Additional bridge stoppages on Leeds and Liverpool

Two additional stoppages have been announced for the Leeds and Liverpool Canal in order to repair swing bridges.

In the first stoppage, Millman Swing Bridge (bridge 214) will be closed for one week from Monday 8th November 2010. The stoppage is to enable to bridges electric motor to be replaced by mechanical engineering contractors. This bridge is at Apperley Bridge, between Shipley and the edge of Leeds.

On Monday 15th November 2010 repairs will be carried out to Stockbridge Swing Bridge (197) at Riddleston, just west of Bingley. The bridge will be closed to navigation while work is being carried out. However, boats will be allowed to pass through before 8.00 am, at 12.00 noon and after 4.00 pm. This stoppage is planned to be for one day only.

For all stoppages in the Pennine Waterways area, see Winter Stoppages 2010-2011.

Millman Bridge at Apperley Bridge

One day stoppage at Gargrave

There will be a one day stoppage tomorrow (15th October) at Lock 34 (Scarland Lock) on the Leeds and Liverpool Canal at Gargrave.

A balance beam has broken at Lock 34 and it is necessary to close the navigation between 8.00am to 4.00pm whilst a new beam is lifted into place.

For any enquiries about this stoppage contact British Waterways on 01942 405700.

Scarland Lock

Incident shuts canal near Rotherham

The canal section of the Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation upstream of Rotherham is currently closed while police investigate an incident.

The section concerned bypasses a long section of the River Don between Rotherham and the start of the Sheffield and Tinsley Canal. The entire cut is closed to navigation, affecting Jordans Lock, Holmes Lock and Ickles Lock.

News sources are reporting that police are searching for a missing 17-year old, after some of her possessions were believed to have been found near the canal. The towpath is also closed.

Enquiries about this stoppage should be made to BW on 0113 2816860.

Update: 5 pm 12th October:
Regrettably, police divers have found a female body in the canal near Holmes Lock. The body has not yet been identified but police treating death as suspicious. [News link]

Update: 11.30 am 14th October:
The canal will remain closed today (14th October). Further update will be given tomorrow.

Update: 5.00 pm 15th October:
The navigation through these locks has now been re-opened.


Holmes Lock, Rotherham

Two Day Stoppage on Rochdale Canal near Middleton

There is to be a two-day stoppage at Lock 61 (Scowcroft Lock) on the Rochdale Canal due to damage to the wooden cills. The lock will be closed Tuesday 12th and Wednesday 13th October.

The wooden cills that form a seal to the bottom of the gates have been damaged (possibly by a boat passing over while water levels are low) and this is making it difficult to fill the lock. The lock will re-open to navigation on Thursday 14th October.

This is a different problem from the one reported last week in which Locks 62 and 63 are only open to navigation between 9.30 am and 3.00 pm each day.

Lock 61 is not part of the 19 locks between Failsworth and Manchester that require booking, as stated in a BW stoppage notice. The Irk Aqueduct moorings, which are recommended as an overnight stop when heading into Manchester, are south of Lock 61. Boaters heading towards Manchester should moor at Slattocks (above Lock 54) until Lock 61 has re-opened.


Scowcroft Lock beyond the railway bridge

Lift Bridge Problem on Peak Forest Canal

Boaters using the Lower Peak Forest Canal between Hyde and Ashton will need to contact British Waterways to arrange passage through Stanley Lift Bridge.

The bridge in Dukinfield, half a mile from the junction with the Ashton Canal, has been giving boaters problems for a few weeks, being very heavy to operate. British Waterways staff have found that there is a problem with the main lifting ram.

Boaters requiring passage through the bridge should moor up and contact BW's Freephone Canal Helpline on 0800 4799947 and explain that you need to pass through Stanley Lift Bridge on the Peak Forest Canal. British Waterways staff should attend within 45 minutes to operate the bridge manually.

This problem will affect boaters navigating the Cheshire Ring.

Update: 5.00 pm 15th October:
The bridge has now been repaired and assistance from BW is no longer required.

Restriction on Rochdale Canal

There are restricted opening hours currently on a section of the Rochdale Canal between Chadderton and Slattocks.

BW is investigating problems with the the pound between Lock 63 (Walk Mill) and Lock 62 (Coney Green). The water level is having to be kept low and passage through the pound can only be made between 9.30 am and 3.00 pm each day.

This is the pound immediately upstream from Irk Aqueduct, the recommended overnight moorings for boats heading to or from Manchester.

Enquiries about this restriction should be made to BW on 01782 785703.

Update, 18th October 2010:
This restriction will remain in place for the rest of 2010. BW is seeking a solution to the leakage problem. BW will issue an update on 10th January 2011.


The pound between Locks 62 and 63, Rochdale Canal

Bridge Stoppage near Leeds

British Waterways has warned that there is currently a stoppage on the Leeds and Liverpool Canal at Rodley, between Leeds and Shipley.

The stoppage is to allow repairs to be carried out to Moss Swing Bridge (Bridge 118), half a mile east of Rodley. The bridge is owned by Yorkshire Water and British Waterways is working closely with Yorkshire Water to ensure this stoppage is kept to a minimum.

The stoppage takes effect from today (5th October). British Waterways will issue an update on 12th October. Enquiries about this stoppage should be made to BW on 01942 405700.

This stoppage comes as a further blow to hire boat companies and other users of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal who have been badly hit this year by the two-month closure of the 60 miles between Gargrave and Wigan.

(6th October: This item has been amended following a correction from BW who had originally stated that the bridge belonged to United Utilities.)

Update: 11th October: The repairs have been completed and the bridge has now re-opened to navigation.

Update: 4th November: Further work is to be carried out on this bridge. Between Mon 8th Nov and Thurs 11th Nov this bridge will be closed to navigation between 5.00 pm and 11.00 pm.


Moss Swing Bridge, Rodley