We're completing the work after the existing balance beams - the long wooden arms that enable the opening of the lock - were found to be damaged beyond repair.
The 14 mile canal was opened in 1827 as part of a grandiose but ultimately doomed plan to link the Bristol and English Channels. The waterway is now a haven for local people and wildlife, offering tranquil walking, cycling and boating routes through the Somerset countryside with the chance to see otters and kingfishers on the way.
Local community
Mark Evans, waterway manager at the Canal & River Trust, said: “The Bridgwater & Taunton Canal is a fantastic place for the local community, but one that needs regular care and investment to upkeep. The old beams at Firepool Lock were in a bad way, one had snapped off - likely because people were climbing on it - and they were all reaching the end of their lifespan. These new ones will give the lock a fresh start and help bring the history of the canal to life.”
