THE bottom lock gates at Bagnall are so unbalanced that even with two people on top, you cannot work the lock without the gates slamming shut.

The boat goes in the empty lock, two people on top, the bottom gates are closed, with one closing each and one holding a gate shut, but when the other even runs to open top paddle the other bottom gate has swung open, so the only way it to open a top gate paddle then shut the gates that crash together to hold shut.

With just one person on top, as is normal, there us no other way to work the lock without opening a top gate paddle first, with the bottom gates slamming together.

Pat Thornton