It gets worse—now SIX canal failures

THERE WILL BE a very limited choice of navigation come the season opening in nine days time.

In addition to the four closures announced earlier this morning, there is now another, Keith Gudgin reports.

North Stratford closed

The North Stratford Canal is closed again. The  this time the lock paddle gearing on Lock 14 has broken, making the gates inoperable. so the canal is closed.

The waterway was last closed in January when Shirley Draw Bridge failed

We are informed that a team will assess and organise repairs as soon as possible, but it is currently unknown how long this will take or when the canal can be reopened.

And the water levels on the Huddersfield Narrow are worse with our told now the whole eastern section is closed to navigation.

And still they come

The latest this morning from Keith is that the Rochdale is closed—from lack of water!

Not a short section either, but the navigation closed from Lock 1 to Lock24.

Canal & river Trust tell it has been instructed to turn the pump off at Luddenden Foot due to the low river levels from where the water is extracted.

And the water levels will get worse further down the canal with no water extracted.

Many boaters must surely be concerned about their planned cruises, for what will the rest of the week bring?