More lock gates replaced

ONE morning last week, in freezing conditions and snow, the British Waterways team continued its work on the Kennet & Avon Canal.

The team fitted a set of new lock gates at Wootton Rivers Lock, one of 100 lock gate replacements taking place this winter across the  inland waterway network.

The seven week, £240,000 project, on the stretch of canal from Wootton Rivers Bottom Lock to Cadley Lock will include replacing the lock gates at Wootton Rivers, Heathey Close and Cadley locks as well as general repairs to the brickwork of the lock chamber walls.

A lot of work

Nick Lewis, British Waterways' Construction Supervisor explains:

"We are doing a lot of work out on the canal this winter. This project has been very interesting, as we have drained quite a large section of the canal to enable us to do our works.

It's an unusual view for people, who can now see the bottom of a lock and the canal bed. As part of the draining process, we completed a fish rescue. We saw a whole range of species that are living in the canal, including a very large eel."

Leisure resource

The gates for the Wootton Rivers locks are over 18ft tall and weigh around three tonnes each. Historically repair works would have been completed in the summer, British Waterways tells us, but now, as the canals are used primarily as a leisure resource, British Waterways' construction teams brave the winter weather to minimise disruption to boaters, towpath walkers, cyclists and anglers in the popular summer months on the canal.

Mark Stephens, British Waterways' Waterway Manager explained:

"The lock gates at Wootton Rivers have come to the end of their working life so need to be replaced. The new set of gates is made from seasoned oak and has been hand made in one of British Waterways' workshops. They will be craned into the canal and final adjustments made to ensure they are a perfect fit."

This year British Waterways is introducing a series of 11 open days, to allow the public to see the working of the locks whilst they have been drained, with one on the the Kennet & Avon Canal at Caen Hill later in the winter.