Our engineers have been busy replacing a set of worn out lock gates at lock 40 near Thrupp. The old gates, which were around 25 years old, had come to the end of their working life and needed replacing as they were no longer water tight. These new gates, which are handmade from seasoned oak, can hold a whopping 162,000 litres of water – that's around 2,000 bath tubs – in the lock.
This winter season we're spending £43 million across the country carrying out much needed repairs to the 200-year-old canal network.
Charlotte Wood, construction manager from the Canal & River Trust, said: "The Oxford Canal is a really pretty rural waterway and is really popular with boaters wanting to explore the countryside from the comfort of their cosy narrowboat. Anything that is used on a daily basis will eventually wear out and lock gates are no exception. Now these new gates are in place they should last a good many years before they need to be replaced."
