Marple Lock 11 re-opens with strict limitations

The Marple Lock flight on the Peak Forest Canal has re-opened again but with strict limitations on the size of boats allowed through, and with very restricted passage times.

As a short-term measure, the Canal and River Trust has moved back the coping stones that had been causing pinch points. They are now looking at whether they can jack some of the stones back further down the chamber wall to create enough width for boats up to 6ft 10in wide to pass through safely.

Passage through Lock 11 will be supervised and will only be available between 9.00 and 10.00 am and between 3.00 and 4.00 pm.

There will be no width restriction for boats up to 45ft in length, but boats over 45ft must have a beam of 6ft 9in or less to be able to navigate through the lock.

If the jacking proposal mentioned above can be implemented this should make the lock navigable for longer boats over 6ft 9in wide but there is no date yet as to when this might be attempted, although CRT hopes to do so as soon as possible. This will not be satisfactory long-term solution so CRT staff are also undertaking further analysis and design to enable a more permanent repair to be developed.

Update - 15th June:
Boats over 45 ft long have still been getting stuck, even though they are only 6ft 9in beam. Therefore passage through Marple Locks is now restricted to boats up to 45 ft length ONLY.

The locks will be closed completely from 25th to 29th June while CRT carry out a temporary repair to Lock 11.

CRT says the aim of this temporary repair is to enable unrestricted passage through the summer whilst they prepare for a permanent solution to be delivered in the winter stoppage season. However, there is a risk that this temporary repair will not be successful, in which case the lock will remain closed until they are able to complete the permanent repair.

Lock 11 at Marple