Harecastle Tunnel safe to use

SAFETY checks on Harecastle Tunnel, started on Wednesday 23rd October, have now been completed.

The tunnel, that is a Grade II listed structure, has been shown to be safe for boating.

Not seen or heard

The trust’s tunnel specialists used a boat mounted with an inspection platform to travel through the tunnel, that is believed to be the most haunted in the country—though we have to admit that in over 20 cruises through Harecastle we have neither seen or heard anything the least spooky!.

Surveyors have inspected every inch of the tunnel, on the look-out for any structural changes, including checks for leaks, cracks and damaged brick work, and given it a clean bill of health.

One part where the roof is low, as seen approaching in our picture, had special attention, but found to be secure and unlikely to get any lower.

Strict rules

This low roof in the tunnel is the reason that there are strict rules as to what can be carried on the roof of boats.

The present tunnel is the second built in the heyday of boat traffic owing to the demand as freight traffic increased, so then being able to use the two as each a one-way system, thus being able to double the number of boats passing through.