Leeds and Liverpool Canal to re-open except Wigan flight

The lock flights on the Leeds and Liverpool Canal between Gargrave and Johnson's Hillock are to re-open on 29th September. Reservoir levels have improved following recent periods of rain, allowing the locks to be opened on a restricted basis.

The following lock flight will be open between 10.00 am and 4.00 pm each day. Last entry to each flight will be at:
• Gargrave Locks - 3.00 pm
• Bank Newton Locks - 3.00 pm
• Greenberfield Locks - 3.00 pm
• Barrowford Locks - 2.30 pm
Boaters arriving at the locks after that time will need to wait until the next morning.
There will be no time restrictions on Blackburn or Johnson's Hillock lock flights.

Wigan Lock flight will remain closed as repairs to Locks 73, 81 and 85 are still under way. The completion date for these stoppage works is Monday 22nd October, which was the date by which it had been expected that water levels would recover. In the event, reservoir levels have recovered faster than anticipated following recent storms. However, the completion of these works means that the Wigan flight should be open for navigation throughout the winter period.

From 12th November the canal will be closed for work at Finsley Gate in Burnley (until March) and at Poolstock Locks and Plank Lane on the Leigh Branch (until December). There will also be a stoppage on the Rufford Branch (until December).

Lock 56 in Blackburn

Bosley Locks to re-open

The Bosley flight on the Macclesfield Canal is to re-open on 6th October. Reservoir levels have improved following recent periods of rain, allowing the locks to be opened on a restricted basis.

Bosley Locks will be open at 8.00 am each day, with last entry onto the flight being at 1.00 pm. Boaters arriving at the locks after that time will need to wait until the next morning. These restrictions will be reviewed after the first week.

Bosley Locks will then close again on 5th November to allow work on Locks 8 and 12 to be completed.

Marple Locks on the Peak Forest Canal will remain closed until repairs at Lock 11 have been completed.

Lock 2 at Bosley

Leeds and Liverpool to remain closed between Wigan and Gargrave

The Canal and River Trust has announced that the lock flights between Lock 85 (Wigan) and Lock 30 (Holme) on the Leeds and Liverpool Canal are to remain closed until at least the end of October, possibly later if there is no significant and prolonged rainfall over the coming weeks.

The canal's reservoir holdings are still extremely low. At least 5 weeks of prolonged rainfall would be required before the locks can be re-opened for navigation.

The lock flights at Wigan (locks 65 to 85), Johnsons Hillocks (58 to 64), Blackburn Flight (locks 52 to 57), Barrowford Locks (45 to 51), Greenberfield Locks (42 to 44), Bank Newton Locks (36 to 41) and Gargrave (locks 35 to 30) are padlocked closed and the gates have been ashed up to reduce leakage. To prevent unauthorised use, measures have been taken to make the locks inoperable.

Whilst the canal has been closed CRT has been taking advantage of the closure to carry out work to remedy issues on the locks, including paddle repairs, vegetation clearance, pointing works, and leakage repairs on the gates. CRT is bringing forward the winter works planned for Locks 43, 73, 81 and 85, with this work taking place during September while the lock flight remains closed.

An update will be issued at the end of September.

Holme Bridge Lock (30), near Gargrave