THE Leeds & Liverpool is now in a precarious position as closures of flights have not recovered.
Many flights on the Leeds & Liverpool Canal were closed for 10 days, due to lack of water, Keith Gudgin reports
These included Gargrave, Bank Newton, Bingley Five Rise, (pictured) Bingley Three Rise, Kirkstall, Forge and Newlay.
However the canal water levels continue to fall rather than recover as was hoped. Now there is a closure from Office Lock at Leeds to Lock 41 at Bank Newton, until such a time as there is sufficient water to return the canal to a navigable level.
Over the past months the Leeds & Liverpool Canal has been severely hit by water shortages, closing many pounds, but now with so many flights and pounds closed it leaves boaters in a precarious positions being stuck between flights.
Trent & Mersey Canal
There is a further stoppage on the Trent & Mersey Canal though lack of water. The navigation is closed between Lock 67 and Lock 70 on the Trent & Mersey Canal.
This is in addition to the stoppage from Sandon Lock 25 to Weston Lock 26 last Friday.
THE GOOD NEWS OF REPAIRS
Huddersfield Narrow Canal
There is some good news however.
The Huddersfield Narrow Canal leak that closed the waterway causing low levels between locks 12W and 13W has had a successful repair.
With navigation now resumed.
Kennet & Avon Canal
The West Mills Swing Bridge 62 developed a mechanical fault and was inoperable so closed to navigation.
It was quickly repaired and is now operational.
Aire & Calder Navigation Main Line
The hydraulic power pack had stopped working on Lemonroyd Lock 7 (pictured) so it could not be operated
A team have attended site and repaired the hydraulic power pack, and the lock is now back in use.
NOT SO GOOD NEWS
Grand Union Canal
Due to a boating incident below Bridge 176, Springwell Lane, there is a closure between lock 83, Springwell Lock and Bridge 176C on the Grand Union Canal until further notice, which has now been reviewed.
But the closure will remain in place until a solution can be implemented. It is still not told what the 'boating incident' was.
Lee Navigation
The navigation is still closed at Ware Lock 2 on the Lee Navigation as the gates need replacing.
This lock is under the jurisdiction of the Environment Agency that tells there will be an assisted passage on 8th September 2026.
Then the closure is to continue to remain in place until the gates are replaced. Always providing there is enough water of course, as it has been low on the river navigation.