Calder and Hebble Stoppage

Shepley Bridge Lock on the Calder and Hebble Navigation has been closed for emergency repairs.

The heel post of the top gate on the towpath side has snapped. Engineers have examined the gate and found that a temporary repair is not possible.

Both gates will be craned out and replaced. This means taking them to the Stanley Ferry workshop so that replicas can be made.

The Canal and River Trust estimates that the stoppage could be for at least three weeks. Updates will be issued when a date for completion is known.

Shepley Bridge Lock is on the Mirfield Cut between Cooper Bridge and Wakefield.


Downstream approach to Shepley Bridge Lock

Doncaster Lock Stoppage

The Canal and River Trust has announced a stoppage at Doncaster Town Lock on the Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation.

The lock is closed following a top gate anchor failure. Emergency repairs are being carried out. An update will be issued on the afternoon of Saturday 20th April.

Update Saturday 20th April:
The repair has been completed and the lock has now re-opened.


Doncaster Town Lock

Diggle flight re-opens

The repairs to Lock 32w of the Huddersfield Narrow Canal have been completed and the Diggle lock flight has been re-opened to navigation.

The stoppage began following the discovery of a split in the heel post on the tail gate of Lock 32w at Diggle. The Diggle locks have single tail gates which are heavy, putting more strain on the split post. The gate would not close completely making it difficult to fill the lock. The gate would also have been likely to fail completely if attempts had been made to use it.

The gate was removed and taken to the CRT's workshop for repairs, a process that took longer than it should because of land access issues involved with getting a crane to the site. Bookings for boats to pass through Standedge Tunnel have been suspended for several weeks. Boaters due to travel through the tunnel will be contacted to re-schedule their passage.


Lock 32w at Diggle, fenced off to allow draining.


The single tail gate with its split heel post will not close completely.

Bosley Locks closed for emergency repair

Boaters using the Macclesfield Canal should be aware that Bosley Locks are currently closed.

Following the discovery of a large hole behind one of the paddle chambers of Lock 7 at Bosley, the Canal and River Trust has had to close the lock to carry out emergency works.

These emergency repairs are expected to be completed by 5.00 pm on Saturday 13th March. Until then the Bosley flight will be closed to navigation.

CRT is advising boaters to to moor at the visitor moorings above or below the locks, and they will be updated as the work progresses.


Bosley Locks

No-go on New Junction

Boaters intending to use the New Junction Canal this week should note that it will be closed to navigation on Thursday 11th April.

Northern Power Grid will be turning the power off to Sykehouse Lock between 8.30 am and 5.00 pm. This will also affect Kirkhouse Green lift bridge and Bramwith swing bridge.

The New Junction Canal links the Aire and Calder Navigation with the South Yorkshire Navigation and the Stainforth and Keadby Canal.


Kirkhouse Green Lift Bridge, New Junction Canal

Leeds and Liverpool open again

The Leeds and Liverpool Canal is now fully open again after several stoppages at Apperley Bridge.

There had been an extended maintenance stoppage at Dobson Locks at Apperley Bridge, after a crane brought in to lift gates had toppled into the canal. Two 200-tonne cranes had to be brought in to right it and lift it back out. This delayed the planned work on the locks. The locks have now been re-opened but, as there is still work taking place on the locks, Bingley Five lock-keeper Barry Whitelock has been drafted in to assist boats through this two-rise lock staircase.

There had also been a brief stoppage at Millman Swing Bridge, just below Dobson Locks at Apperley Bridge, due to an electrical fault. This has now been repaired and the bridge is open to navigation.


Dobson Locks, Leeds and Liverpool Canal.