No access to Severn

THOUGH it will still be in the cruising season, access to the Seven through Diglis Lock will be prevented after 12th September.

Major work is needed, that will stop navigation on the river below the entrance to the Worcester & Birmingham Canal or to the canal from the river, for a period of six weeks, Ralph Freeman tells us.

Feed pipe

Boaters who have negotiated the lock will know it is made up of a pair side by side, fed by a feed pipe running between the two locks. To enable work to be carried out on the empty chambers, the pipe needs to be shut off, by installing a steel plate at each end.

Timing

This means that neither of the chambers can then be used as they cannot be filled. The timing in September and October is intended to reduce the risk of the river being in flood, but it is hoped that the work should be completed  before the October half term holidays.

The work includes the replacement of gates and lock cills and brickwork repairs, together with various inspections.