Cill failure closes Huddersfield Narrow

YET again the Huddersfield Narrow is closed, this time with a cill failure.

Dobcross Lock (24W) on the Huddersfield Narrow Canal has a 'structure failure', Keith Gudgin reports.

Broken cill

Though engineers were on site yesterday, Tuesday, and suspected it was a broken cill as water was pouring from under the closed gate, further inspection is required that will take place today.

Since the canal was restored and re-opened in May 2001 with 74 locks over a distance of  just 19 miles it has been subjected to many stoppages, so being very much a 'hit and miss' for boaters wanting to complete the navigation.

Caused problems

Even when first reopened the very short pounds and silt caused problems, added to by many leaking gates, so regular maintenance was required, that alas is no longer forthcoming.

Dobcross Lock however was completely rebuilt at the time of the restoration and has suffered no problems since then.