Five more closures

THERE have been five more closures so far this week.

The Lancaster, Rochdale, Trent & Mersey, Pocklington and Grand Union Keith Gudgin reports.

Breach

The Lancaster Canal is closed by a breach on Hollowforth Aqueduct as shown.

The Rochdale Canal is another with paddle problems, this time they are 'blocked' on Lock 27, with it still being investigated.

Still another paddle problem at the 12ft deep Summit Lock 40 on the Trent & Mersey at its junction with the Caldon. The top offside ground paddle is inoperable, and only the towpath paddle can be used, but difficult to fill enough to open the top gates.

Pocklington Canal is suffering from lack of water, even after so much rain, that obviously points to leakage with engineers working to recover to make the waterway useable again.

Strange one

And a strange one concerning the Grand Union where Canal & River Trust tell that at Marsworth Flight 'This section remains closed to widebeam craft (all craft over 6ft wide) until further notice'.

Most narrowboats are over 6ft wide, the norm being 6' 10", as Keith points out, so is it closed or not?