Open Day at Leeds River Lock and event

AS PART of the Canal & River Trust winter works and in support of a new winter fundraising appeal, it is hosting a special behind-the-scenes Open Day in Leeds city centre.

This will include going down into Leeds River Lock and inspecting the work being undertaken and seeing how they operate.

Hilton Hotel

The event takes place on Saturday 30th November, from 10:00am until 2:00pm, on the ground floor lobby of the Hilton Hotel and next to Leeds River Lock 1 on the Leeds & Liverpool Canal, Granary Wharf (at the back of Leeds train station.)

Visitors will be able to see first-hand the work being undertaken to keep canals open and alive, hear from one of the charity’s heritage experts, meet the trust’s team, find out local volunteering opportunities and how to make the most of your local waterway. Hot drinks will be available from the Lock Kitchen and Bar in the Hilton.

The Canal & River Trust is draining the lock to enable repairs to be carried out to both sets of wooden lock gates, the lock floor, stop plank grooves, ground paddles and the lock walls.

Deteriorating

Dan Timbers, project manager at the trust, is overseeing the repair programme, and explained:

“Built by hand around 250 years ago, our amazing historic waterways require constant maintenance. The condition and effectiveness of this lock has been deteriorating over several years and now requires urgent and important repairs to be carried out.

“We are carrying out important repairs to help reduce the loss of water from the lock chamber which makes it difficult for boaters to raise the levels in the lock and loses valuable water from the canal to the river.

“Taking place during the winter months, when the waterfront area will be quieter, we aim to minimise impact on the local community and boaters and are keen to reopen the navigation and footbridge as soon as possible. We are hopeful that this project will be completed before Christmas.”

Spanning 2,000 miles across England and Wales (320 miles in Yorkshire & North East region) and dating back to the 18th century, the free-to-visit canal network is busier than ever, with the trust citing 10.3 million visits every fortnight and more boats than at the height of the Industrial Revolution.

Damage by climate change

These historic canals, including centuries-old hand-crafted bridges, locks, tunnels, embankments and aqueducts, need action to ensure that they aren’t irreparably damaged by climate change, the Canal & River Trust warns.

The charity has launched its first fundraising campaign to raise much needed support in the face of the rising cost of repairing storm and flood damage. Last winter alone, a succession of ‘named’ storms caused almost £10 million of additional and unforeseen repairs.

Richard Parry, chief executive at Canal & River Trust, explained:

“Britain’s ageing canals are a national treasure. And whilst the canal network is cherished by today’s society, it is, however, also facing a perfect storm, with costs rising and support from government reducing.

“As we head into winter, we’re bracing ourselves for more costly damage from extreme weather but also working to make these aged former transport routes, and the wildlife they support, as resilient as possible. Our specialist teams of skilled workers and volunteers will be giving long hours, carrying out heritage conservation works, and fighting to respond to the storms that are becoming ever more common.

“Keeping the canals open and safe requires millions of pounds and a year-round effort. We’re talking to government about the need for an active partnership, and we’re calling on people to donate and help us safeguard our canals and rivers for the future.”

159 sites

The Canal & River Trust add that it has started work on a winter programme of important repair, heritage and conservation tasks at 159 sites across England and Wales. 129 new lock gates, handcrafted in the charity’s specialist workshops, will be installed, while other work includes masonry repairs to centuries-old bridges and tunnels, work to fix leaks and preserve water for navigation, and inspections of important ageing infrastructure. The charity is also using innovative techniques and materials to make the canals stronger and more resilient.