Do they know what they are doing?

IT WAS late April that the Trent & Mersey was 'under restriction' at Lock 74 in Middlewich.

This was caused by a buffer plate that had shifted out of place, with navigation still possible but with caution, Keith Gudgin reported.

Ready to re-install

Come the 25th May Canal & River Trust told that its local team had developed a safe system of work with the design team to be able to re-install the buffer plate and were awaiting the paperwork to be signed off.

Obviously whatever the system was was no good as come the 1st June we were informed that 'Our local team continue to plan a method of repair to be able to re-install the buffer plate'.

A week later on the 7th June we were told 'We anticipate work will begin next week and an update will be provided by Friday, 3rd June', and boaters telling at times the lock was not operable.

Currently closed

But on that date, it went back to the start and all we were then told was 'Please be advised navigation is currently closed at Lock 74 on the Trent & Mersey Canal whilst we carry out works to re-attach the buffer plate',

This Monday, 13th we had better news when told arrangements had been made to lift the buffer plate back into place, with the great news yesterday that it had been done and the navigation open—just in time for the Middlewich Folk and Boat Festival...

It taking over six weeks to refit a buffer plate...