REPAIRS to stoppages are now taking weeks instead of days.
Following the report of Cowling Swing Bridge on the Leeds & Liverpool set for a month's stoppage, others are now taking weeks to repair, as Keith Gudgin reports.
This making it often virtually impossible for many boaters to complete their cruises on the major waterways.
Trent & Mersey
The stoppage on the 4th of this month on the Trent & Mersey Canal of a broken heel post on the towpath side tailgate of Lock 57 on Heartbreak Hill, brought the information that the local team and engineers have been to site and assessed the situation, telling:
'Whilst our teams work on a method of repair, with navigation currently closed'.
Then we were informed that they are currently in the process of fabricating the necessary part that is required for the repair, and anticipate the repair works will start the following week.
Further investigations
Then again it was specialist contractors that attended on the 12th, that unfortunately identified a need for further investigations before the repair can commence. And so it goes on.
Then there were the problems with the Peak Forest Wood End Lift Bridge that was closed, open, then closed again it going on, as reported, for weeks until it was finally repaired.