A new target has been announced, with CRT hoping to re-open the lock flight in time for May Day Bank Holiday on 4th May.
The lock flight on the Peak Forest Canal has been closed since September due to serious subsidence at Lock 15, resulting in a narrowing of the lock chamber. As work to repair the lock proceeded more problems have emerged.
CRT had hoped to re-open the locks by late March but they discovered while dismantling stonework from the lock chamber wall, some of the stones have started splitting and crumbling and will not be able to be reused as expected. CRT have managed to source new replacement stone from a local quarry, but the need to have new stones cut to size has added a further delay to reopening the lock.
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| Work at Lock 15, Marple. Photo: Ian McCarthy |
CRT have taken advantage of the enforced closure to carry out other work on the flight, with new lock gates being fitted at Locks 1 and 13, a total of 10 locks having been grouted, large wash wall repairs between Locks 8 and 9, Lock quadrant walls rebuilt and Lock slope towpaths upgraded. CRT volunteers have also been removing vegetation, installing new paddle gearing to the locks and fixing parts of the towpath where it is in bad condition.
