Pump Problem Affects Tinsley Locks

It was reported that there is an emergency stoppage at Tinsley Locks on the Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation.

This has now been confirmed by British Waterways. The problem is with the pumping system that feeds the summit level from the river, and a loss of water from the summit level between Tinsley and Sheffield, resulting in the closure of Tinsley Locks.

It may be several days before navigation can be restored. Information will be posted here as soon as it is known.

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

Update:
The navigation is still closed. BW will issue a further update on Wednesday 30th September.

Tinsley Locks

Leak Shuts Huddersfield Canal

A leak, described as "serious", has shut the Huddersfield Narrow Canal near Lock 14e, between Slaithwaite and Milnsbridge.

The canal bank has not actually breached and there is no visible damage to the canal, but the serious leak developed on Tuesday night, with water escaping from just above the lock into the nearby Ramsden Mill. An employee of Trojan Plastics said that it sounded like a waterfall and that at one point there was around two feet of water inside the building.

British Waterways staff have drained the lock and the pound above it, to prevent any more water escaping. They will need to remain drained until repairs can be carried out. It is thought that this means the canal will be closed here for the rest of the season.

Boats approaching from Huddersfield will need to turn back below Lock 9e in Milnsbridge. Boats booked to pass through Standedge Tunnel from the west are being turned back below Lock 24w at Dobcross. Boats currently at Slaithwaite or Marsden will need to go through Standedge Tunnel to leave the canal.

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


Lock 14e, Huddersfield Narrow Canal
There have been ongoing problems with water leaking into the mill from the lock if boaters leave the lock filled. The lock side has been grouted but the problems were re-appearing. The serious leak that occured this week was believed to be not from the lock itself, as it continued after the lock was emptied, but from above the lock. There is no visible sign of damage and it is thought that water may have seeped through stonework and created a cavity.

Tail gates chained open to keep lock empty.

Another Half Day Stoppage at Bosley

The top gate of Lock 5 on the Bosley lock flight, Macclesfield Canal, has been damaged by boat impact.

There will be a half day stoppage on Wednesday 12th August. Lock 5 will be closed between 7.00 and 11.00 am.

The pound between Locks 4 and 5 will be de-watered in order to inspect the gate to ensure the integrity of the pivot beneath the heel post.

Any enquiries regarding this stoppage should be made to BW on 01606 723800.


Lock 5 at Bosley

Guillotine Gate cuts off Huddersfield Canal

Lock 24e of the Huddersfield Narrow Canal, the Slaithwaite guillotine lock, has been closed following concerns over opearational safety.

According to BW, the operation of the lock has become unsafe and could pose a risk to customers.

Engineers will inspect the lock on Wednesday and BW will issue an update on Thursday 13th August.

The guillotine gate at the tail end of the lock is raised an lowered manually with a windlass. The lock, sometimes refered to as "Shuttle Lock", is believed to be the only narrow lock with a guillotine gate.

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

Half Day Stoppage at Bosley

A ground paddle has failed at Lock 5 on th eBosley lock flight, Macclesfield Canal.

There will be a half day stoppage on Tuesday 4th August to repair the paddle.

Stop planks will be put into place so that the area around the paddle can be de-watered.

The lock will be closed between 7.00 and 11.00 am.

Any enquiries regarding this stoppage should be made to BW on 01606 723800.


Lock 5 at Bosley

Stoppage at Newlay near Leeds

There are reports of an emergency stoppage at Newlay 3-rise Locks, on the Leeds and Liverpool Canal to the west of Leeds.

It is reported that BW staff are informing boaters of a broken gate which may result in a closure of several days until it can be repaired.

Update 3rd August:
The stoppage has now been confirmed. The heel post of one of the bottom gates has broken. A replacement part will arrive on Wednesday and work will begin then. BW will issue an update on Thursday 6th August.

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

Newlay 3-rise Locks

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