Bridgewater boost will see boats return to Worsley Delph

The Bridgewater Canal is to receive a facelift as part of a scheme to regenerate the canal through Salford. The highlight of the scheme will be to open up the historic Worsley Delph to navigation and public access.

Salford City Council was recently awarded a grant of £3.6 million from the Heritage Lottery Fund which will contribute to the scheme's total cost of over £5 million. The project will see improvements to the five mile stretch of canal and adjoining areas between Barton Swing Aqueduct and Boothstown.

At Worsley Delph footpaths are to be opened up leading to the entrance to the Duke of Bridgewater's historic underground canal. The Delph itself will be made navigable once again, enabling visiting boats to moor up.


Image: Salford City Council

At Barton, a 'pocket park' will be developed,giving improved foot access from Barton Underbridge to the bank of the Ship Canal giving views of the Swing Aqueduct. Large areas of dense undergrowth is to be cleared, opening up views. Benches and interpretation boards will be provided. There will be a visitor centre and car park on the south side of the Swing Aqueduct. The aqueduct will be lit at night for the first time.

The towpath through Barton is to be improved to create 'Barton Promenade'. The Duke's Drive Country Park area to the north of the canal in Monton is to be enhanced with improved access and footpaths.

A new footbridge across the canal between Patricroft Station and the motorway will provide access to the towpath from new housing developments. A new footbridge across the canal between Monton and Worsley will link the towpath with Duke's Drive Country Park and a proposed marina and new housing in the Broadoak Park area. At Boothstown there will be a new car park, interpretation boards and improved paths.

Work is expected to start early in 2015 and be completed by the summer of 2016.

There appear to be some historical cross wires, as the Heritage Lottery website tells us that “Engineer James Brindley built the aqueduct to carry the canal over the River Irwell” but, of course, Brindley's manificent stone aqueduct was demolished for the construction of the Ship Canal and replaced by the present unique swing aqueduct.


Image: Salford City Council

Wall collapse closes canal in Burnley

The Leeds and Liverpool Canal has been closed in Burnley following the collapse of a retaining wall.

The offside wall has partially collapsed into the canal near Sandygate, in the "Weavers Triangle" area, following heavy rain saturating the ground. This section of canal has been drained by the Canal and River Trust to enable remedial work to take place. The towpath is also closed at this point.

This section of canal is expected to be closed to navigation for around four weeks.


Leeds and Liverpool Canal at Sandygate, Burnley. Photo: Burnley Express

Barton Swing Aqueduct stoppage brought forward

The Bridgewater Canal Company has announced that the annual maintenance closure of Barton Swing Aqueduct is to be brought forward to co-incide with a stoppage at nearby Monton.

The annual maintenance work, normally carried out around the middle two weeks of March, will take place between 17th February and 1st March 2014.

The canal will also be closed between Worsley and Monton on the Leigh Branch from 17th February and 3rd March to allow piling work to take place on the off-side bank at Monton.


Barton Swing Aqueduct

Tony Robinson on the Leeds and Liverpool Canal

Television presenter and actor Tony Robinson starts a new series of "Walking Through History" this coming weekend with a walk along the Leeds and Liverpool Canal between Liverpool and Wigan.

The programme is being broadcast at 8.00 pm on Saturday 8th February on Channel 4.

The programme looks at the few traces of the canal's original terminus in Liverpool and ends up at Wigan Pier, looking at some of the politics and problems behind the canal's construction.

Tony also takes time out to visit Bingley to see a horse-drawn boat in operation.


Leeds and Liverpool Canal at Wigan Pier

Work begins on Rochdale Canal culvert

Work is starting this week on repairing the failed culvert under the Rochdale Canal in Mytholmroyd. The canal has been closed between Lock 7, Broadbottom Lock, and Lock 6 at Brearley, to enable investigations to take place. The task has been made more complex by the strong flow of the stream that passes through the culvert and by the close proximity of houses.

Temporary dams and pumps are being installed to create a dry working environment. The previous temporary repair will be removed and the failed section of culvert will be uncovered.

A permanent concrete repair will be carried out to the culvert over the next week and then new puddle clay will be laid over the top to ensure a watertight seal. The contractors will then remove the temporary dams and pumps, refill the canal, reinstate the towpath, site compound area and rebuild the boundary wall.

Currently the work is expected to be completed and the canal re-opened by 24th January, however this is dependent on good weather and working conditions over the next few weeks. Updated information will appear on this page.


The Rochdale Canal below Lock 7 in Mytholmroyd

Tinsley Locks Closed

Tinsley Locks on the Sheffield and Tinsley Canal are currently closed due to low water levels.

While this may seem difficult to believe in the present period of wet weather, on 4th January the pumps failed that supply the summit level into Sheffield. Use of the locks would result in the draining of the summit pound.

Engineers will be inspecting the pumps today and the locks will remain closed until repairs have been carried out.

For up-to-date information on navigation of flight, please contact the lock-keeper on 07710 175488.

Update Tuesday 7th January:
A temporary repair has been carried out ans the lock flight has now been re-opened. The contractors are returning to site on Thursday 9th January to carry out further work on the pumps so there may be more disruption. Please contact the lock keeper on Thursday on 07710 175488 for the latest information.


Tinsley lock flight, Sheffield and Tinsley Canal

Gating proposal for Rochdale Canal

A proposal is being made to close off night-time pedestrian access to the towpath through Piccadilly Undercroft past Lock 85 of the Rochdale Canal in Manchester.

Manchester City Council and the Canal and River Trust are jointly putting forward a plan to erect three gates across the towpath that would be locked at a certain time each evening. This is in an effort to stop problems that have been happening in the area for many years, including indecent activities taking place and inebriated persons falling into the canal.

Boaters pass through the lock without problem but sometimes feel uncomfortable about people hanging around. Most of the problems occur at night at a time when boats are not passing through.

It would appear that it will still be possible for boats to use the lock when the towpath gates are locked as long as crew members are on board the boat to pass the gates, although boaters are encouraged to complete the Rochdale Nine by the end of the afternoon, before the Canal Street area fills with pub and club goers.

One of the proposed gates would go here, below Lock 84.

The Canal and River Trust's David Baldacchino said: "We want to make a difference to what happens in this area. We see this as a key issue to helping develop boating on the South Pennine Ring. Over the years we have tried increasing numbers of people working there, different operating approaches and providing public rescue equipment, none of which has made a significant difference. We cannot be there 24 hours a day, nor can the police or other agencies.

"The next step is a suggestion to close off the towpath at the Undercroft overnight. With that in mind Manchester City Council are inviting comments for such a proposal. [link]

"You may feel that the prospect of closing a section of towpath overnight is very controversial, on the other hand you may think this is an obvious solution to a significant problem and again that the current situation is a huge impediment to developing he canals in Manchester. Whatever your views, your comments are welcomed.

"This is a feasibility study at present, so there is no closing date but the more people that comment the better."

Mr Baldacchino invited people to contact him if they want to talk about the proposal. He also asked anyone who comments to Manchester City Council on the proposal to send a copy to CRT.


A gate is proposed across this entrance to the towpath.


Another gate is proposed across the towpath between the above entrance and the tunnel.


This is the proposed design of the gates.

(Photos and drawing from Canal and River Trust.)

Leeds and Liverpool Re-opens at Rishton

The Leeds and Liverpool Canal has now re-opened to navigation at Rishton, between Blackburn and Burnley. The canal has been closed at this location since 12th September after a section of towpath collapsed and it was realised that the canal was in danger of breaching.

The towpath remains closed for a little longer, probably until Friday 29th November.

The repair work has included stabilisation of the embankment, relining the canal bed and reconstruction of the towpath and wash wall. The work has cost around £300,000.


Location of the re-opened canal at Rishton

Open Day at Wigan Lock

Wigan Pier may be closed but you can still have a day out by the canal in Wigan this weekend at the Canal and River Trust's Open Day.

There will be guided tours around Leeds and Liverpool Canal Lock 87, which is undergoing renovations, as well as the adjoining dry dock and a CRT work boat.

The Open Days are Saturday 16th and Sunday 17th November between 10.00 am and 2.30 pm. Tours start from the Canal and River Trust office at nearby Waterside Drive, where there is free parking. Postcoder for SatNav is WN3 5AZ.

Education and environment teams will be on site displaying some of the activities they take into schools and to events. The Leeds & Liverpool Canal Society will have a stand with some historic information and there will also be some angling taster sessions running nearby.

Tours will include a look at one of CRT's work boats on the moorings outside the office before moving onto the Wigan Dry Dock where North West staff will be on hand to provide information. The tour will take guests over a bridge constructed across lock 87 so that they can view the de-watered lock and hear about what works we are being carried out at the site.

The café at the Wigan Investment Centre will also be open for those who want to finish the tour with a hot drink.


Lock 87 and Dry Dock in Wigan


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Tree blocks Macclesfield Canal

It is reported that the Macclesfield Canal is currently blocked by a fallen tree near Royal Oak Swing Bridge (bridge 49) between Macclesfield and Bosley Locks.

Strong winds are being forecast for the next 24 hours so there is a risk of further blockages caused by fallen trees.

Inspection delay on Rochdale

Boaters using the Rochdale Canal between Rochdale and Manchester face a short delay as Canal and River Trust staff prepare for the winter stoppages.

Lock 61 (Scowcroft Lock) on the Rochdale Canal will be closed tomorrow (Wednesday 9th October) to allow an inspection to determine the work that needs to be carried out over the winter. This will require the lock chamber and tail gate area to be pumped dry.

Scowcroft Lock is near Boarshurst, between Slattocks and Irk Aqueduct. Boaters waiting to pass through should moor up above Lock 60 (Boarshurst Lock) or on the Irk Aqueduct below Lock 63. The canal will be re-opened during the afternoon.

Update Monday 14th October:
It was not possible to carry out the planned inspection on the original date. This stoppage will now take place on Friday 18th October.


Lockl 61, Scowcroft Lock on the Rochdale Canal

One day stoppage on Huddersfield Narrow

Lock 27e of the Huddersfield Narrow Canal will be closed for 24 hours tomorrow (Friday 4th October) to enable repair work to take place.

The work will begin at 8.00 am on Friday and will involve stop planks being put in place so that the head of the lock can be de-watered. Pointing work will be carried out to reduce leaks through the lock walls. The lock will remain closed until 8.00 am on Saturday to allow the pointing to harden.

The stoppage has been timed to reduce the possible impact on boaters booked to pass through Standedge Tunnel.

Any enquiries should be made to Canal and River Trust on 03030 404040.


Lock 27e, Huddersfield Narrow Canal

Leeds and Liverpool Update

Here is an update on the Leeds and Liverpool stoppage at Rishton in Lancashire.

( For 10th October update, see below. )

On September 11th residents reported that a section of towpath had collapsed between Rishton and the M65 Aqueduct. The Canal and River Trust investigated and found that there was a significant leakage though the culvert running below the canal at this point. Had the leaks been allowed to continue the result could have been a major breach of the canal into the River Hyndburn.

The canal was immediately closed and dams constructed so that the affected area could be de-watered.

The Canal and River Trust's further investigation found that unseen leakage through the canal bed has resulted in internal erosion of the embankment. This erosion has caused deep sink holes on the bed of the canal and had led to the embankment collapse.

The repair work will include stabilisation of the embankment, relining the canal bed and reconstruction of the towpath and wash wall. The work will cost around £300,000 and should be complete by the end of November.

A temporary access road has been created and a site compound and cabins installed.

This week the silt is being excavated and bog mats laid in the canal bed. The excavator will then be used to investigate and infill the sinks holes within the canal bed. Further updates will be issued in due course.

Boaters forced to overstay by the stoppage should notify the Canal and River Trust so that no enforcement action is taken.

Update Wednesday 23rd October:
It is expected that the canal will be re-opened for navigation on 21st November.


The original towpath collapse. Photo: Canal & River Trust


Dewatered site showing collapsed towpath opposite. Photo: Canal & River Trust


Dewatered site showing temporary dam. Photo: Canal & River Trust

Update Thursday 10th October:
The Canal and River Trust reports that its team has continued with works to excavate a large depth of silt from a 40m length of the canal bed, with the silt being taken off site.

Pumps are being installed to pump water past the site to feed the canal downstream of the affected area.

The sink holes in the canal bed have been excavated, revealing the leakage paths which are shown by bands and pockets of silt. The sink holes have been backfilled with clay and levelled. The full canal profile is now being got ready for re-lining. The culvert lining is being made in Germany and will be shipped towards the end of the construction works.

The Canal and River Trust anticipates that the area will be re-opened for mid-November.

Update Monday 25th November:
The canal has now re-opened to navigation at this location. The towpath remains closed, probably until Friday 29th November.

Rochdale stoppage near Littleborough

Boaters traversing the Rochdale Canal face a hold up after a boat lifted a lock gate on the Littleborough flight.

One of the head gates at Bent House Lock (No 46) has been lifted out of its pot and cannot be operated.
The Canal and River Trust plans to lift the gate back into position on Monday 23rd September. The canal will be closed at this location until this has been done.

Boats coming from Manchester should moor below Lock 48 at Littleborough.

If access is required for the Durn services and water point (Schofield Street), please contact Canal and River Trust on 07879 421 503.

Enquiries about this stoppage can be made on 07879 421 503.

Update Monday 23rd September, 5 pm:
The lock gate has now been fixed and navigation is open.


Bent House Lock on the Littleborough flight