Photos of Cooper Bridge Weir Failure

Following on from the report on Friday's closure of the Calder and Hebble Navigation at Cooper Bridge, I can now bring you some new photos that show clearly why navigation is not possible.

The photo above shows BW staff inspecting the damaged weir. The structure is not normally visible from this viewpoint, indicating how much the level has fallen.

The initial failure dropped the level by a foot or two, then a large section of the weir completely collapsed, rendering the river unnavigable from Kirklees Lower Lock to Cooper Bridge lock cut, including the access to the Huddersfield Broad Canal.


The entrance to the Huddersfield Broad Canal - too shallow to navigate.


Low levels on the Cooper Bridge lock cut that bypasses the weir.

Liverpool Link was centre of attention!

Liverpool's new Canal Link was the centre of attention at the closing event of Liverpool's Year of Culture!

Around sixty thousand people crowded onto the Pier Head area on each side of the new canal channel to witness the closing spectacular on 10th January. This featured fireworks, music, dance, illuminated lanterns on the canal and special lighting of The Three Graces. A film of the highlights of the year was shown on giant screens to the accompaniment of a sound track of well-known Liverpool songs.


The Liverpool Canal Link at Pier Head was at the heart of the closing festival.
Photo: Christian Smith Photography Ltd

At one time it had been hoped that the Canal Link could have been completely open in time for the Year of Culture but it was good that the section through the Pier Head was opened in time to play a leading part at the end of the year of events.

Debbie Lumb of British Waterways said: "We were thrilled to see the new canal link feature at the heart of the closing ceremony of the Capital of Culture year. With the opening of the canal link in Spring 2009 the waterfront will be animated with boaters from all over the country visiting Liverpool to see for themselves the transformation of the waterfront and the city."

Liverpool Council Leader Councillor Warren Bradleysaid: "2008 was a life-changing year for this city and we wanted to say thank-you for everyone who helped play their part. And what better way than with a party at the waterfront, where so much of this city's story began?''

Phil Redmond of Liverpool Culture Company said: ''It is a testimony to the people of Liverpool that so many came out in freezing weather. This celebration was not a finale - it simply marks a new beginning for Liverpool.''

Calder and Hebble Weir Damage

January 23rd 2009 updated 26th Jan
British Waterways has announced an emergency stoppage affecting boaters using the Calder & Hebble Navigation and Huddersfield Broad Canal.

Flood damage to Cooper Bridge Weir is causing low levels between Kirklees Low Lock and Cooper Bridge Lock, along with the approach to the Huddersfield Broad Canal entrance lock.

On Friday afternoon (23rd Jan), water levels were 400mm below normal water levels, but as flood waters recede, the levels could be expected to drop further.

Update, 26th Jan: Water levels now 1.1 metres below normal water levels, making navigation impossible.

British Waterways has put an emergency stoppage in place whilst engineers consider options for repair.

Repairs cannot be carried out until after the flood water recedes. BW will issue a further update on Monday 2nd February.

This follows a similar failure last October at Ledgard Weir, 1.5 miles downstream. On that occasion, the navigation was closed for several days and then boaters were allowed to pass with care until repairs were complete.


The entrance to the Hudderfield Broad Canal - this may now be too shallow to navigate. Cooper Bridge Weir is immediately downstream to the left.

Trafalgar Dock Channel in Water

As work on the Liverpool Canal Link nears completion, water has been let into the new channel through Trafalgar Dock.


The new channel links Stanley, Collingwood and Salisbury Docks to the north with West Waterloo and Princes Docks to the South. This forms the northern section of the Liverpool Canal Link but, unlike the southern section through Princes Dock and the Pier Head, this channel runs through the old dock area still used for commercial purposes, which is not open to the public, so there will be no route for pedestrians alongside the channel.

Trafalgar Dock had been infilled except for a narrow channel along the eastern edge to maintain the water level in Waterloo and Princes Docks. This channel has been widened to navigable width, utilising the old dock wall on one side and a sloping bank constructed on the other side, lined with a mesh that will enable vegetation to grow. A new concrete-sided channel was constructed to link through to West Waterloo Dock. [see photos]

Construction of this channel was completed just before Christmas and on Christmas Eve a New Holland 235 excavator from plant contractors P P O'Connor moved in to remove the clay bund that held back the dock water.

After a period of testing, the Liverpool Canal Link should open for navigation around Easter, enabling canal boats to travel from the Leeds and Liverpool Canal through to Albert Dock and the southern docks.


The photos with this report were taken by Charlie Edge and appear with permission of P P O'Connor Ltd.

See photos of the Liverpool Canal Link route in Oct 2008.

Museum for Ship Canal?

Proposals for a Manchester Ship Canal Museum are being considered by Trafford Council.

Ship Canal owners Peel Holdings have put forward plans to convert an Argos distribution warehouse close to the Trafford Centre into a new museum to tell the story of the canal and the 16,000 navvies who built it.

The proposed museum, in Barton Dock Road, would feature items used by the navvies during the construction of the canal between 1885 and 1894. Some of the steam powered machinery, such as excavators and cranes, has survived and could be included in the displays.

The plans are to be considered by Trafford council, whose Planning department is recommending approval. The museum would occupy the whole of the 31,000 square metre building. The proposal includes increasing the parking space to accommodate 750 cars. 16 bus routes stop outside the building and the Trafford Centre bus station is a short distance away. The application can be viewed online by entering H/70328 here.

Eastham Lock, Manchester Ship Canal

Ashton Canal finally re-opens

The Ashton Canal has finally re-opened to through navigation after being closed following damage to the gate of Lock 17.

The canal was closed on 15th October after damage to the gate caused its operation to be considered dangerous. British Waterways staff investigated whether it could be quickly repaired but found that a new gate was required. A new gate was ordered to be manufactured as soon as possible.

British Waterways issued a stoppage notice warning that the canal was likely to remain closed for at least a week. However the stoppage was extended several times due to various delays.

On Nov 14th BW announced that the replacement gate has been manufactured and delivered to the local depot. Work to install the gate was to start the following week with the canal expected to re-open on 28th November. However, on 28th November, BW announced that work had been delayed "due to unforseen circumstances" and that the canal should be re-opened by 10th December. Following a further delay the canal was finally re-opened on 12 December.

The stoppage affected boaters doing the Cheshire Ring and the South Pennine Ring. It caused potential difficulties for boaters attempting to reach places before the winter stoppage programme began on 3rd November. Some concern has been expressed about the length of time taken to complete this repair on the Ashton Canal compared with the speedy repairs that are carried out on more popular canals further south.

Prince Charles visits Sowerby Bridge Canal Wharf

In late November, Prince Charles visited Sowerby Bridge Wharf to see for himself the extensive conservation and regeneration of the area.

The project to regenerate the wharf area was established by his charity, The Prince's Regeneration Trust, in 1996, at a time when the wharf was in a state of decline and the warehouses facing dereliction.

The project conserved and restored a unique collection of historic canal buildings, benefiting and supporting existing businesses at the wharf, attracting new businesses to the area and bringing visitors to this historically important site. The wharf with its warehouses is situated at the junction of the Calder and Hebble Navigation with the Rochdale Canal.

The focus of the project was the regeneration of the Grade II listed Salt Warehouse and the Grade II* listed No. 4 Warehouse, which in turn attracted further development.

Robin Evans of BW shows Prince Charles around Sowerby Bridge Canal Wharf. Photo: BW

The Prince toured the warehouses and met those running businesses there. He saw the wet dock and named a newly-built canal boat. He spoke to local Sea Scouts who had initially saved the Salt Warehouse from collapse by renovating part of the structure and erecting a temporary roof, before the start of the regeneration project.

Stephen Baines of Calderdale Council said: "The Council has worked for many years to achieve the regeneration of the canal basin area and is very grateful to The Prince for the commitment and support of his Regeneration Trust. This major transformation has been the result of close working with the local community."

Maddy Jago of English Heritage, which provided design and conservation advice, said: "The conservation of the canal warehouses has extended regeneration to the wharf and it is wonderful to see them once again being used and enjoyed by the local community."

Very Limited Opening at Salterhebble Guillotine Lock

There will be very restricted passage through Salterhebble Guillotine Lock on the Calder and Hebble Navigation over the winter period. This follows a technical breakdown in May, since which the guillotine has had to be manually operated by BW staff.

The Guillotine Lock will be operated by BW staff during the following period only:
• 12.00 noon - 1.00 pm daily

Passage will be possible outside these hours but this must be booked 72 hours in advance by telephoning the Yorkshire office on 0113 281 6860.

For enquiries about the stoppage, contact British Waterways on 0113 281 6860.

Extension to Liverpool for Bridgewater licence holders

British Waterways has agreed to extend its arrangement with the Manchester Ship Canal Company to allow pleasure craft displaying a valid Bridgewater Canal licence to travel through to Liverpool.

This extension is for a limited period of time, from 1st January 2009 until 31st December 2013. This means that when the Liverpool Canal Link opens in Spring 2009, Bridgewater licence holders will be able to travel along the Leeds and Liverpool Canal beyond Burscough and to use the Liverpool Canal Link through to the Albert Dock.

Currently, Bridgewater licence holders can travel for a period of seven days free of charge along the Leigh Branch and from Wigan to Burscough and from Wigan to the bottom of Blackburn Locks. In a reciprocal agreement, BW licence holders can use the Bridgewater Canal free of charge for up to seven days.

This arrangement is hoped to increase the number of boats expected to travel along the under-used western end of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal and onto the new Canal Link through to the southern docks. Some improvements have been made to the section of canal between Litherland and Liverpool but long-term improvement can only come from increased use, so that boats become a regular sight.

The present destination of Eldonian Village, while being an attractive location, has not been a sufficient draw to bring large numbers of boats along the western end of the canal. The exciting new route through the central docks and across the vibrant Pier Head area to the new destination of Salthouse and Albert Docks has already caught the imaginations of boat owners and is expected to attract a lot more boats to journey along the canal to Liverpool.

The new agreement between British Waterways and the Manchester Ship Canal Company was reached following a request by a boater on the Bridgewater Canal and will allow Bridgewater licence holders to cruise to Liverpool without additional charge.

The section of the new Canal Link through the Pier Head in Liverpool was filled with water recently and the public has been allowed back onto this part of the Pier Head. This has met with wide approval, with Liverpudlians keen to see the Link fully opened and boats coming through.

The latest photos of the Canal Link can be seen here.

Liverpool Canal Link

The Liverpool Canal Link is now in water at Pier Head. The rest of the route is nearing completion, including a new channel through Trafalgar Dock.

Four pages of new photos of the Canal Link can be seen here.

New Mile Posts for Leeds and Liverpool

An interesting project is under way to restore missing mile posts along the Leeds and Liverpool Canal.

This involves a collaboration between the Bradford Motor Education Project, British Waterways, the Leeds and Liverpool Canal Society and the Inland Waterways Association.

Bradford Motor Education Project's marine division, "Dreamweavers", which supports the education, training and personal development of young people, has co-ordinated the project, with senior trainees having been involved in pattern making, casting the mile plates, surveying the sites and installation of the posts.

At first, the mile posts will be installed between Shipley and Bingley. It is hoped eventually to complete the length between Apperley Bridge and Skipton.

Some of the funding for the project came from a donation to the IWA for the benefit of canals in the West Yorkshire area.

Considerable support in the manufacturing of the mile posts came from Carnaud Metal Box of Shipley and the first post was installed outside their door!


Mike Clarke (Leeds and Liverpool Canal Society) and Trevor Roberts (Bradford Motor Education Project) with one of the new mile posts.(Photo: BW)


Some of the castings used in the making of the mile posts, including "positives" and "negatives". (Photo: Peter Scott)

Hunting the Ghosts of Standedge!

One of Britain's top ghosthunters, David Vee, has once again been called in to investigate paranormal activity at Standedge.

Following last year's fantastic success, Standedge is opening this mysterious and chilling experience to the public once again by offering the chance to join David and members of his paranormal team on board a boat to venture into the tunnel in a bone tingling quest for ghosts, ghouls and all things creepy!

Those that can hold their nerve will explore inside the haunted tunnel before venturing up to the visitor centre where a vigil to connect with the paranormal world will be held.

David Vee said: "The event at Standedge is a great opportunity for anyone who is curious about ghosts to get an understanding of what we do on an investigation. Standedge is a great prospect for us as it has real history and an air of mystery. I picked up on some activity around the site when I last visited, particularly in the tunnel, so I can't wait to lead people on this journey and see what we can discover."

The haunting experience with special guest David Vee starts at 9.00 pm, finishing at 2.00 am and costs a spooky £40 per head, but you must be over 16 years old and bring suitable warm clothing and footwear. Places can be reserved by contacting the Standedge team on 01484 844298. Cheques should be made payable to British Waterways and sent to James Dean, Visitor Services Manager, Standedge Tunnel & Visitor Centre, Waters Road, Marsden, Huddersfield, HD7 6NQ.

For younger spook-seekers or those with less bulging wallets, Standedge will host a series of Hallowe'en themed boat trips in to the tunnel on Wednesday 29th. Thursday 30th and 31st October.

Ashton Canal Remains closed after gate damage

The Ashton Canal has been closed following damage to the gate of Lock 17.

British Waterways staff have investigated the extent of the damage and found that a new gate is required.

BW's workshop has been informed, timber has been ordered and a new gate will be manufactured as soon as possible

The canal is likely to remain closed for at least a week.

This will affect boaters doing the Cheshire Ring and the South Pennine Ring.

For enquiries about this stoppage, contact British Waterways on 01942 405700.

Update: Oct 24th 2008
The canal remains closed to through navigation. Measurements have been taken and the workshop has started constructing the replacement gate, but it could be up to 4 weeks before navigation is restored.

A further update notice will be issued by BW on Friday 14th November.

Lock 17, Ashton Canal

Stoppage on Bridgewater near Leigh

There will be a major stoppage on the Leigh Branch of the Bridgewater Canal this winter.

New safety gates will be installed on the navigation near Lingards Footbridge, close to the A580 East Lancs Road crossing, between Boothstown and Leigh.

The area is very prone to mining subsidence and the safety gates are needed to protect the canal from the effects of this subsidence, due to fissures that cross the line of the canal. The gates will close in the event of any sudden water loss.

Work will begin on Monday 10th November 2008 and continue until Friday 30th January 2009 or until such time as the work is complete.

There are winding holes for boats to turn west of the A580 (Morleys) Bridge and at Boothstown marina. There will also be towpath restrictions and diversions as needed.

Peel Holdings say that there is unlikely to be any temporary opening of the route over the Christmas period.

Lingards Footbridge, Leigh Branch