Currently the work is expected to be completed and the canal re-opened by 24th January, however this is dependent on good weather and working conditions over the next few weeks. Updated information will appear on this page.


The Rochdale Canal below Lock 7 in Mytholmroyd

Tinsley Locks Closed

Tinsley Locks on the Sheffield and Tinsley Canal are currently closed due to low water levels.

While this may seem difficult to believe in the present period of wet weather, on 4th January the pumps failed that supply the summit level into Sheffield. Use of the locks would result in the draining of the summit pound.

Engineers will be inspecting the pumps today and the locks will remain closed until repairs have been carried out.

For up-to-date information on navigation of flight, please contact the lock-keeper on 07710 175488.

Update Tuesday 7th January:
A temporary repair has been carried out ans the lock flight has now been re-opened. The contractors are returning to site on Thursday 9th January to carry out further work on the pumps so there may be more disruption. Please contact the lock keeper on Thursday on 07710 175488 for the latest information.


Tinsley lock flight, Sheffield and Tinsley Canal

Gating proposal for Rochdale Canal

A proposal is being made to close off night-time pedestrian access to the towpath through Piccadilly Undercroft past Lock 85 of the Rochdale Canal in Manchester.

Manchester City Council and the Canal and River Trust are jointly putting forward a plan to erect three gates across the towpath that would be locked at a certain time each evening. This is in an effort to stop problems that have been happening in the area for many years, including indecent activities taking place and inebriated persons falling into the canal.

Boaters pass through the lock without problem but sometimes feel uncomfortable about people hanging around. Most of the problems occur at night at a time when boats are not passing through.

It would appear that it will still be possible for boats to use the lock when the towpath gates are locked as long as crew members are on board the boat to pass the gates, although boaters are encouraged to complete the Rochdale Nine by the end of the afternoon, before the Canal Street area fills with pub and club goers.

One of the proposed gates would go here, below Lock 84.

The Canal and River Trust's David Baldacchino said: "We want to make a difference to what happens in this area. We see this as a key issue to helping develop boating on the South Pennine Ring. Over the years we have tried increasing numbers of people working there, different operating approaches and providing public rescue equipment, none of which has made a significant difference. We cannot be there 24 hours a day, nor can the police or other agencies.

"The next step is a suggestion to close off the towpath at the Undercroft overnight. With that in mind Manchester City Council are inviting comments for such a proposal. [link]

"You may feel that the prospect of closing a section of towpath overnight is very controversial, on the other hand you may think this is an obvious solution to a significant problem and again that the current situation is a huge impediment to developing he canals in Manchester. Whatever your views, your comments are welcomed.

"This is a feasibility study at present, so there is no closing date but the more people that comment the better."

Mr Baldacchino invited people to contact him if they want to talk about the proposal. He also asked anyone who comments to Manchester City Council on the proposal to send a copy to CRT.


A gate is proposed across this entrance to the towpath.


Another gate is proposed across the towpath between the above entrance and the tunnel.


This is the proposed design of the gates.

(Photos and drawing from Canal and River Trust.)

Leeds and Liverpool Re-opens at Rishton

The Leeds and Liverpool Canal has now re-opened to navigation at Rishton, between Blackburn and Burnley. The canal has been closed at this location since 12th September after a section of towpath collapsed and it was realised that the canal was in danger of breaching.

The towpath remains closed for a little longer, probably until Friday 29th November.

The repair work has included stabilisation of the embankment, relining the canal bed and reconstruction of the towpath and wash wall. The work has cost around £300,000.


Location of the re-opened canal at Rishton

Open Day at Wigan Lock

Wigan Pier may be closed but you can still have a day out by the canal in Wigan this weekend at the Canal and River Trust's Open Day.

There will be guided tours around Leeds and Liverpool Canal Lock 87, which is undergoing renovations, as well as the adjoining dry dock and a CRT work boat.

The Open Days are Saturday 16th and Sunday 17th November between 10.00 am and 2.30 pm. Tours start from the Canal and River Trust office at nearby Waterside Drive, where there is free parking. Postcoder for SatNav is WN3 5AZ.

Education and environment teams will be on site displaying some of the activities they take into schools and to events. The Leeds & Liverpool Canal Society will have a stand with some historic information and there will also be some angling taster sessions running nearby.

Tours will include a look at one of CRT's work boats on the moorings outside the office before moving onto the Wigan Dry Dock where North West staff will be on hand to provide information. The tour will take guests over a bridge constructed across lock 87 so that they can view the de-watered lock and hear about what works we are being carried out at the site.

The café at the Wigan Investment Centre will also be open for those who want to finish the tour with a hot drink.


Lock 87 and Dry Dock in Wigan


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