Navigations open for Easter

THERE has been an effort by Canal & River Trust to get repairs finished by Easter.

Good Friday, the 29th, being the starts of its 'season', and Keith Gudgin tells of the repairs now completed in time for the holidays.

Leeds & Liverpool Canal

The repair to Bottom Lock (42), of the Greenberfield Flight on the Leeds & Liverpool Canal has been successful and navigation resumed yesterday, Wednesday.

It was an inspection on the 23rd February that identified an issue with the cill which required an emergency repair, together with repairs to the gate seal.

The lock remained open until the 4th March when the top and bottom locks on the flight were padlocked and work started on the repair which was completed in good time for Easter opening.

Droitwich Barge Canal

Silt was a problem on the canals around Droitwich, caused by the floods in January. The flow of water towards the Severn depositing silt at the various locks.

This affected the Droitwich Barge Canal and Droitwich Junction Canal with navigation impossible from 24th February.

We are told the contractors made great progress with all navigations reopened today, Thursday, in good time for Easter.

Trent & Mersey Canal

THE Trent & Mersey Canal was closed due to a dangerous 'walk over board' that was liable to give way.

This was on Meaford Road Lock just above Penkridge.

So it was decided to close the navigation to prevent a serious accident, and repair it as soon as possible, and this was done in just two days.

The board has been securely fixed and all is now safe with the navigation reopened.

Middlewich Branch

The Middlewich Branch of the Shropshire Union Canal was closed at Nanney's Bridge (8) after a vehicle strike and it was not deemed safe so the navigation was closed.

After a lengthy inspection by the trust's engineers it was found it was safe and so the navigation was reopened yesterday, Wednesday. Another opened in time for Easter.