Leeds & Liverpool Canal open at last—but only for two weeks

THE Leeds & Liverpool Canal, closed for most of the summer, is at last again open to navigation.

It was some months since the the waterway from Lock 1 at Leeds to Lock 85 at Wigan was closed due to lack of water levels, but the recent rainfall means that the waterway will reopen next Monday 17th October for navigation, Keith Gudgin reports.

Not permanent

But this will not be permanent as the canal will only be open for two weeks, basically to allow boats to get back to their moorings, with the last passage on Monday 31st October.

After this it will depend if their is sufficient rainfall to allow the waterway to remain open.

But flight restrictions are in force over the two weeks period:

Opening times

From Monday 17th October, the following lock flights will be open from 10am to 4pm, daily:

Wigan Flight (65 to 85). Last passage at 12pm.
Johnson's Hillock Lock Flight (58 to 64). Last passage at 2:30pm.
Blackburn Lock Flight (52 to 57). Last passage at 2:30pm.
Barrowford Lock Flight (45 to 51). Last passage at 2:30pm.
Greenberfield Lock Flight (42 to 44). Last passage at 3pm.

Poolstock Locks 1 & 2, Leigh Branch and Lock 86 on the Leeds & Liverpool canal will remain open to pre-booked passages only.

More open

The Rochdale, Huddersfield Narrow and Ashton canals will all see a reopening—a fornight before the end of the season!