Leaking Culvert Holds up Huddersfield

Boaters on the Huddersfield Narrow Canal face an unwelcome hold-up this week as British Waterways plug a leaking culvert.

There was what BW describe as "a severe leak" into a culvert that passes below the canal near Sandhill Cottages and Cellars Clough Mill, between Locks 31e and 32e. BW staff have put several loads of clay into the hole but the leak continues. They will probably need to de-water the pound to make an effective repair. It is hoped that boats can be moving again by the end of the week.

Because the winding hole at Booth is on the affected pound, BW are advising boaters thatthere is no passage beyond the winding hole below Lock 22e in Slaithewaite.

The Horseboating Society was intending to take a horsedrawn boat down from Marsden to Huddersfield and back this week, but this part of their journey has been called off and the historic horsedrawn boat Maria will stay at Marsden until Sunday, when she is scheduled to be legged back through Standedge Tunnel on her way back to Ashton.

Boaters hoping to travel along the Huddersfield Narrow Canal should contact BW on 0113 281 6860 for the latest information.


The Huddersfield Narrow Canal at Cellars Clough

It is understood that the western part of the Huddersfield Narrow is to be closed below Lock 8w on May 1st and May 20th to enable BW to erect and remove scaffolding, so that they can work on the pylon that straddles the canal. More details when a stoppage notice is received.

Salterhebble Repairs Hit Snag

Salterhebble Guillotine Lock, on the Calder and Hebble Navigation, should have been closed for a couple of days this week to enable the electrical mechanism to be repaired. However, unforeseen circumstances have delayed the completion of this repair and the lock will remain closed until at least Monday afternoon.

Electrical problems occurred with Salterhebble Lock in May 2008 and since then the guillotine has been manually operated by BW staff at certain times each day. It had been hoped that the repair would have been complete by today (24th April) but the stoppage will continue until at least Monday

BW will issue a further update on Monday 27th April.

For enquiries about Salterhebble Guillotine Lock, contact British Waterways on 0113 281 6860.

Wire causes Ashton Canal stoppage

The Ashton Canal is currently closed following heavy duty wire becoming entangled in a loack gate.

On Tuesday a problem was reported after a length of heavy duty cable became wrapped around part of a tail gate, preventing the gate from being operated.

Following investigation it has been discovered that "significant damage" has been caused to the tail gate and lower cill. Repairs will require a full dewatering of the pound between Locks 7 and 8 (a long pound, unfortunately).

BW is awaiting consent from the Environment Agency to carry out a fish rescue, so the canal is likely to remain closed for the next few days.

BW will issue an update on Tuesday 28th April.

This stoppage will affect boaters travelling around the Cheshire Ring and the South Pennine Ring.

Boathorses and Cuckoos at Standedge!

Standedge Tunnel and Visitor Centre will be hosting a variety of events and activities for visitors of all ages to enjoy as part of this year's Cuckoo Festival.

The Cuckoo Festival, held on Saturday 25th April this year, celebrates the first arrival of the Cuckoo and the beginning of Spring. It is a popular local festival and a major highlight in the Marsden event calendar. The cuckoo heralded the start of the warmer weather and legend has it that the people of Marsden built a huge wall to try to prolong the cuckoo's visit!

Activities on the day, starting at 10.00 am, include pond dipping, canal craft sessions, face painting, clog dancing and Morris dancing. There will be guided nature and heritage walks, organised by British Waterways and the Huddersfield Canal Society, starting from the Station car park at 11.00 am.

The day finishes with a fun and lively evening's entertainment at Marsden Mechanics Hall.

In addition, members of The Horseboating Society will be re-enacting the historic practice of legging through Standedge Tunnel. On board will be special guest Ronnie Barnes, aged 90, who is the last surviving Standedge Tunnel 'legger'. He will be travelling through the tunnel on the traditional horseboat Maria, built in 1854. The boat is expected to exit the tunnel at Tunnel End at around 4.00 pm.

Meanwhile Bilbo the Boathorse, having hauled the boat up from Ashton, will walk over the top, as did the boathorses of old. The crew will start legging Maria from the Diggle end at around 1.00 pm. Energetic members of the public are welcome to walk over the top with Bilbo, arriving at Tunnel End at around 3.00 pm.

Look out for Maria being horse-drawn down to Huddersfield and then back to Marsden in the following week. The boat will be legged back through Standedge Tunnel on Sunday May 3rd, starting at around 1.00 pm. Details of the journey are on www.horseboating.org.uk.

Take a Virtual Journey along the Liverpool Canal Link!

Pennine Waterways website now has a new "Virtual Journey" along the recently-opened Liverpool Canal Link.

The series of photographs takes you from Stanley Dock through to Salthouse Dock by way of the two new locks and three new tunnels.

You can see locations in a way that can only be seen from a boat.

The Virtual Journey along the Liverpool Canal Link starts here.


The Virtual Journey along the Leeds and Liverpool Canal from Wigan to Liverpool has been completely revised, with over 200 new photos. You can see that here.

Information of help to boaters wishing to travel along the Link can be found here.

Liverpool Canal Link opens for business!

Today was the first day of routine operation for the Liverpool Canal Link.

A few weeks ago a convoy of boats passed through the link in a flurry of publicity as part of the official opening of the link. However, there was still some finishing-off to be done before the link could be opened up for daily use.

That daily use started today, with four narrowboats and one wide beamed boat travelling down from Eldonian Village, where they had moored overnight, down the four locks of the Stanley Dock branch, through Stanley, Collinwood and Salisbury Docks, then through Trafalgar, East Waterloo and Princes Dock, through a new lock and tunnel to the much-photographed section across the Pier Head.

The boats then passed through a new lock into Canning Dock, before travelling through the famous Albert Dock to reach the new mooring pontoons in Salthouse Dock.

Up to six boats a day (7 days a week) will travel down into Salthouse Dock. As boats may stay there for up to 14 days, it is expected that the new floating mooring pontoons will fill up, which is one reason for there being a limit of six boats a day.

More information about how the movement of boats into Liverpool will operate can be read here. Anyone wanting to take a boat to Liverpool needs to phone BW in Wigan (01942 405700) to book a date for their passage and to book a mooring space.

Pomona Lock charge increases

Boaters using Pomona Lock, off the Bridgewater Canal, will now pay an increased charge of £21 a boat.

Boats returning through the lock on the same day will only be charged a single fee. The charge will not apply to Bridgewater Canal licence holders.

Pomona Lock connects the Manchester arm of the Bridgewater Canal with Pomona Lock, the Upper Reaches of the River Irwell, Salfoprd Quays and the Manchester Ship Canal. Boaters wishing to reach the newly re-opened Middlewood Locks section of the Manchester Bolton and Bury Canal need to use Pomona Lock.

First Tree Blockage of the Season

Only a little over a week since the Lower Peak Forest Canal was re-opened to navigation after a month-long stoppage, caused by an oil pollution incident, there was another problem today.

The high winds of the last couple of days brought down a tree between bridges 9 and 10, between Woodley Tunnel and Hyde.

BW were quick off the mark and sent contractors to the site this afternoon and the blockage was removed by tea time.

The navigation has now re-opened.

In previous years there have been a series of trees blowing down at various locations around the region and sometimes they are not cleared as swiftly as this. The possibility of this happening, especially during windy periods, should be borne in mind by boaters planning a tight schedule for their journey!

Lower Peak Forest Re-opens

Marple Locks and the Lower Peak Forest Canal are to re-open to navigation today, Tuesday 7th April.

The canal between Dukinfield and Marple has been closed for the last month following an oil pollution incident, which is believed to have originated from a site in Hyde, when an underground storage tank was ruptured.

Although some oil was visible on the surface, much of the heavy lubricating oil has sunk to the canal bed.

British Waterways' staff will continue to monitor the canal during the first few days of reopening to ensure that no significant quantities of residual oil are disturbed.

There have been no reports of any dead fish on that section of canal although the RSPCA were called out to deal with ducks and geese who had to have their feathers cleaned.

Navigation of the Cheshire Ring circular canal route is now once again possible.

See photographs of canal during closure.

Standedge Tunnel season starts

Standedge Tunnel Visitor Centre opens its doors for 2009 this weekend. The popular passenger trips into the tunnel also begin again today (4th April).

New this year are trips right through the tunnel for passengers on the first Saturday of every month. The 3 hour trip is good value at £10! Places must be booked by phoning 01484 844298.

The tunnel opened for the 2009 season for the passage of private boats last week. A new system whereby boats are steered through under their own power by their own skippers (rather than be towed by electric tugs) came into effect. Reports suggest that this has gone well so far.

Each boat carries a BW "chaperone" to ensure safety and to give advice on navigation difficult sections of the tunnel.

For full details of the new arrangements for taking boats through the tunnel see this item that was published in February.

For more information about the tunnel trips or visitor centre, including times and days of opening, please refer to the Standedge web site. That site also gives information for boaters wanting to take their own boats through.

The Standedge Tunnel pages of Pennine Waterways have been updated, including an improved photographic journey through the tunnel.

Macclesfield Wall Repairs

Earlier this month it was reported that the stoppage on the Macclesfield Canal for the repair of the wall collapse had been lifted earlier than expected.
The navigation has indeed been restored, however the towpath will remain closed, as the re-building of the wall is still under way.

The latest photo from Debby Francis, the repair is a major task.


Macclesfield wall repairs, photo: Debby Francis
The massive slab of retaining wall that collapsed onto the towpath a year ago has now been removed, with stones being kept for re-use.

A substantial concrete wall has been constructed, which has been back-filled.

A stone facing is now being added using reclaimed stone and lime mortar to match the original structure as far as possible. As can be seen in the photo, the concrete wall, which will be hidden, will take all the weight of the access road that will run above it and of the hillside behind.

Opening Times at Salterhebble Guillotine Lock

The mechanical problem with Salterhebble Guillotine Lock on the Calder and Hebble Navigation which happened in May 2008, has still not been resolved. The guillotine gate is still having to be manually operated by BW staff.

From 30th March, the Guillotine Lock will be operated by BW staff during the following periods only:
• 9.00 am - 10.00 am daily
• 12.00 noon - 2.00 pm daily
• 4.00 pm - 6.00 pm daily

(Before 30th March the lock will only be operated between 12.00 noon and 1.00 pm daily.)

For enquiries about Salterhebble Guillotine Lock, contact British Waterways on 0113 281 6860.

Weir Repair Completed - Calder and Hebble Re-opened

The temporary repair of Cooper Bridge Weir on the Calder and Hebble Navigation has been completed a few days earlier than expected.

The river has filled up quickly behind the repaired weir and the navigation has now been re-opened.

This means that boaters trapped for weeks on the Calder and Hebble Navigation will be able to leave their moorings. Access has also been restored to the Huddersfield Broad Canal, which leaves the Calder and Hebble immediately above Cooper Bridge Weir.

BW have said that the repair will be a short term solution to get the navigation re-opened and that a permanent solution which will be carried out as part of the stoppage programme in 2011.

Cooper Bridge Weir. Photo: Mike Fretwell

Liverpool Canal Link Opened!

In what was intended to be a low-key ceremony, the Liverpool Canal Link was officially opened today in front of huge crowds at the Pier Head.

Mayor of Liverpool Steve Rotheram, with other invited guests, travelled along the Link from Princes Dock aboard the Pride of Sefton. The boat emerged from the tunnel at the Pier Head to loud cheers.

British Waterways Chairman Tony Hales thanks the crowd for coming and praises the successful efforts of the various parties that have worked together to ensure the creation of the link. The Mayor of Liverpool, Steve Rotheram, then said that the Pier Head was now a must-see destination.



The actual opening was carried out by a group of children from New Park Primary School, who unveiled a plaque.

The Pride of Sefton then continued into the final tunnel towards Mann Island Lock and Canning Dock.

It passed through the new lock at Mann Island and entered Canning Dock. After travelling through the famous Albert Dock, it moored up in Salthouse Dock for the guests to disembark. It was joined by the flotilla of boats that had travelled down into Liverpool for the opening.

The Link will not open for boaters properly until April 20th. More information for boaters considering coming to Liverpool can be found here.

Larger versions of these photos, along with others, can be found on this new page.

A BBC news report and video on the opening event can be seen here.


See more photos here.