Boaters' Update 28 June 2024

More results from annual Boaters' Survey

In the last Boater’s Update, we published the headline results from our latest boater’s survey. As promised, we have now published the full results. Over the coming weeks we’ll be finalising the plan with timescales and measures so you can see how we’re delivering against it. We are fully committed to doing what we can to address the concerns highlighted in the survey and listed below;

Getting the basics right

We recognise that the key factor for the boating community is the general upkeep and maintenance of the canal network, and that this demands a clear focus from Trust. This will form the main part of our plan.

Facilities

How to keep essential facilities in good working order will form another area of the plan.

Communication between the Trust and boating customers

Communicating more effectively with boaters and listening to your concerns, explaining more about what we are doing to look after the network, how we are spending and prioritising our resources and giving as much notice and information as we can about stoppages.

More information can be found at Annual Boaters' Survey 2024.

Working for boaters

In this new section, which will become a regular feature, we’ll provide a snapshot of the work we’ve been doing for you, our boating community. In this edition we start with the Macclesfield Canal.

The Macclesfield Canal whirlpool

Although it sounds like the title of a 1970s disaster movie, there was in fact a whirlpool spotted between bridges 26 and 27 last week. The video below, by Roaming, Rambling (who has more great canal and industrial history videos on his channel), shows our early investigations and attempts to steady the situation.

Of course, it didn’t end there. The temporary sheeting, as shown in the video, was just a brief repair while we formulated a plan of action. With the timing being so close to the start of the summer holidays, we wanted to effect a repair that, although temporary, caused the least disruption to boaters. With this in mind, the local team loaded clay into boats and transported it to the site. We then used our boat mounted digger to press clay into the area where the vortex appeared. It initially looked as though this would see us through until a more permanent fix in the winter months. It didn’t. A few days later, during last weekend, the leak reappeared.

The local team reinstalled stop planks at Bridges 26 and 27 to minimise water loss and maintain levels. To ready the stretch for inspection, we then installed watertight dams to enable our engineers to drain the affected section of the canal so that they carry out an extensive inspection and organise a permanent fix.

Once drained, yesterday, we found two holes in the canal bed. With our workboats in position, the team started repairing one hole. This involved excavating around it to remove silt and debris, then packing the hole with clay. The second hole is just out of reach of our workboat's digger, so the team will need to refloat the boat, reposition, and re-drain the area again. This work is progressing today, 28 June, and we hope that we will be able to reopen the navigation tomorrow.

The concrete arrowhead on the Leeds & Liverpool Canal

Earlier this month we had to mobilise the team at the Wigan Flight at Lock 84 due to a failed cill. Investigations revealed that the large concrete arrowhead, which is part of the cill, had lifted and needed to be removed and a new one installed.

Given the sheer size of the arrowhead, and that it was really hard to access, our initial attempts to remove it by using equipment on the lock side (thereby causing less disruption to navigation) did not prevail.

This led to a new plan of attack being developed. Our engineers designed a safe access plan for the lock, including the building of stone access ramps into the canal bed and into the lock for the tracked excavator and dump truck. That wasn’t all though. We also needed 15 tons of clay to make a stank (a small dam) due to the amount of water that was coming from the bywash above the lock.

With these complex and major preparations in place we then began to break up and remove the arrowhead. Whenever we get the unexpected opportunity of a fully drained lock we’ll do as many other tasks as we can so that we reduce the chances of having to disrupt navigation again at some point in the near future.

With this in mind colleagues enlisted the help of our local volunteers to assist in clearing out the, sadly, usual traffic cones, bikes and other rubbish from the lock. On inspection of the now-empty lock chamber we discovered work we could do to two large wooden floor planks on the lock floor. Once complete, we started building the new concrete arrowhead. In around three weeks, what started as a ‘simple’ failed cill turned into a much larger project involving tons of materials, machinery and a broad range of engineering and construction skills.

Rubbish blockage on Worcester & Birmingham Canal sluice

Cruising along most stretches of canal you’d be forgiven for not giving a second thought to sluices – they’re largely unseen and you only appreciate their importance when one isn’t working as it should be.

Thankfully the benign weather of late has meant that the blocked sluice hasn’t had a major effect on the canal. The initial attempts to clear the blockage were unsuccessful due to the inaccessibility of the 200+ year-old sluice. Step forward Dan Allen, a boater who works for the Trust as a leader of the regional response team – a bit like the emergency services for canal infrastructure.

Dan and his team struck an agreement with a local fisheries owner that enabled quicker and more efficient access to the site. They quickly erected a cofferdam in the canal, as there were no stop plank groves for the sluice, to stop water flowing to the sluice. This also meant that repairs could go ahead without shutting the navigation to boaters.

Once they’d safely accessed the sluice they found that a large, rigid, bin liner (like the ones you get for recycling food waste) had jammed under the sluice gate and prevented it from operating normally – as shown below.

Once removed the sluice was tested and was working as it should. Even though the obstruction was cleared it wasn’t quite job done. Before removing the cofferdam, Dan and his team created the appropriate grooves so that, in future, should there be any issues with the sluices it’ll be a much more efficient, and cost effective, way of isolating them from the canal.

The chocolate wharf

We’re proud to be able to work on some of our country’s most treasured historical gems. One such project was the replacement of a safety gate on the Shropshire Union Canal at Knighton with one we handcrafted in our specialist workshop.

Knighton Wharf has a special place in the region’s – and the nation’s – history. Between 1911 and 1961, Cadbury’s used the wharf and associated buildings to process ‘chocolate crumb’, which was then transported by boat to Cadbury’s in Bournville along the canal.

The safety gate plays a vital role in protecting the canal in the event of emergencies. At around 35 years old, the gate was understandably showing signs of deterioration, so we replaced the gate to ensure the safety of the area. Costing around £50,000 the job was completed in four days between 17 and 21 June and, pleasingly, it was possible without stopping navigation.

Adam Bannister, construction manager, said: “Knighton Wharf has a fascinating history and shows how the canals played a role in the success of some of our most iconic companies. And we’re still using traditional techniques to safeguard this important heritage: we’ve handcrafted the replacement gate out of green oak in our specialist workshop.

“Me and my team are committed to keeping these canals safe and available. Our canals are in constant use, open to the elements day in, day out, and time is taking its toll, compounded by the increase in extreme weather caused by climate change. We are doing all we can to meet this challenge, and are continuing to call on people to support us and help keep canals alive.”

In the section below you’ll read about other works that are currently underway and they range from restoring water levels, bridge hydraulics and paddle fixing, among others.

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
• Huddersfield Narrow Canal
• Kennet & Avon Canal
• Leeds & Liverpool Canal
• Pocklington Canal
• Ribble Link
• Rochdale Canal
• Shropshire Union Canal
• Stainforth & Keadby Canal
• Trent & Mersey Canal
• Wendover Arm (Grand 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. If you have any questions about a specific closure, or spot an error in our system, please get in touch.

Meet the press

Earlier this week, Trust chief executive, Richard Parry, met members of the waterways press. Reporters from Canal Boat, Towpath Talk and Waterways World were briefed on a range of subjects. If you don’t pick up a copy, or subscribe to, one of these great publications then here’s a little taster of some of the topics covered:

Water

After a very wet 12 months, Adam Comeford, national hydrology manager, told those gathered that we’re in a strong position at the moment and, barring another drought, we should have sufficient resources to prevent any major disruptions.

While on the subject of water, did you know that we spent £1.5million on electricity for pumping water last year? Showing just how much electricity prices have risen, we pumped roughly the same amount of water three years ago but for half the cost.

Another associated topic was Toddbrook Reservoir. Richard explained that works are proceeding well and that such is the scale of engineering that the project has to be seen to be believed. Rather handily, there are two open days next month – find out more here. As an aside, the construction site, and works, had to demonstrate that they could handle a 1:10,000 rain event and a 1:30,000 earthquake event!

Vegetation management

As many boat roof boxes and gardens are displaying, the combination of wet, and then hot, weather has created a real growth spurt for nature. We’re well in to our regular mowing routine, which costs us nearly £2 million a year, and will continue throughout the summer. Speaking approximately, by the end of the year we’ll have cut the equivalent distance of Hyde Park in London to Central Park in New York… and back again (most parts of the network get mown more than once)!

Winter stoppages

Richard gave an overview of our planned winter stoppages – including works at places such as the Scheduled Ancient Monument that is Caen Hill as well as Hatton and Wigan Flights. From next Monday, 1 July, a second tranche of stoppages, and a revised version of the first, will be uploaded to our website for the second phase of consultation. You can find out more, including how to give your views, here.

Other recent projects were also discussed such as the £2million repair at Marple Lock 7 on the Peak Forest Canal, Easenhall Cutting on the Oxford Canal and High Orchard Bridge running over the Gloucester & Sharpness, among others.

We won’t let nature vanish

This summer, we launched our nature appeal, to raise awareness of how the nation’s navigable canal system is vital in supporting wildlife, and to gather support from the public to help preserve and protect green and blue spaces in which nature can flourish.

As a boater who spends time living and travelling along the waterways, you’ll know better than most, that protecting wildlife and habitats across our canal network has never been more crucial. 41% of our wildlife is in decline across the UK, but today’s canals and rivers offer a vital refuge for nature. Together, they form the UK’s longest unbroken network of water habitats, providing a home for the wildlife we all cherish and allowing us to connect with nature.

Nature is increasingly confined to smaller, more isolated, habitats that are disconnected from one another. From the endangered water vole to the stunning kingfisher and beloved ducks, the homes of many species are in jeopardy. For some, this isolation could limit genetic diversity and threaten their survival.

Towpaths stretch for many miles along our waters, supporting a rich variety of flora and fauna and connecting habitats through urban areas. Our bridges, tunnels, and locks provide valuable homes for numerous species. Beneath the water’s surface, a rich tapestry of fish, aquatic vegetation, and amphibians thrives.

These canal habitats won’t survive without ongoing efforts to keep them navigable, full of water, clean, and wild. We’re taking action to help protect the habitats that canal wildlife call home, and the support of the public will be crucial in allowing us to continue to do and expand this vital work.

You can learn more about our nature appeal and keep up to date with the campaign here Please help spread the word by sharing among friends and family. Thank you for your support.