Boaters' Update 14 June 2024

Welcome to Boaters’ Update. This latest edition contains:

• Our canals matter
• Working for boaters
• Maintenance, repair and restoration work affecting cruising this weekend
• And finally…

Hope you get afloat this weekend,

Damian

Our canals matter

As many of you would have read on these very pages last July, the government announced a new funding settlement, spanning from 2027 to 2037, to follow on from our current grant agreement. Whilst we welcomed this further long-term commitment to the nation’s historic waterways, the amount awarded represents a steep reduction in funding of over £300 million in real terms over ten years. A reduction that will have devastating consequences.

The impending election gives us another opportunity to restate, to whoever governs after 4 July, why canals matter.

They matter not only to those who live and cruise on them but also to the 10 million people who visit them regularly and feel better because of it and to everyone else as well – because canals enhance the natural environment, they help to mitigate climate change and are integral to our future water security and supply.

Canals are also part of our national story – in the past, the present and the future. They are living heritage, unique in the world. They form an integral part of our national infrastructure, generating immense social, environmental and economic value.

We are proud to hold these irreplaceable assets in trust for the nation. We have a strong record but know that with the right partnership with the government, we can do much more.

You can read our full election statement, including what we want from a future government, here.

Working for boaters

In this new section, which will become a regular feature, we’ll share a few examples of the work we’ve been doing for you, our boating community.

In this edition, we start with the Trent & Mersey Canal.

Dredging on the Trent & Mersey Canal

We’re dredging several locks between Burton-on-Trent and Kings Bromley, as shown in the photo above, in response to boaters’ feedback that they were having difficulties in some locks. We deployed teams to survey the locks and developed a plan of action.

The works, which are underway and running to 28 June, will see around 25 tons of sediment each from Branston, Dallow, and Tattenhill locks, with around £60,000 invested in the project. The dredging will be carried out using a specialised grab barge designed for the purpose.

Dive, dive, diving on the Kennet & Avon Canal

Divers have taken to the water of the Kennet & Avon Canal as we carry out repairs to Colthrop Lock. The lock, which is one of the busiest on the river section of the canal, has developed leaks caused by general wear and tear.

As much of the damage is below the waterline, a specialist dive team took to the water on Friday, 7 June, to carry out an inspection and underwater repairs. This was instead of draining the canal and helped minimise disruption for boaters, as the navigation didn’t have to be dammed and drained.

The works cost around £5,000 and involved divers and local colleagues who provided repair materials, support and welfare and took the opportunity to re-anchor a mooring bollard that had come loose.

Following the inspection, the divers repaired leaks in the gate’s planks. They also discovered an issue with the seal at the bottom of the lock, which will require a further plan of work which can be incorporated into the project when the lock gates, being manufactured in our workshop, are replaced later this year. Contract manager Rob Labus explains why we chose to use divers:

Keeping it in the Huddersfield Narrow Canal

Originally built in the 18th century, the Grade II Listed Golcar Aqueduct underwent a complete refurbishment nearly 25 years ago. However, the ravages of time have left it needing a bit of TLC to reduce leakage. Early next week, we are installing some weighted sheets, which should prevent any further closures in the area.

Fixing collars on the Calder & Hebble

Earlier this week, at Lock 8, Cromwell Lock, the downstream offside gate collar snapped thereby making the lock inoperable. The local team mobilised and carried out a temporary repair on the same day so that boaters could continue to use the lock until a more permanent fix is done – this is scheduled for next week.

Tree removal on the Trent & Mersey Canal

With extreme weather becoming more common due to climate change, it’s not unusual for us to be removing hundreds of trees that have fallen during winter storms. While less widespread, trees also fall (for a variety of reasons) during the warmer months. In this case, one fell and blocked the navigation near Bridge 178 – within 24 hours, we’d managed to remove it and reopen navigation.

Maintenance, repair and restoration work this weekend

As someone who’s out on, or by, the water more often than most, you’ll know that there are times when we need to fix things that unexpectedly break. So, below, you’ll find a list of navigations that have ongoing restrictions that may affect you if you’re planning to get out on the water this weekend:

• Bridgwater & Taunton Canal
• Grand Union Canal
• Leeds & Liverpool Canal
• Macclesfield Canal
• Peak Forest Canal
• Rochdale Canal
• Shropshire Union Canal

When restrictions to navigation happen, we get them up on to our website as soon as we can – always best to have a scan before you set off. Have a read of the article below to find out how to get stoppage notification alerts on your smartphone.

If you have any questions about a specific closure, or spot an error in our system, please get in touch.

And finally…

• We have received the results of the recent Boater Satisfaction Survey and will be sharing the headline figures with boaters next week; we intend to publish the full results and a more detailed plan of action that responds to key concerns identified in the survey, to follow.
• Did you know that Ronnie Wood (legendary guitarist of Rolling Stones, Faces, The Birds etc.) comes from a family of bargees? It’s said that his generation were the first to be born on dry land! Well, if you’re pottering along the Regent’s Canal keep your eyes peeled – it’s been reported that he is now the proud owner of a boat moored there.