Grannie Boat tells of unsafe workmanship

ONCE AGAIN I commend you on a fantastic job, reporting on real life issues we face on the waterways.

We have been heading towards Fradley from Nantwich since the beginning of January, and came through it today. Taking our time to get through just after the posted opening date (14th March) to avoid the chaos.

We do like it when we are some of the first ones through a newly opened lock, especially when it's had new gates fitted.

We hope to enjoy a very rare sight, that being a lock that doesn't leak like a sieve.

However, at Woodend Lock No.20 that was the only thing that we were chuffed about.

As you probably are aware, the top end of the lock is serviced by a ground paddle (towpath side) and a single gate paddle.

This lock has had two full gate replacements. with the stoppage starting on 6th January and lasting until 14th March.

The paddle gear on the top gate and bottom gate has also been replaced.

But I feel sure, the top gate paddle will not last long at all.

The problem being as shown in the photo, is the pawl that acts like a ratchet to stop the paddle coming crashing down, and breaking, and also helps to reduce the risk of someone getting a face full of windlass.

Is misaligned with the ratchet gear, by around two inches.

There's no sideways movement, so there's no way to engage it to keep the paddle gear in the uppermost position.

Who on earth, signs-off on these works, as this is a Serious Safety Issue.

Oh, and in 36 hours of reopening the darn lot of it is rusty.....

And to add insult to injury, the 'new' offside bottom gate will not stay closed, with the chamber empty.

I'll be reporting our findings to CRT in the morning, for what good it'll do.

Be careful out there, as things that are newly replaced, are not necessarily safe.

Grannie Boat.