What Progress?

'SPECIALIST ENGINEERS are continuing to progress the necessary works on the Anderton Boat Lift to ensure its safe operation'.

So the trust tells us. But what progress? It is closed and the news is that it's going to remain closed for the entire summer.

Full design review

Canal & River Trust tells us that as part of this, a full design review of the entire lifting system is being carried out. So not even a review yet, but as Victor told—'we are calmly told will be closed all summer, instead of being attended to during the past winter months' which is poor organisation, especially for boaters.

Though in December 2022 it was awarded £574,000 by the National Lottery players, 'to enable the trust to carry out essential repairs to the Victorian boat lift to secure its long-term future'.

But the long term future wasn't that long as four months later in April 2023 it was closed again.

Out of action again

Then it was out of action again in August 2023 of that year, though at times there were just three slots a day for boats.

And so it goes—and so there is no Anderton Boat Lift working this year. But boaters are told they can get to and from the Weaver using the Manchester Ship Canal.  With the trust even holding a Manchester Ship Canal Information Day on the 16th May at the Anderton Boat Lift. To book ring 0303 0404 040.