When only one is working...

THE Chesterfield Canal will be closed at Misterton at the start of the waterway owing to work needed to clear the ground paddle at Misterton Top Lock.

This is the problem when only only paddle is working—if it fails, in this case the chamber completely blocked, the lock is then unworkable.

Many months

For many months one of the two ground paddles has been out of action, taped up, and now with the other paddle chamber blocked, there is neither access to or from the Chesterfield Canal.  The photograph being taken over two months ago.

So now, we are told that between the 25th and 29th of November, 'emergency repair works need to take place to the ground paddles at Misterton Top Lock to clear a blockage in the ground paddle chamber'.

At least Canal & River Trust is taking the opportunity carry out general maintenance of the paddles and renew some of the parts to the paddle mechanism, meaning the lock will be closed. But at least when finished there could be two paddles working again.