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14th March 2008

The force of gravity and the action of water penetration have once again combined to bring down a section of retaining wall onto the towpath of the Macclesfield Canal.

This week's collapse was between Bridges 40 and 41, less than half a mile south of Macclesfield Canal Centre and Hovis Mill.

It is only a few yards from the spot where another wall dropped onto the towpath several years ago.

The towpath is closed between Bridges 40 and 42. The canal is open for navigation but there may be restricted passage while engineers are on site.

An access track runs immediately above the 20 foot high retaining wall and several vehicles are believed to have been stranded by the collapse.

14th March 2008

The tidal lock from the Sankey Canal (St Helens Canal) at Widnes is currently receiving attention!

The gates are being replaced and the silt that forms in the lock entrance is being flushed away.

28th February 2008

DEFRA has announced its grant to British Waterways for 2008/09. The grant is £56.624 million.

Once repayment of £1.024 million of National Loans Fund is excluded, the comparable figure for 2007/08 was £56.4 million.

This amounts to a "flat cash" settlement, meaning more or less the same money this year as last year. Taking inflation into account this means a reduction in the value of the money received. This is clearly bad news for our waterways although not as bad as if the funding had been cut as it has in 2006 and 2007.

BW's Robin Evans said: "In the current difficult government funding climate this is a reasonable settlement and in line with our expectations. It shows that Defra has listened to the arguments that further funding cuts would be very damaging."

11th February 2008

A remote wharf on the Macclesfield Canal is at risk of being stanked off, drained and returned to nature.

Vaudrey's Wharf is a short arm off the Macclesfield Canal near Bridge 72, east of Conlgleton.

It was built in 1835 to serve Charles Vaudrey's Bath Vale mills. When the North Stafforshire Railway opened a line in 1860, passing under the canal nearby, the wharf became used as an interchange.

When the railway closed the track and the wharf passed into the ownership of Congleton Council. There have been long-term leaks from the arm through the embankment of the railway cutting but the council has not felt able to fund the repairs.

The leak is now more serious and, apart from being an unacceptable loss of water, there is also a potential risk of a breach on this nine-mile pound, threatening property in Congleton.

The canal arm is unusual in belonging to the council rather than British Waterways. BW was unwilling to take on the liability for the repairs. An agreement was being drawn up whereby the council would pay for the repairs and then BW would take over ownership.

BW was then forced to withdraw from the proposed agreement because funding cuts had left them without the necessary money.

Because the leak is a continuing threat to the Macclesfield Canal, BW is considering stanking off the arm at its own expense.

The result of this could be that the arm and wharf becomes overgrown making any future repais and restoration much more expensive, so the wharf could be lost for ever.

Follow this link for full details of the problem and possible solutions.

January 23rd 2008   updated Jan 24th

This week has seen further flooding on the Yorkshire Navigations.

Heavy rain over the Pennines earlier in the week has been making its way downstream, causing flooding in Hebden Bridge, Huddersfield and Mirfield along the way.

Today, flood defences were breached between Figure of Three Locks and Broad Cut allowing flood water and debris to wash into the Calder and Hebble Navigation. Narrowboats moored at Broad Cut near Wakefield were lifted onto the towpath. One remained stranded there while another capsized when the waters receded.

Significant flooding has also occurred north and east of Leeds, around York, Selby and Naburn. The River Ouse is reported to be a mile wide in places.

A number of navigations are still closed at this time, including the Calder & Hebble, Sheffield & South Yorkshire, Stainforth & Keadby, River Ure and River Ouse.

January 2nd 2008

A new series of the TV programme "Locks and Quays" starts on Thursday 3rd January, on ITV Granada in the North West. It is due to be shown on ITV in the Yorkshire region at a later date.

This is the third series of ten programmes and this time the series is presented by canal enthusiast, actor and former keeper of "Sooty", Matthew Corbett.

Matthew will be taking a coast-to-coast journey from the North Sea to the Irish Sea, via the Leeds and Liverpool Canal, with inserts of visits to other locations. The first lap of the journey is along the Humber and into the port town of Goole, heading to the start of the Aire and Calder Navigation.

Briefly, the remaining programmes will feature:
 • Programme 2 - Aire and Calder, Wakefield, Leeds, Ellesmere Port
 • Programme 3 - Leeds and Liverpool, Kirkstall, Saltaire
 • Programme 4 - Leeds and Liverpool, Bingley Five Rise
 • Programme 5 - Leeds and Liverpool, Skipton, Worsley
 • Programme 6 - Leeds and Liverpool, Foulridge, Burnley Embankment and Weavers' Triangle
 • Programme 7 - Leeds and Liverpool, Blackburn
 • Programme 8 - Leeds and Liverpool, Johnsons Hillock and Wigan Lock flights, Bradford Canal
 • Programme 9 - Leeds and Liverpool, Appley Bridge, Parbold, Rufford, Burscough, Stanley Ferry Workshop
 • Programme 10 - Leeds and Liverpool, Liverpool Canal Link, River Mersey

The programmes are broadcast on ITV in the Granada area at 7.30 pm on Thursdays (dates for Yorkshire not yet known). They can also be seen by people outside the area on Sky (see below).

The previous series of Locks and Quays can currently be watched online on ITV Local www.itvlocal.com/granada/documentaries/
I don't know when Series 3 will be available to watch online or whether it will then replace Series 2.

Instructions for tuning in to Granada on Sky:
Granada is available on Astra 2 (Sky): 10758MHz, Vertical, 22000SR, 5/6FEC.
See: www.lyngsat.com/28east.html for more information.

 

5th November 2007

The new footbridge across the River Aire by the Armouries in Leeds has been given a name!

British Waterways invited suggestions for a name from local communities, schoolchildren or individuals.

The winning name was thought up by ten-year old Maria Anderson, from Leeds, and will appear on a plaque to be mounted on the bridge.

The winning name - Knight's Way Bridge - won the votes of the panel of judges, made up of representatives from British Waterways, Leeds City Council, The Clarence Dock Company Ltd and the Royal Armouries Museum. Maria thought of the name because it was close to the Royal Armouries Museum.

Hilary Benn, MP for Leeds Central and Secretary of State for the Environment congratulated Maria, cut the ribbon and unveiled the plaque when he officially opened the bridge on 2nd November 2007. He said: "I would like to congratulate Maria on coming up with such a great name for this wonderful new bridge. This will be a great addition to the City."

The bridge spans the River Aire and the Aire and Calder Navigation near the Royal Armouries and links the Clarence Basin area with the city centre.

Photo shows Maria celebrating with two knights in armour, watched by Tony Hales (Chairman, British Waterways), Councillor Ryk Downes (Lead Member for Development, Leeds), The Rt. Hon. Hilary Benn (MP for Leeds Central and Secretary of State for the Environment), Martin Kent (Clarence Dock) and Peter Armstrong (Royal Armouries Museum).

9th October 2007

British Waterways is inviting people to think of a name for a new footbridge in Leeds!

The bridge spans the River Aire and the Aire and Calder Navigation near the Royal Armouries and links the Clarence Basin area with the city centre.

Suggestions for a name are invited from local communities, schoolchildren or individuals and the winning name will appear on a plaque to be mounted on the bridge.

Hilary Benn, MP for Leeds Central and Secretary of State for International Development will congratulate the winner, cut the ribbon and unveil the plaque when he officially opens the bridge on Friday 2nd November.

Clarence Dock's Simon Kidd said: "The bridge was one of three to be erected by us in 2005 as part of developing 1.2 million sq ft around Clarence Dock. It is only the second to be installed across the River Aire in the last 100 years and offers pedestrian and cyclist access from the city centre core to Clarence Dock. It seems fitting that the public should be offered the opportunity to name it and I look forward to seeing the entries."

Suggestions for the name of the bridge, together with a brief explanation as to why it is being chosen (up to maximum of 50 words), should be sent by the closing date of 5pm on October 26th by visiting: www.waterscape.com/bridgenaming or by post to: Lesley Grogan, British Waterways, Fearns Wharf, Neptune Street, Leeds, LS9 8PB

The winner will need to be available for the launch ceremony on Friday 2nd November at 10.00 am

9th October 2007

A waterside display of Tai Chi marked the start of British Waterways' campaign to promote the waterway system as something that is everyone's to enjoy.

Instructor Colin Hamilton led the display which took place at Clarence Dock, Leeds, on 8th October. Other events will be taking place at other locations around the country, to encourage people to discover and start using their local canals and rivers.

A recent YouGov poll for British Waterways revealed that, while 50 per cent of people are aware that they live within five miles of a canal or river, only three per cent are currently visiting them.

BW wants to encourage people to take a fresh look at their local waterside by showing them ways in which inland waterways can enhance their everyday lives as attractive places to exercise, eat out, walk to work, exercise the dog or eat lunch.

12th September 2007

Boaters using the Aire and Calder Navigation east of Castleford should be aware of restricted hours that are currently in place at Pollington Lock.

Pollington Lock consists of three sets of gates so that both chambers can be used when there is a long vessel. One of the chambers is normally boater operated when there is no lock keeper present.

However, due to a sluice failure on the self operating chamber, all leisure vessels will, until further notice, be worked through by BW Lock Keepers.

This means that boats will only be able to pass through during the lock keeper's working hours of 8.00 am to 4.00 pm (both on weekdays and weekends).

You can phone British Waterways on 0113 281 6860 for the latest information.

24th August 2007

A popular mooring spot on the Macclesfield Canal has been closed. Fencing has been put alongside the water at Kent Green, close to Bridge 87.

A notice attached to the fencing says that the mooring is "suspended to allow for re-establishment of reed fringe" but a local boater says that the side has been dredged, with piling and mooring rings.

It is believed that the suspension follows a complaint from a new resident about boats mooring opposite their property. It would appear that the Ombudsman found in favour of the resident, as the mooring had once been a reed bed, which should be re-instated. Around 200 feet of popular mooring has been lost and it is claimed that the local pub is losing trade!

The boater was told that BW will provide new moorings to the south of Kent Green Bridge, a decision he described as "sheer lunacy" since that would involve removing a reed bed there!

A spokesperson for British Waterways told Pennine Waterways:
"The fence has been erected as preparation for works starting to reinstate the bank as it was 2 years ago. We will shortly be carrying out piling work on the south side of the bridge, which is needed because of the erosion of the bank there and we will seek to create a visitor mooring there. We are keenly aware of how popular the site is but there is a significant length of alternative bank to moor against very close by. BW is committed to follow through on decisions made by the Ombudsman which is a powerful and impartial element of our complaints procedure there for the protection of all of our customers."

Boaters or others wishing to express their views about this have been urged to contact BW's local acting general manager at Northwich, David.Baldacchino@britishwaterways.co.uk

17th August 2007

Boaters are now facing depth restrictions on the waterway between Sheffield and Doncaster.

Ten days after the Sheffield and Tinsley Canal and the River Don around Rotherham were re-opened after heavy rain and flooding in the area, British Waterways has announced the following restrictions:

- Boats with a draft of over 2ft 6in will not be able to use the waterway between (and including) Tinsley Locks and Rotherham Lock.
- Boats with a draft of over 7ft 4in will not be able to use the waterway between (and including) Doncaster Lock and Spotborough river section. (This second restriction will mainly affect commercial traffic.)

These restrictions follow problems that have occurred due to a heavy build-up of silt during the recent flooding and high river flows.

You can phone British Waterways on 0113 281 6860 for the latest information.

8th August 2007

The Sheffield and Tinsley Canal and the River Don around Rotherham are to re-open tomorrow (9th August) after a month-long closure.

Much of the Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation was closed following the severe flooding during July. Other sections of the waterway were re-opened in stages, but the section between Sheffield and Rotherham was badly affected and was one of the last waterways in the country to remain closed.

BW has checked that the blockages have been cleared sufficiently to allow safe passage and the first boats will be allowed to leave Victoria Quays, Sheffield, at 8.00 am. The River Don section around Rotherham will re-open at 9.00 am.

Boats will be assisted on the Tinsley lock flight as usual, but there will also be assistance on the locks through Rotherham.

You can phone British Waterways on 0113 281 6860 for the latest information.

24th July 2007, updated 31st July

Several waterways un South Yorkshire are still affected by flooding following recent heavy rains.

Much of the Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation has been affected:
- the Sheffield and Tinsley Canal is still closed.
- Rotherham Lock is closed.
- the river section between Aldwarke and Kilnshurst has now re-opened, passable with care.
- the river section between Doncaster and Swinton has now re-opened, with floating pontoons replaced at Sprotborough.

On the Aire and Calder Navigation, Ferrybridge and Castleford flood locks are on amber alert. The gates are shut although boaters are able to operate them and pass through the locks. Update 31st July: now back to normal - amber alert lifted.

A restriction on the Calder and Hebble Navigation at Ledgard Bridge has now been lifted.

The heavy rain had its worst impact on the Pennine area at the end of June, when all the rivers and canals in Yorkshire were closed to navigation (except the Rochdale and Huddersfield Canals).

A team of British Waterways ground staff worked all through the night trying to prevent flooding of an estate near Woodlesford Lock.

British Waterways' own Yorkshire office at Fearns Wharf in Leeds had to be evacuated as high water levels would have left employees stranded.

The photo shows Leeds Lock on the River Aire, close to Fearns Wharf, completely under water. (Photo: BW)

18th March 2007

Hirst Swing Bridge between Shipley and Bingley has failed. Temporary arrangements in place.
Read details.

18th March 2007

Damage to the canal bank has caused a planned stoppage to over-run.
Read details and see photos.

6th March 2007

Major repair work has been taking place at Marple, on the Macclesfield and Peak Forest Canals.
Read details and see photos.

March 6th 2007

A series of "Waterway Community Days" took place around the country over the weekend of 3rd and 4th March.

Report and photos of the event at Ashton under Lyne can be seen here.

February 25th 2007 updated March 1st

Following the weekend of water-borne demonstrations which took place last November, a series of "Waterway Community Days" are to take place around the country over the weekend of 3rd and 4th March 2007.

These events are designed to bring together a range of waterway users to protest at the cuts in funding by Defra to British Waterways and the Environment Agency.

There are events in various parts of the country, including these in the North of England:

Ashton under Lyne, Greater Manchester, junction of Ashton and Peak Forest Canals.
12.00 noon to 4.00 pm, Sunday 4th March.
More information here. (opens in new window)

Garstang, Lancashire, Lancaster Canal. (Note change from original Preston venue.)
12.30 to 4.00 pm, Saturday 3rd March.
More information here. (opens in new window)

Macclesfield, Cheshire, Macclesfield Canal.
Outside Hovis Mill at 12.30 pm Saturday 3rd March.
More information here. (opens in new window)

Tarleton, Lancashire, Rufford Branch, Leeds and Liverpool Canal.
2.00 to 4.00 pm, Saturday 3rd March.
More information here. (opens in new window)

Northwich, Cheshire, Northwich Town Centre, beside River Weaver.
10.30 am to 4.00 pm, Saturday 3rd March.
More information here. (opens in new window)

Wheelton, Lancashire, above Johnsons Hillock Locks on the Leeds and Liverpool Canal.
10.00 am Saturday 3rd March - 2.00 pm Sunday 4th March.
Phone Jack Carr on 01257 265786 or 07950 977147 for details.

Please check www.saveourwaterways.org.uk for any late changes in arrangements. (opens in new window)

The weekend events will be the last opportunity to add your name to the Parliamentary petition, which already has around 17,500 signatures. The electronic petition to the Prime Minister closed on 21st February with over 7000 names. However, the most effective way for most people to help is to write to their MPs. See www.writetothem.com. (opens in new window)

February 25th 2007

British Waterways has agreed to extend its arrangement with the Manchester Ship Canal Company to allow pleasure craft displaying a valid Bridgewater Canal licence to travel further.

Starting from the time when the Liverpool Canal Link opens in 2008, Bridgewater licence holders will be able to travel along the Leeds and Liverpool Canal beyond Burscough and to use the Liverpool Canal Link through to the Albert Dock.

Currently, Bridgewater licence holders can travel for a period of seven days free of charge along the Leigh Branch and from Wigan to Burscough and from Wigan to the bottom of Blackburn Locks. In a reciprocal agreement, BW licence holders can use the Bridgewater Canal free of charge for up to seven days.

The new agreement was reached following a request by a boater on the Bridgewater Canal.

February 12th 2007

Whitley Lock, on the Aire and Calder Navigation between Knottingley and Goole, is undergoing major work this winter.

The lock, which was originally constructed in 1821, is unusual in having three sets of gates and two chambers, which can be used in combination to allow the passage of long vessels.

The lock is subject to subsidence caused by coal working at nearby Great Heck, so the downstream chamber is having to have its walls raised by 0.5 metres.

The three massive sets of gates are also being replaced. This is requiring two 55 tonne cranes and one 80 tonne crane to lift out the old gates and replace them with new ones.

The new gates have been made at British Waterways' Stanley Ferry workshop near Wakefield which makes gates out of oak for the whole of the waterway network.

Approximately half a million tonnes of freight are carried through Whitley Lock each year. The freight carried includes bulk oil, aggregates and steel.

UK Coal has agreed to limit the extraction of coal from the seam being worked from the 600-man Kellingley Colliery at Knottingley, and install monitoring equipment to check subsidence levels.

Laurence Morgan, General Manager, British Waterways Yorkshire said: "This is a major engineering project and is in fact currently the biggest scheme on BW's waterway network. The Aire and Calder is our main freight carrying waterway and we have been working closely with UK Coal to carry out the work."

The work is due to be completed by the end of February.

January 19th 2007, updated Jan 22nd, Jan 24th, Jan 30th

The very high winds of 18th January have resulted in the temporary closure of several canals in the area.

A large number of trees have come down across the Lancaster Canal south of Galgate. Contractors are currently assessing the trees to be removed. Due to the high number of trees, British Waterways will post an update on the likely duration of the works early next week.
Update: Most trees have now been removed. The canal is still closed between Bridges 38 and 39 but should be open by 24th January.
Update: All fallen trees have now been removed.

The sites currently closed or restricted are as follows:
- Bridge 11a: closed to through navigation, towpath closed
- Salwick Moorings: closed to through navigation
- Bridge 38-39: closed to through navigation, towpath closed
- Bridge 85: restricted navigation, towpath closed
- Bridge 93: closed to through navigation, towpath closed
- Bridge 76-77: restricted navigation, towpath closed.

Various stretches of the Bridgewater Canal have been blocked by fallen trees.

In addition, the roof of a 10 storey building in Hulme has fallen into the canal.

The Manchester Ship Canal Company Engineering section has started assessing the damage. The clean-up operation began today (Friday 19th January) and will continue over the weekend. Full navigation will be restored as quickly as possible.
Update: These blockages have now been cleared and the navigation has reopened.

Near Skipton, a lorry driver was killed when his articulated truck was blown off a high level bridge carrying the bypass across the Leeds and Liverpool Canal.

The cab fell into a field while the empty trailer ended up in the canal. BW staff were called out to seal off the canal and deal with diesel fuel leaking into the water. The canal will remain closed until recovery is complete.
Update 30th Jan: The canal has now been re-opened at this point.

At Coxheads Swing Bridge on the Leeds and Liverpool Canal near Lidiate, an automatic barrier was badly damaged by the wind. The electrical supply to the bridge has been turned. It remains open to road traffic. A new barrier has been ordered.
Update: Temporary repairs have been carried out and the canal is now open to navigation again. There will be a stoppage on Wed 24th Jan for the new barrier to be fitted.

The Leeds and Liverpool Canal has also been blocked by a fallen tree at Rodley, near Leeds.

The Rufford Branch of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal has been blocked by a fallen tree near Rufford Hall.
Update: This blockage has now been cleared.

A number of trees have fallen across the Lower Peak Forest Canal between Bridges 3 and 4 at Dukinfield, and near Bridge 8, south of Hyde, blocking through navigation and the towpath.
Update: These trees have now been removed.

The Upper Peak Forest Canal and towpath has been blocked by fallen trees between Bridges 27 (Disley) and 28 (New Mills).
Update: These trees have now been removed.

 

January 11th 2007

Repairs to a collapsed wall at Marple will mean the closure of part of the Macclesfield Canal for 11 weeks.

A retaining wall alongside the Macclesfield Canal towpath, close to the junction with the Peak Forest Canal, is to be repaired. A dam will be constructed within the canal channel to provide access to the construction site. Therefore the channel between bridges 1 and 2 at Marple will be closed to through navigation. This closure will be from January 15th until April 1st.

For health and safety reasons, the towpath will be also closed for the duration of the works, and until 20th April 2007. A pedestrian diversion will be in place.

Access to the visitor moorings and Marple service station will be restricted during these works. Update notices on progress will be issued and customers should check with the local office before travelling.

The retaining wall has been in a precarious condition for some time. The photo shows temporary stabilisation work being carried out in March 2006. Note the angle of the undermined lamp post!

Read details and see photos of the work under way.

 

January 4th 2007, updated January 10th

A new series of the TV programme "Locks and Quays", starts tonight, 4th January, on ITV in the North West.

This second series of ten programmes features Fred Talbot on a journey by narrowboat from Bugsworth Basin, by way of the Peak Forest, Ashton and Rochdale Canals to Hebden Bridge. Inserts featuring other canals, people or places of interest will appear in each programme. These include items about the Huddersfield Narrow and Hollinwood Branch Canals.

The programmes are broadcast on ITV in the Granada area at 7.30 pm on Thursdays. They can also be seen by people outside the area on Sky.

The makers, Centini Television, are hoping to make a DVD of the series available later.

Update:
Instructions for tuning in to Granada on Sky:
Granada is available on Astra 2 (Sky): 10758MHz, Vertical, 22000SR, 5/6FEC.
See: www.lyngsat.com/28east.html for more information.