Skipton Swing Bridge Closed

Boaters on the Leeds and Liverpool Canal in the Skipton area face a long delay after the Gawflat Swing Bridge (176) became inoperable following an impact from a boat.

The Canal and River Trust says that the bridge will be action until further notice and that an update will be issued on Friday 31st May.

Gawflat Swing Bridge is half a mile west of Skipton town centre and is on a popular stretch of canal. The stoppage will particularly affect hirers who need to return their boats to the hire bases by the weekend.

Google Street View of Gawflat Swing Bridge:

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Hiccup on the Huddersfield

This news item should have been reporting a stoppage on the Huddersfield Narrow Canal. Earlier today CRT issued a stoppage notice today for Lock 13w of the Huddersfield Canal in Mossley, as the top gate was "inoperable" (it wouldn't close). It was believed that the post had lifted out of its pot. A stoppage notice saying that the lock will be shut until Tuesday when further investigations would take place.

The crews of the eight boats from Cheshire Cruising Club that were waiting just below the lock were not happy about that and decided to investigate the problem (as they had nothing else to do).

Exploration with a long pole revealed that a plastic barrier was on the bottom, with the gate riding over it so far and then being unable to close. The boaters managed to pull the barrier out of the water and close the gate.

The eight boats have now successfully passed through the lock and are at Roaches Lock for the night.

The lock still requires some investigation by CRT, as there is some resistance for the last few inches when opening or closing the gate, and water spurting up under the gate suggests that there may be debris preventing a good seal between the gate and the cill, but the gate is at least operable at present.

Cheshire Cruising Club informed CRT that the lock is now passable.


Boater power at Lock 13w

Yorkshire Flood Locks Closed

Boaters travelling in Yorkshire are warned that, following heavy rain overnight, the flood locks on the Calder and Hebble Navigation have been closed, along with some of those on the Aire and Calder Navigation.

All the flood locks on the Calder and Hebble are closed and the Canal and River Trust says that they are unlikely to re-open today in view of the amount of rain that fell. On the Aire and Calder the flood locks at Castleford, Ferrybridge and Broadreach are shut. If water levels continue to rise then those at Clarence Dock and Knostrop may also be shut.

In a separate stoppage, Woodnock Lock is shut on the Aire and Calder between Castleford and Stanley Ferry. This because of a mains power failure that has affected the lock. The power company visited site last night but could not trace the fault, so they have returned today to continue work. Passage will not be possible through the lock until the fault has been repaired.

The Calder and Hebble is also closed at Shepley Bridge Lock following a gate failure. See earlier report.

Update Wednesday 15th May:
The power company have told the Canal and River Trust the problem at Woodnock Lock is with a transformer and they are awaiting parts for a repair. Another update will be issued on the afternoon of Thursday 16th May.

Update Thursday 16th May:
The flood gates on the Calder and Hebble are being re-opened today but it may take up to 4 hours to get to all the gates. The flood gates on the Aire and Calder are now also open.

Update Thursday 16th May, 4.00 pm:
The power at Woodnock Lock has been restored and the lock is now working. There will be a slight delay in the lock filling and emptying as it is on a temporary timer, whilst further parts are awaited to complete the repair.


Thornes Flood Lock on the Calder and Hebble

Shepley Bridge Lock update

Shepley Bridge Lock on the Calder and Hebble Navigation is currently closed for emergency repairs. The stoppage is as a result of the failure of the heel post of the top gate on the towpath side. Both gates are in poor condition and will be craned out and replaced.

The Canal and River Trust has announced that the gates will be craned out on 8th May and taken to Stanley Ferry workshop so that replicas can be made.

It is hoped that the new gates will be ready to be installed in the week beginning 20th May. The Canal and River Trust will issue a further update on 10th May.

Shepley Bridge Lock is on the Mirfield Cut between Cooper Bridge and Wakefield. For boaters held up by the stoppage, there are plenty of moorings along the Mirfield Cut above Shepley Bridge Lock, but a river section is below the lock. For boaters travelling westwards there are numerous mooring possibilities between Broad Cut and Thornhill Flood Lock.

Update Friday 10th May:
The lock gates have now been removed and taken to Stanley Ferry workshop so that new gates can be made.

Update Friday 17th May:
The new gates will be on site and ready to be craned in on Wednesday 22nd May.

Update Thursday 25th May:
The new gates have now been installed and the lock has re-opened to navigation.


Shepley Bridge Lock, Calder and Hebble Navigation