Stoppage notices with a vengeance

THE short period with no stoppage notices did not last long.

For the last couple of days sees four waterways affected with failures, Keith Gudgin reports.

The Calder & Hebble Navigation was closed at Broad Cut Lock (25) yesterday due to an excessive leak, with engineers inspecting it today.

Two more locks closed

Gloucester Lock linking the Severn to the Gloucester & Sharpness Canal was also closed yesterday, until further notice and again because of a leak, with Canal & River Trust admitting it is 'severe', putting an excessive load on the top gates and making passage unsafe.

And the Sheffield & South Yorkshire Navigation Navigation is  closed at Sir Frank Price Lock at Eastwood yesterday and again until further notice. This time a broken hydraulic pipe is responsible and passage through the lock is currently not possible, with engineers expected today.

Engineers will be on site tomorrow morning and we will update this notice when we have more information.

A five months stoppage

Already started, the New Mainline is closed to allow waterway wall repairs to be undertaken between Puppy Green Pipe Bridge and Netherton Tunnel Branch (Dudley Port Junction) and will remain closed until the 24th of May.

An alternative route is available by using the Old Main Line (Wolverhampton Level) from Factory Junction through to the Gower Branch Junction and down Brades Locks back onto the New Main Line Canal at Gower Branch Turnover Bridge.

It does not bode well for the rest of the year...