Five more closures over the week-end

Coxhead Swing Bridge (20) on the Leeds & Liverpool starts the failures over the week-end.

This makes it the third time this year that the swing bridge has broken and starts a list of five closures reported by Keith Gudgin.

Grand Union

Then came Camp Hill Locks on the Grand Union Canal closed because of a collapsed wall at Lock 6.

This will be closed until an inspection can be made and the 'damage'—a word now often used to pass the blame?—investigated and a subsequent repair can be undertaken.

Another Grand Union failure

More woes for the Grand Union with the complete closure of Buckby flight caused by the cill failure of the third lock up from the bottom.

Another that will not be a quick fix, as we are told the flight will be closed until Friday.

Middlewich Branch

There is no access to or from the Middlewich Branch of the Trent & Mersey as Wardle Lock is out of action. 

Once again Canal & River Trust tell it is 'damage'; this time the paddles that have been 'damaged'.  One had already been out of action and now the remaining one has failed stopping the lock being operated.

To quote Keith:

"I bet the hire and holiday trade is fuming?  Wardle closed so no access to Llangollen from the T&M and northern canals, no Four Counties Ring etc?  So that's two hugely popular routes closed down and due entirely to not bothering to fix a broken paddle until both have failed."

Sheffield & South Yorkshire Navigation

Waddington Lock on the Sheffield & South Yorkshire Navigation at Swinton is out of action and the navigation closed.

This time it is not 'damage' as the power pack has failed on the down stream gates, so there is no attempt at passing the blame, it being classed as a 'structure failure'.

Good news

Some good news—the Rochdale Canal that was closed on the 9th of July at Lock 47 with problems with its cill is now open.

So is Derwent Mouth Lock now reopened, with we understand, an error in the stoppage notice that stated it will not be open until Wednesday.