Failure on the Rochdale

Published: Wednesday, 07 April 2010

A BOATER on the Rochdale Canal yesterday (Tuesday) half opened a gate on Black Pit Lock at Hebden Bridge when the retaining collar fractured causing the gate to drop and rest on the floor of the lock, writes Brian Holmes.

He opened the other gate fully and motored his boat into the lock. He thought he might close the gate with the force of water by opening the top paddles.

I'm glad he didn't.  My camera batteries failed and I had to leave the lockside to buy new batteries after phoning the Canal Helpline.

When I returned to the lock, he had reversed the boat out of the danger zone and moored below the lock to await the promised arrival of the hit squad.