The works
The works, taking place between 10 and 28 June, will see the charity remove around 25 tons of sediment each from Branston, Dallow, and Tattenhill locks, with the Canal & River Trust investing around £60,000 in the project. The dredging will be carried out using a specialised grab barge designed for the purpose.
Still used and navigated by boats having first opened in 1777, dredging is an important part of our work to keep the canal open. Nationwide the charity spends £millions per year dredging tens of thousands of tonnes of sediment.
Keep canals alive
Paul Fox, our senior project manager, said: “Whilst the depth of the Trent & Mersey Canal in this area is generally fine, boaters have told us they’ve been running aground in some locks. When we heard these reports, we carried out surveys that confirmed a build-up of heavy sediments, and we have planned these dredging works to clear the locks so boaters can use them unimpeded.
“It’s fantastic that our canals and locks, originally industrial freight routes that transformed the physical and economic landscape of our country, are still being used by boats as well as being place for leisure and for nature to flourish. But our ageing canals demand constant maintenance, with time and climate change taking their toll. We are doing all we can to meet this challenge, but we need help. We are calling on people to support the Canal & River Trust and help keep canals alive for today’s boaters, the local communities they run through, and for future generations.”
