Defra announces 19% cut in funding to BW

Defra announced today that its grant to British Waterways next year will be £41.5m.

This is a reduction of £9.8m (or 19%) from the 2010/11 baseline grant of £51.3m.

British Waterways points out that, as this funding from the Government makes up approximately half of the net spend on the waterways, this will translate into an effective cut of resource available of about 12% in 2011/12.

The settlement represents the last annual grant to British Waterways in England and Wales before a longer term contract comes into place in April 2012 when the canals, rivers and docks in its care are expected to be transferred into a new charity.

Defra also indicated that funding from 2012/13 to 2014/15 would be £39m a year, with a long-term commitment that a funding contract running up to at least 2022/23 will not fall below this level.

Tony Hales, BW chairman, said: "In the current climate it would be unrealistic to expect British Waterways to be exempt from cuts in public spending and we will have to make difficult decisions to ensure the continued maintenance of the historic canals and rivers in our care. The Government's commitment to the first ever long-term public funding settlement for the waterways is, however, a good step forward and I have been heartened by ministers' continued commitment to this 'Big Society' flagship.

"Security of funding is fundamental to achieving the Government's objective of establishing a new 'national trust' for the waterways. The challenge now is to develop a funding plan which gives confidence to the incoming trustees of the new charity and retains the support of waterway stakeholders. I firmly believe this can be achieved and, while we would all have hoped for a larger settlement, we are one step closer to turning the long-held vision of a waterways charity into reality."

Barton Aqueduct out of action

The Bridgewater Canal is currently closed to navigation at Barton Swing Aqueduct. It seems that a hydraulic failure is preventing the aqueduct being swung.

It is understood that the broken pipe will not be repaired until at least (Monday 29th November).

If you need the latest information about this stoppage contact the Bridgewater Canal Company on 0161 629 8266.

Update: Bridgwater Canal Company says:
"A pressure valve has burst resulting in Barton Aqueduct being unable to swing. Unfortunately we are unable to obtain a specialist replacement part until Monday the 29th November 2010.
"Pleasure craft owners waiting to cross the Aqueduct North to South are advised to moor at Boothstown or Worsley. Pleasure craft owners waiting to cross the Aqueduct South to North are advised to moor at Castlefield or the Kings Ransom in Sale.
"Further information will be released at lunchtime on Monday 29th November 2010."

Emergency repairs at Poolstock

As reported yesterday, British Waterways were unable to re-open the canal through Poolstock in Wigan at the weekend because it was found that emergency repairs needed to be carried out to the wash wall above Poolstock Locks on the Leigh Branch.

Unfortunately, as the de-watered pound is the pound that includes the junction with the main line of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal, Wigan lock flight also had to remain closed, preventing any boat movements through Wigan.

The photo of the work being carried out (below) was kindly sent by Stephen Fahey.

Photo: Stephen Fahey

Some local boaters have commented that the wash wall has been collapsed and cordoned off for a while, and wondered why the repair couldn't have been carried out at the same time as the nearby lock repair, which closed the canal for two weeks.

BW is going to issue an update regarding the stoppage on Friday 26th November.

Two boating friends have been given publicity in the media this week after claiming that they have been "marooned" above Wigan Locks for more than 3 weeks, which seems like exaggeration, since the Wigan stoppage only began on 8th November. It appears that the couple, who are heading home to London, only checked the initial stoppage list issued by BW in the Summer, and did not know about later additions to that programme. [News report]

The latest stoppage information for canals in the Pennine Waterways area is shown on this page.

Update, 29th November:
The repairs have been completed and the canal has now re-opened to navigation.

Problem extends Wigan stoppage

It had been hoped that the Wigan lock flight on the Leeds and Liverpool Canal, and the Poolstock locks on the Leigh Branch would have re-opened on Saturday after two-week stoppages to repair locks.

However additional problems have come to light, making it necessary for the stoppages to continue. Emergency investigation and repair works were required on the towpath and wash wall on the Leigh Branch between Poolstock Locks and the junction with the main canal. The pound has been de-watered, including the junction. This means that navigation is not possible either through Poolstock locks or down the main Wigan lock flight.

British Waterways will issue a further update on Friday 26th November.

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

Update, 29th November:
The repairs have been completed and the canal has now re-opened to navigation.

Wigan Junction

Additional lock stoppages on Leeds and Liverpool

British Waterways has announced a number of additional stoppages on the Leeds and Liverpool Canal to carry out lock repairs. These will all start on Monday 8th November and could last around 2 weeks, although an end date has not been specified.

Locks affected are:
Lock 2 (Office Lock) and Lock 4 (Oddy Locks), Leeds
Lock 91, Appley Bridge (west of Wigan)
Lock 75, Wigan flight
Lock 1, Leigh Branch, Poolstock (Wigan)

These are in addition to the addition stoppages for bridge repairs announced last week.

The list of Winter Stoppages in the area covered by Pennine Waterways website will be updated each time new information is received.


Looking towards Lock 75, Wigan

Two Day Stoppage on Rochdale Nine in Manchester

The Rochdale Nine locks through the centre of Manchester will be closed for two days this week to enable paddles to be replaced.

The work will take place between 8.00 am on Wednesday 3rd November and 1.00 pm on Thursday 4th November 2010. During this period the canal will be closed to navigation along the whole of the "Rochdale Nine" section between Locks 84 and 92.

The stoppage is needed to replace paddles at Lock 86. The existing paddles are passing an excessive volume of water, making the lock difficult to operate. BW says that changing the paddles will stop the leaks and make the lock easier to operate.

During the stoppage, boats awaiting passage should moor at Piccadilly Basin above Lock 84 or in Castlefield on the Bridgewater Canal.

This stoppage will affect boaters navigating the Cheshire Ring. Enquiries about this stoppage should be made to BW on 01782 785703.


Lock 86, Rochdale Canal

Additional bridge stoppages on Leeds and Liverpool

Two additional stoppages have been announced for the Leeds and Liverpool Canal in order to repair swing bridges.

In the first stoppage, Millman Swing Bridge (bridge 214) will be closed for one week from Monday 8th November 2010. The stoppage is to enable to bridges electric motor to be replaced by mechanical engineering contractors. This bridge is at Apperley Bridge, between Shipley and the edge of Leeds.

On Monday 15th November 2010 repairs will be carried out to Stockbridge Swing Bridge (197) at Riddleston, just west of Bingley. The bridge will be closed to navigation while work is being carried out. However, boats will be allowed to pass through before 8.00 am, at 12.00 noon and after 4.00 pm. This stoppage is planned to be for one day only.

For all stoppages in the Pennine Waterways area, see Winter Stoppages 2010-2011.

Millman Bridge at Apperley Bridge

One day stoppage at Gargrave

There will be a one day stoppage tomorrow (15th October) at Lock 34 (Scarland Lock) on the Leeds and Liverpool Canal at Gargrave.

A balance beam has broken at Lock 34 and it is necessary to close the navigation between 8.00am to 4.00pm whilst a new beam is lifted into place.

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

Scarland Lock

Incident shuts canal near Rotherham

The canal section of the Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation upstream of Rotherham is currently closed while police investigate an incident.

The section concerned bypasses a long section of the River Don between Rotherham and the start of the Sheffield and Tinsley Canal. The entire cut is closed to navigation, affecting Jordans Lock, Holmes Lock and Ickles Lock.

News sources are reporting that police are searching for a missing 17-year old, after some of her possessions were believed to have been found near the canal. The towpath is also closed.

Enquiries about this stoppage should be made to BW on 0113 2816860.

Update: 5 pm 12th October:
Regrettably, police divers have found a female body in the canal near Holmes Lock. The body has not yet been identified but police treating death as suspicious. [News link]

Update: 11.30 am 14th October:
The canal will remain closed today (14th October). Further update will be given tomorrow.

Update: 5.00 pm 15th October:
The navigation through these locks has now been re-opened.


Holmes Lock, Rotherham

Two Day Stoppage on Rochdale Canal near Middleton

There is to be a two-day stoppage at Lock 61 (Scowcroft Lock) on the Rochdale Canal due to damage to the wooden cills. The lock will be closed Tuesday 12th and Wednesday 13th October.

The wooden cills that form a seal to the bottom of the gates have been damaged (possibly by a boat passing over while water levels are low) and this is making it difficult to fill the lock. The lock will re-open to navigation on Thursday 14th October.

This is a different problem from the one reported last week in which Locks 62 and 63 are only open to navigation between 9.30 am and 3.00 pm each day.

Lock 61 is not part of the 19 locks between Failsworth and Manchester that require booking, as stated in a BW stoppage notice. The Irk Aqueduct moorings, which are recommended as an overnight stop when heading into Manchester, are south of Lock 61. Boaters heading towards Manchester should moor at Slattocks (above Lock 54) until Lock 61 has re-opened.


Scowcroft Lock beyond the railway bridge

Lift Bridge Problem on Peak Forest Canal

Boaters using the Lower Peak Forest Canal between Hyde and Ashton will need to contact British Waterways to arrange passage through Stanley Lift Bridge.

The bridge in Dukinfield, half a mile from the junction with the Ashton Canal, has been giving boaters problems for a few weeks, being very heavy to operate. British Waterways staff have found that there is a problem with the main lifting ram.

Boaters requiring passage through the bridge should moor up and contact BW's Freephone Canal Helpline on 0800 4799947 and explain that you need to pass through Stanley Lift Bridge on the Peak Forest Canal. British Waterways staff should attend within 45 minutes to operate the bridge manually.

This problem will affect boaters navigating the Cheshire Ring.

Update: 5.00 pm 15th October:
The bridge has now been repaired and assistance from BW is no longer required.

Restriction on Rochdale Canal

There are restricted opening hours currently on a section of the Rochdale Canal between Chadderton and Slattocks.

BW is investigating problems with the the pound between Lock 63 (Walk Mill) and Lock 62 (Coney Green). The water level is having to be kept low and passage through the pound can only be made between 9.30 am and 3.00 pm each day.

This is the pound immediately upstream from Irk Aqueduct, the recommended overnight moorings for boats heading to or from Manchester.

Enquiries about this restriction should be made to BW on 01782 785703.

Update, 18th October 2010:
This restriction will remain in place for the rest of 2010. BW is seeking a solution to the leakage problem. BW will issue an update on 10th January 2011.


The pound between Locks 62 and 63, Rochdale Canal

Bridge Stoppage near Leeds

British Waterways has warned that there is currently a stoppage on the Leeds and Liverpool Canal at Rodley, between Leeds and Shipley.

The stoppage is to allow repairs to be carried out to Moss Swing Bridge (Bridge 118), half a mile east of Rodley. The bridge is owned by Yorkshire Water and British Waterways is working closely with Yorkshire Water to ensure this stoppage is kept to a minimum.

The stoppage takes effect from today (5th October). British Waterways will issue an update on 12th October. Enquiries about this stoppage should be made to BW on 01942 405700.

This stoppage comes as a further blow to hire boat companies and other users of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal who have been badly hit this year by the two-month closure of the 60 miles between Gargrave and Wigan.

(6th October: This item has been amended following a correction from BW who had originally stated that the bridge belonged to United Utilities.)

Update: 11th October: The repairs have been completed and the bridge has now re-opened to navigation.

Update: 4th November: Further work is to be carried out on this bridge. Between Mon 8th Nov and Thurs 11th Nov this bridge will be closed to navigation between 5.00 pm and 11.00 pm.


Moss Swing Bridge, Rodley

Barton Aqueduct Restriction

A restriction on opening times for Barton Swing Aqueduct has been announced. With effect from today until Thursday 30th September the aqueduct will be open to navigation by boats on the Bridgewater Canal between 9.15 am and 4.30 pm only.

This is due to temporary electrical problems with the aqueduct.

Normal Winter opening hours (9.15 am to 4.30 pm) will commence on 1st October. (In effect this means that the Winter opening times start a week early. The aqueduct would normally have been open until 9.00 pm up until 30th September.)


Barton Aqueduct seen from the Ship Canal