Another Friday sees five stopages cleared

AS ANOTHER Friday comes, so does the list of stoppages cleared and navigations reopened.

Most boaters know that contractors working on stoppages like to make them last until the end of the working week, as the list from Keith Gudgin shows.

Aire & Calder Navigation

So Lemonroyd Lock on the Aire & Calder that was closed due to a mechanical fault on Monday 24th was sorted yesterday, Friday, and the lock is now reopened.

This was one of those that previously had an electrical fault, was repaired, then had this later mechanical fault, being closed again.

Trent & Mersey Canal

Another lock reopened after paddle failure is Colwich Lock on the Trent & Mersey Canal. Our picture shows why it is refered to a 'Cowshit Lock', as boaters have to pass through that to reach or leave the lock!

The top ground paddle had failed and it was not possible to fill the lock, and so it could not be worked.

It seems the gate paddle was out of order too, as though now opened yesterday, Friday, Canal & river Trust tell it will take longer to operate as only one paddle—the repaired one—is working.

Mon & Brec Canal

Talybont Drawbridge 144 on the Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal as now been repaired with the navigation reopened.

It was an electrical fault on the bridge that made it inoperable and thus passage not possible.

But this was fixed and the navigation is now open.

Macclesfield Canal

The Royal Oak Swingbridge on the Macclesfield is now back in use.

This time we are told it was the motor that controls the bridge to swing that had deteriorated significantly and then packed-up completely, closing the navigation.

It has now been replaced and fitted, with the bridge working again.

Huddersfield Narrow Canal

The problem on the Huddersfield Narrow Canal was that a plastic sheet covering the bottom of the canal had moved allowing the water to leak though the aqueduct between locks 12E and 13E.

This had to be lifted then repositioned over the leak to stop the water leaking, that has been achieved and the navigation is now open.

So five jobs finished on a Friday...