Skipton Swing Bridge Closed

Boaters on the Leeds and Liverpool Canal in the Skipton area face a long delay after the Gawflat Swing Bridge (176) became inoperable following an impact from a boat.

The Canal and River Trust says that the bridge will be action until further notice and that an update will be issued on Friday 31st May.

Gawflat Swing Bridge is half a mile west of Skipton town centre and is on a popular stretch of canal. The stoppage will particularly affect hirers who need to return their boats to the hire bases by the weekend.

Google Street View of Gawflat Swing Bridge:

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Hiccup on the Huddersfield

This news item should have been reporting a stoppage on the Huddersfield Narrow Canal. Earlier today CRT issued a stoppage notice today for Lock 13w of the Huddersfield Canal in Mossley, as the top gate was "inoperable" (it wouldn't close). It was believed that the post had lifted out of its pot. A stoppage notice saying that the lock will be shut until Tuesday when further investigations would take place.

The crews of the eight boats from Cheshire Cruising Club that were waiting just below the lock were not happy about that and decided to investigate the problem (as they had nothing else to do).

Exploration with a long pole revealed that a plastic barrier was on the bottom, with the gate riding over it so far and then being unable to close. The boaters managed to pull the barrier out of the water and close the gate.

The eight boats have now successfully passed through the lock and are at Roaches Lock for the night.

The lock still requires some investigation by CRT, as there is some resistance for the last few inches when opening or closing the gate, and water spurting up under the gate suggests that there may be debris preventing a good seal between the gate and the cill, but the gate is at least operable at present.

Cheshire Cruising Club informed CRT that the lock is now passable.


Boater power at Lock 13w

Yorkshire Flood Locks Closed

Boaters travelling in Yorkshire are warned that, following heavy rain overnight, the flood locks on the Calder and Hebble Navigation have been closed, along with some of those on the Aire and Calder Navigation.

All the flood locks on the Calder and Hebble are closed and the Canal and River Trust says that they are unlikely to re-open today in view of the amount of rain that fell. On the Aire and Calder the flood locks at Castleford, Ferrybridge and Broadreach are shut. If water levels continue to rise then those at Clarence Dock and Knostrop may also be shut.

In a separate stoppage, Woodnock Lock is shut on the Aire and Calder between Castleford and Stanley Ferry. This because of a mains power failure that has affected the lock. The power company visited site last night but could not trace the fault, so they have returned today to continue work. Passage will not be possible through the lock until the fault has been repaired.

The Calder and Hebble is also closed at Shepley Bridge Lock following a gate failure. See earlier report.

Update Wednesday 15th May:
The power company have told the Canal and River Trust the problem at Woodnock Lock is with a transformer and they are awaiting parts for a repair. Another update will be issued on the afternoon of Thursday 16th May.

Update Thursday 16th May:
The flood gates on the Calder and Hebble are being re-opened today but it may take up to 4 hours to get to all the gates. The flood gates on the Aire and Calder are now also open.

Update Thursday 16th May, 4.00 pm:
The power at Woodnock Lock has been restored and the lock is now working. There will be a slight delay in the lock filling and emptying as it is on a temporary timer, whilst further parts are awaited to complete the repair.


Thornes Flood Lock on the Calder and Hebble

Shepley Bridge Lock update

Shepley Bridge Lock on the Calder and Hebble Navigation is currently closed for emergency repairs. The stoppage is as a result of the failure of the heel post of the top gate on the towpath side. Both gates are in poor condition and will be craned out and replaced.

The Canal and River Trust has announced that the gates will be craned out on 8th May and taken to Stanley Ferry workshop so that replicas can be made.

It is hoped that the new gates will be ready to be installed in the week beginning 20th May. The Canal and River Trust will issue a further update on 10th May.

Shepley Bridge Lock is on the Mirfield Cut between Cooper Bridge and Wakefield. For boaters held up by the stoppage, there are plenty of moorings along the Mirfield Cut above Shepley Bridge Lock, but a river section is below the lock. For boaters travelling westwards there are numerous mooring possibilities between Broad Cut and Thornhill Flood Lock.

Update Friday 10th May:
The lock gates have now been removed and taken to Stanley Ferry workshop so that new gates can be made.

Update Friday 17th May:
The new gates will be on site and ready to be craned in on Wednesday 22nd May.

Update Thursday 25th May:
The new gates have now been installed and the lock has re-opened to navigation.


Shepley Bridge Lock, Calder and Hebble Navigation

Calder and Hebble Stoppage

Shepley Bridge Lock on the Calder and Hebble Navigation has been closed for emergency repairs.

The heel post of the top gate on the towpath side has snapped. Engineers have examined the gate and found that a temporary repair is not possible.

Both gates will be craned out and replaced. This means taking them to the Stanley Ferry workshop so that replicas can be made.

The Canal and River Trust estimates that the stoppage could be for at least three weeks. Updates will be issued when a date for completion is known.

Shepley Bridge Lock is on the Mirfield Cut between Cooper Bridge and Wakefield.


Downstream approach to Shepley Bridge Lock

Doncaster Lock Stoppage

The Canal and River Trust has announced a stoppage at Doncaster Town Lock on the Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation.

The lock is closed following a top gate anchor failure. Emergency repairs are being carried out. An update will be issued on the afternoon of Saturday 20th April.

Update Saturday 20th April:
The repair has been completed and the lock has now re-opened.


Doncaster Town Lock

Diggle flight re-opens

The repairs to Lock 32w of the Huddersfield Narrow Canal have been completed and the Diggle lock flight has been re-opened to navigation.

The stoppage began following the discovery of a split in the heel post on the tail gate of Lock 32w at Diggle. The Diggle locks have single tail gates which are heavy, putting more strain on the split post. The gate would not close completely making it difficult to fill the lock. The gate would also have been likely to fail completely if attempts had been made to use it.

The gate was removed and taken to the CRT's workshop for repairs, a process that took longer than it should because of land access issues involved with getting a crane to the site. Bookings for boats to pass through Standedge Tunnel have been suspended for several weeks. Boaters due to travel through the tunnel will be contacted to re-schedule their passage.


Lock 32w at Diggle, fenced off to allow draining.


The single tail gate with its split heel post will not close completely.

Bosley Locks closed for emergency repair

Boaters using the Macclesfield Canal should be aware that Bosley Locks are currently closed.

Following the discovery of a large hole behind one of the paddle chambers of Lock 7 at Bosley, the Canal and River Trust has had to close the lock to carry out emergency works.

These emergency repairs are expected to be completed by 5.00 pm on Saturday 13th March. Until then the Bosley flight will be closed to navigation.

CRT is advising boaters to to moor at the visitor moorings above or below the locks, and they will be updated as the work progresses.


Bosley Locks

No-go on New Junction

Boaters intending to use the New Junction Canal this week should note that it will be closed to navigation on Thursday 11th April.

Northern Power Grid will be turning the power off to Sykehouse Lock between 8.30 am and 5.00 pm. This will also affect Kirkhouse Green lift bridge and Bramwith swing bridge.

The New Junction Canal links the Aire and Calder Navigation with the South Yorkshire Navigation and the Stainforth and Keadby Canal.


Kirkhouse Green Lift Bridge, New Junction Canal

Leeds and Liverpool open again

The Leeds and Liverpool Canal is now fully open again after several stoppages at Apperley Bridge.

There had been an extended maintenance stoppage at Dobson Locks at Apperley Bridge, after a crane brought in to lift gates had toppled into the canal. Two 200-tonne cranes had to be brought in to right it and lift it back out. This delayed the planned work on the locks. The locks have now been re-opened but, as there is still work taking place on the locks, Bingley Five lock-keeper Barry Whitelock has been drafted in to assist boats through this two-rise lock staircase.

There had also been a brief stoppage at Millman Swing Bridge, just below Dobson Locks at Apperley Bridge, due to an electrical fault. This has now been repaired and the bridge is open to navigation.


Dobson Locks, Leeds and Liverpool Canal.

Snowy start for Standedge season

Standedge Tunnel and Visitor Centre have got off to a snowy start to the 2013 season! The official first day of operation on Saturday 23rd March had to be called off when deep snowdrifts blocked roads in the area. This included the cancellation of the first public trip of the year right through the tunnel. The hardy staff opened the site the following day but with no vehicular access! Things gradually improved through the week, with short boat trips running for the brave souls who managed to reach Tunnel End on foot.

By the time Good Friday arrived, the sun was out at Standedge and the snow was going. This was good, as it was the first day of the Easter Trail. This will be available until 14th April at a cost of £1.

Hopefully the snow will be long gone in time for the Family Fun Day which takes place on Sunday 14th April, which will include a petting zoo, bouncy castle and kids' craft activities.

The photograph of Standedge Visitor Centre was taken during the week by Jill Whitehead, who was on board a train which paused long enough for her to capture this shot of the snowy scene.


Standedge Visitor Centre seen from the train.

Huddersfield Narrow could be shut for weeks

Updated 15th April - see below

Boaters hoping to traverse the Huddersfield Narrow Canal in the next few weeks are going to face delays. Just as the new boating season begins it has been discovered that there is a split in the heel post on the tail gate of Lock 32w at Diggle. The Diggle locks have single tail gates which are heavy, putting more strain on the split post. The gate will not close completely making it difficult to fill the lock. The gate is likely to fail completely if attempts are made to use it.

Following investigation of the gate at Lock 32W the Canal and River Trust has found that it has more significant damage than first thought and will need to be removed and taken to the repair yard for repairs.

The Canal and River Trust does not yet have a definite programme for this and will issue an update as soon as they have. As a precaution they have stopped taking bookings for Standedge Tunnel for the next 4 weeks.

Any boaters already travelling on the canal are asked to wait above Lock 42e at Marsden or below Lock 24w at Wool Road.

Update Thursday 28th March:
The Canal and River Trust say that unfortunately the damaged lock gate has not yet been removed from the lock due to access issues with the land owners. Temporary road access is required and CRT staff cannot do this without crossing other peoples land and permission has not been given yet.
As it is a single leaf tail gate it will not fit in a work boat and using a crane and a lorry is the only way to remove the gate from the site.
The Canal and River Trust hope to remove the gate next Thursday, 4th April, when it will be taken to CRT's workshop for repair. It is hoped that it will be returned a fortnight after that. If it becomes clear that it will take longer to repair than expected, CRT will issue a further update.

The Canal and River Trust hopes the Diggle flight will re-open to navigation on 26th April.
They say they are disappointed about this delay and apologise to customers affected by a situation outside their control. Boaters who have bookings for Standedge Tunnel will be contacted to reschedule passage. Lock 30e below Marsden has now re-opened and anyone wishing to transit the tunnel and moor above Lock 32w at Diggle can arrange to do so.

Update Friday 5th April:
The gate is now in the Canal and River Trust's workshop and has been assessed. The repair work is expected to take one week and C&RT plans to re-install the gate on Saturday 13th March.

After final checks C&RT anticipate that the Diggle Lock flight will reopen on Monday 15th April.

Update Monday 15th April:
The Canal and River Trust has announced that Lock 32w has been re-opened to navigation.


Lock 32w at Diggle, fenced off to allow draining.


The single tail gate with its split heel post will not close completely.

Tree blocks canal west of Wigan

The Leeds and Liverpool Canal has been blocked by a large fallen tree near Bridge 46 at Gathurst, to the west of Wigan. The tree has also blocked the towpath.

The Canal and River Trust are hoping that contractors can clear the blockage during the weekend. An update will be issued on Monday 11th February.

Winding can be found below Dean Lock (Lock 90) to the west, or at Crooke or above Ell Meadow lock (lock 89) to the east.


Gathurst Bridge, Leeds and Liverpool Canal.

Rochdale Open Day Scrapped

The Canal & River Trust has announced that the Open Day planned for this Sunday at Lock 44, Sladen Lock, on the Rochdale Canal, has been cancelled.

This is for safety reasons due to the forecast weather conditions. Snow, freezing temperatures and icy conditions could potentially make it unsafe for people walking around and inside a drained lock.

The Canal & River Trust was expecting large numbers of the public to visit the Open Day on Sunday, so it seemed the sensible decision was to cancel the event. The works at Lock 44 are due to be completed next week so the event cannot be rescheduled.

An Open Day at Dowley Gap Locks and Aqueduct, near Bingley, also planned for Sunday, has been re-arranged for 17th February.


Sladen Lock, 44