Wigan Flight (Locks 65 to 85) - Opening Times

Following a sustained period of warm weather, we are experiencing low water levels in the Leeds & Liverpool Canal and reservoirs.  To conserve water, we are reducing the opening times at Wigan Flight.  As of Saturday 7 July 2018, Lock 65 (Top of Wigan Flight) and Lock 85 (Bottom of Wigan Flight) will be opened to customers as follows:

• 8:30am to 9:30am to facilitate entry onto the flight
• 12:30pm to 1:30pm to facilitate exit from the flight

The above locks will be padlocked closed outside of these times.  Overnight mooring on the flight will be permitted only at Rose Bridge (between Locks 77 & 78).   Roving lock keepers will be on the Wigan Flight daily to oversee the passages and ensure the water levels are maintained.  This is not an assisted passage and staff will be around to help customers when needed.  

Full assistance is available for single handed boaters on Thursday mornings at 8:30am and our Wigan Lock keepers can be contacted direct on 01942 405774 if you have any questions or want to report an issue on the flight.  Our Wigan Flight customer operations team will endeavour to help with any issues in a timely fashion.   Please bear with us as we may already be dealing with other priority jobs.

Overnight restrictions will remain in place at Poolstock Locks, along with Lock 88 (Pagefield Lock) to Lock 89 (Ell Meadow Lock).  These locks will be opened at 8am and locked at 3pm daily. 

These restrictions will be in place until further notice.

Wigan Flight Summer opening times  

The trial timings for the Wigan Flight will continue to remain in place, as highlighted below, until feedback from the consultation has been analyzed.

Lock 65 (Top of Wigan Flight) and Lock 85 (Bottom of Wigan Flight) will be opened to customers as follows:

• 8am until 9am daily – to facilitate entry onto the Wigan Flight
• 12pm until 1pm daily – to facilitate entry and exit on the Wigan Flight
• 5pm until 6pm daily – to facilitate exit off the Wigan Flight 

The above locks will be padlocked closed outside of these times.  Overnight mooring on the flight will be permitted only at Rose Bridge (between Locks 77 & 78).   Roving lock keepers will be on the Wigan Flight daily to oversee the passages and ensure the water levels are maintained.  This is not an assisted passage and staff will be around to help customers when needed.   

Full assistance is available for single handed boaters on Thursday mornings at 8:30am and our Wigan Lock keepers can be contacted direct on 01942 405774 if you have any questions or want to report an issue on the flight.  Our Wigan Flight customer operations team will endeavor to help with any issues in a timely fashion.   Please bear with us as we may already be dealing with other priority jobs. 

Overnight restrictions will remain in place at Poolstock Locks, along with Lock 88 (Pagefield Lock) to Lock 89 (Ell Meadow Lock).  These locks will be closed from 8pm to 8am.

Wigan Flight Summer Opening Times  - Extension To Consultation

We will be extending the trial timings for the Wigan Flight as highlighted below until feedback from the consultation can be analysed

8am until 9am daily – to facilitate entry onto the Wigan Flight

12pm until 1pm daily – to facilitate entry and exit on the Wigan Flight

• 5pm until 6pm daily – to facilitate exit off the Wigan Flight 

The above locks will be padlocked closed outside of these times.  Overnight mooring on the flight will be permitted only at Rose Bridge (between Locks 77 & 78).   Roving lock keepers will be on the Wigan Flight daily to oversee the passages and ensure the water levels are maintained.  This is not an assisted passage and staff will be around to help customers when needed.   

Full assistance is available for single handed boaters on Thursday mornings at 8:30am and our Wigan Lock keepers can be contacted direct on 01942 405774 if you have any questions or want to report an issue on the flight.  Our Wigan Flight customer operations team will endeavour to help with any issues in a timely fashion.   Please bear with us as we may already be dealing with other priority jobs. 

Overnight restrictions will remain in place at Poolstock Locks, along with Lock 88 (Pagefield Lock) to Lock 89 (Ell Meadow Lock).  These locks will be closed from 8pm to 8am.  

We are still inviting your feedback and a review will be completed in June 2018.  Our lock keepers will be able to pass you a comment card for this.  Alternatively, you can let us know your comments via e-mail to [email protected].  

Wigan Flight Summer opening times  

To manage water in the Wigan area and in response to customer feedback, we are trailing opening times on the Wigan Flight from 19 March to 31 May 2018.  

For a ten week period, Lock 65 (Top of Wigan Flight) and Lock 85 (Bottom of Wigan Flight) will be opened to customers as follows:

• 8am until 9am daily – to facilitate entry onto the Wigan Flight
• 12pm until 1pm daily – to facilitate entry and exit on the Wigan Flight
• 5pm until 6pm daily – to facilitate exit off the Wigan Flight 

The above locks will be padlocked closed outside of these times.  Overnight mooring on the flight will be permitted only at Rose Bridge (between Locks 77 & 78).   Roving lock keepers will be on the Wigan Flight daily to oversee the passages and ensure the water levels are maintained.  This is not an assisted passage and staff will be around to help customers when needed.   

Full assistance is available for single handed boaters on Thursday mornings at 8:30am and our Wigan Lock keepers can be contacted direct on 01942 405774 if you have any questions or want to report an issue on the flight.  Our Wigan Flight customer operations team will endeavour to help with any issues in a timely fashion.   Please bear with us as we may already be dealing with other priority jobs. 

Overnight restrictions will remain in place at Poolstock Locks, along with Lock 88 (Pagefield Lock) to Lock 89 (Ell Meadow Lock).  These locks will be closed from 8pm to 8am.  

During the trial, we are inviting your feedback and a review will be completed in May 2018.  Our lock keepers will be able to pass you a comment card for this.  Alternatively, you can let us know your comments via e-mail to [email protected].