Overnight Stoppage at Dobson Locks

There will be a overnight emergency stoppage at Dobson 2-rise Locks, near Apperley Bridge, Leeds and Liverpool Canal.

The locks will be closed from 4.00 pm on Thursday 30th July until 8.00 am on Friday 31st July.

The stoppage is to enable emergency repairs to be made to a damaged cill.

Any enquiries regarding this stoppage should be made to BW on 0113 281 6860.


Dobson 2-rise Locks

Emergency One Day Stoppage at Bank Newton

There will be a one-day emergency stoppage at Lock 37 on the Bank Newton Locks, Leeds and Liverpool Canal on Friday 31st July.

Because the locks are already subject to restricted opening hours, this means that the locks will close at 6.00 pm on 30th June and re-open at 10.00 am on 1st August.

There is also a one day stoppage at Barrowford Locks on 30th July [see below].

Any enquiries regarding this stoppage should be made to BW on 0113 281 6860.

Update:
The stoppage has been amended so that the canal at Bank Newton should re-open at 2.00 pm on 31st July.


Lock 37, Bank Newton

Collapsed Wall Shuts Canal at Rotherham - now navigable

The Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation has been closed at Rotherham following the collapse of a wall.

A large section of wall, understood to be part of the old Beatson Clark glass works, has collapsed - partly into the canal - about a quarter of a mile north of Rotherham Lock.

A further section of wall is in danger of collapse.

The canal will remain closed until the wall has been stabilised and debris removed.

Update (31st July):
The debris in the canal from the wall has now been buoyed off. Half of the channel is now navigable to a depth of 1.8 metres. Boats should keep to the side away from the buoyed area.

Any enquiries regarding this stoppage should be made to BW on 0113 281 6860.

Another One Day Stoppage on Leeds & Liverpool

A one-day stoppage on the Leeds and Liverpool Canal at Barrowford should help to reduce water losses.

Lock 47 on the Barrowford lock flight will be closed on Thursday 30th July.

Because the locks are already subject to restricted opening hours, this means that the locks will close at 6.00 pm on 29th June and re-open at 10.00 am on 31st July.

Anyone needing more information about this stoppage should contact BW on 01942 405700.

This stoppage follows two earlier one-day stoppages on the Bank Newton flight in June.

Broken Cill holds up Huddersfield Canal

Lock 35e of the Huddersfield Narrow Canal, Marsden, is shut until Friday after the wooden cill has "blown".

Wooden cill blocks form a watertight seal when lock gates are closed. If a cill block is damaged or dislodged, there is no watertight seal and it becomes very difficult either to fill or to empty the lock, depending on which end of the lock is affected.

In a previous incident of a "blown cill" the bolts holding the wooden sill had corroded. When the lock was filled, the pressure of water in the gap below the gate forced the cill block upwards and washed it several yards downstream.

British Waterways intends to have the repair to Lock 35e completed by 9.00 am on Friday 10th July.

Any enquiries regarding this stoppage should be made to BW on 0113 281 6860.


Lock 35e, Huddersfield Narrow Canal

Tide Out at Wigan Pier

Vandalism has led to a section of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal being closed in Wigan.

The pound between Bottom Lock (87) and Pagefield Lock (88), the section which passes Wigan Pier, has been drained, making it un-navigable.

British Waterways staff are currently filling the pound, however, due to low levels in the feeder river and the long length of the pound, it is only filling slowly.

BW will issue an update once levels have been restored. Any enquiries regarding this stoppage should be made to BW on 01942 405700.

Update (7th July):
Water levels have been restored and the navigation has now been re-opened.


Wigan Pier, Leeds and Liverpool Canal

Careless Boater shuts Huddersfield Canal

The careless actions of a boater have left the Huddersfield Narrow Canal closed at Golcar, between Milnsbridge and Slaithwaite.

BW reports that a boater has left paddles open at Lock 12e, near Milnsbridge, draining the long pound across Golcar Aqueduct to Lock 13e.

Normally this situation could be remedied within a day by BW staff penning water down from further up the canal. However, the current water shortages on the canal mean that the pound can only be filled slowly, which is expected to take several days.

BW will issue an update when navigation is re-opened.

Any enquiries regarding this stoppage should be made to BW on 01942 405700.


Lock 12e, Huddersfield Narrow Canal

Water Shortages lead to Restrictions on Huddersfield Canal

Following restrictions for the Rochdale Canal summit, BW today announced new restrictions affecting the use of the Marsden lock flight on the Huddersfield Narrow Canal. These are also due to water shortage.

Boats heading westwards and booked to travel through Standedge Tunnel should now be at Lock 24e (Slaithwaite Guillotine Lock) at 12.00 noon the day before the tunnel passage and to wait to be chaperoned up the remaining locks by BW staff.

Boats not booked to go through Standedge Tunnel should turn below Lock 22e in Slaithwaite and not proceed further.

Boats heading eastwards should moor overnight above Lock 42e in Marsden after they have passed through Standedge Tunnel. BW staff will arrive at 8.30 am the following morning and chaperone the boat down the lock flight.

Any enquiries about these restrictions should be made to BW in Leeds on 0113 2816860.


Lock 42e, Huddersfield Narrow Canal

Water Shortages lead to Restrictions on Rochdale Canal

A shortage of available water in the reservoirs feeding the Rochdale Canal means that BW has changed the arrangements for boats passing over the canal's summit between Walsden and Littleborough. Boat numbers are limited and passage supervised through six locks on each side of the summit pound. It is hoped that this revised operation will conserve water resources and prolong the operation of the canal as far as possible.

Boat passage across the summit must be booked at least 48 hours in advance (or longer to avoid possible disappointment, as daily numbers are severely limited).

To book a passage, phone Customer Services at Wigan on Monday to Friday between 08.30 am and 4.00 pm. Tel: 01942 405700. If you need to call at a weekend to book a passage, contact the lock keeper on 0773 3124596 who operates a call back service for passage bookings only.

Passages across the summit section commence daily at 11.00 am at either Lock 31 (Lightbank Lock) or Lock 44 (Sladen Lock). There is currently a maximum of two boats a day permitted in each direction.

Unless a mooring on the summit has been booked, boats must make a continuous passage between Locks 31 and 44. Visitor mooring on Summit is available for up to 48 hour, but must be booked in advance. Mooring on the summit is at boaters' own risk of becoming stranded due to water issues. If intending to moor on the summit, passage off the summit passage must be booked at same time as passage on to the summit. For those who have booked a summit visitor mooring, passages off the summit at Locks 36 or 37 will start at 9.00 am Monday to Sunday.

Lock keepers will ensure that boats within the critical summit section are doubled up wherever possible in order to maximise efficient use of water resources. Boaters are asked to follow any instructions or advice given by lock keepers.

Boats arriving late for bookings will be rescheduled. However, BW may allow additional passages, subject to water availability and at the discretion of the local lock keepers. This can only be established at short notice due to the rapid changes in water conditions.

Recommended moorings for boats booked to cross the summit are as follows: -
• East side: - Customers booked for the summit should moor the previous night below Lock 31.
• West side: - Customers booked for the summit should moor the previous night below Lock 44.
• Summit: - 48 hour mooring is available on Summit (see conditions above).
All boats not crossing the summit should wind below Lock 30 (Winterbutlee) on the east side and below Lock 48 (Littleborough) on the west side.

Any enquiries should be made to BW on 01942 405700.

Summit pound, Rochdale Canal

Leak shuts part of Rochdale Canal

Four miles of the Rochdale Canal in Yorkshire are currently closed following a leak near Sowerby Bridge.

Water levels on the 2.5 mile long pound between Tuel Deep Lock (3/4) and Brearley Lower Lock (5) are very low, making navigation impossible. Investigations by BW staff revealed that water is leaking from the pound.

Attempted repairs carried out over the weekend have not been successful and the pound remains closed to navigation. More substantial repairs will be carried out this week and BW will issue an update on Wednesday 1st July.

The stoppage has been extended to Broadbottom Lock (7) at Mytholmroyd. Boaters intending to use this stretch of canal can obtain the latest information by contacting the lock keeper at Tuel Lane (07717342258).

Rochdale Canal near Sowerby Bridge: currently un-navigable

Honour for IWA's John Fletcher

Tireless north-west canals campaigner John Fletcher has been awarded an O.B.E. in the Queen's Birthday Honours List.

John Fletcher was National Chairman of the Inland Waterways Association from 2002 to 2008. He is currently Chairman of the Manchester Bolton and Bury Canal Society and Vice-President of The Waterways Trust.

He has played an extensive role in campaigning for waterway restoration schemes throughout the north-west, including the Anderton Boat Lift, the Manchester Bolton and Bury Canal and the Northern Reaches of the Lancaster Canal.

John's O.B.E. has been awarded for services to the inland waterways.

Wildlife to get the High Life

Wildlife in Leeds are to experience high-rise living thanks to a development alongside the Leeds and Liverpool Canal.

Garnett Netherwood Architects have won a competition to design wildlife habitats to attract wildlife back to the area of Holbeck Urban Village, near the canal in Leeds.

Garnett Netherwood, who have designed three office buildings in Holbeck, near Office Lock, won the compatition with designs for 12 metre high towers to be constructed from recycled materials. The design mimics the three historic Italianate towers that are preserved in the Holbeck development.

It is described as a "concept" that would need further evolution. It is hoped that the towers would attract bats, birds, butterflies and insects.

Artist's impression: Garnett Netherwood Architects

Canal Street Fence: BW to improve safety at lock

Following a wave of protests that the safety fence planned for Canal Street in Manchester will block access to Lock 86, British Waterways has announced a package of safety measures.

Boaters were concerned that the new fence would make the use of Lock 86 on the Rochdale Canal more hazardous if foot access to the lock is stopped. Some had expressed concern that BW was not looking after the interests of boaters in this case.

BW has now responded to the criticisms by announcing a package of measures to improve safety at Lock 86 and "design out" the need for boaters to climb over the wall and use historic steps.

Details of the safety measures and photos of the locations, along with questions arising from the plans can be found on this page.

A new landing is to be added on the offside above Lock 86

One Day Stoppages on Leeds & Liverpool Should Help Water Levels

Bank Newton Locks on the Leeds and Liverpool Canal will have two one-day stoppages so that worn-out paddles can be replaced.

Lock 40 on the Bank Newton lock flight will be closed on Friday 12th June.

Because the locks are already subject to restricted opening hours, this means that the locks will close at 6.00 pm on 11th June and re-open at 10.00 am on 13th June.

Lock 39 on the Bank Newton lock flight will be closed on Friday 19th June.

Because the locks are already subject to restricted opening hours, this means that the locks will close at 6.00 pm on 18th June and re-open at 10.00 am on 20th June.

Both ground paddles at the lock are worn out and need replacing urgently. British Waterways believes that this will aid water control and significantly reduce the loss of water in the East Marton pound, which has been a problem for some time.

Anyone needing more information about these stoppages should contact BW on 0113 281 6860.

Lock 40, Bank Newton