Updates
15/12/2022 10:55
Following the re-opening of the Leeds & Liverpool Canal, the below lock flights will remain on their respective opening times. Please click the below links for more details:
North West:
Yorkshire & North East:
- Bank Newton Locks (36 to 41) & Gargrave (Holme Bridge Lock 30)
- Bingley 3 & 5 Rise Locks
- Newlay, Forge and Kirkstall Locks
Please note, any planned winter works to the above lock flights will supersede these times and navigation will be closed during the times stated on the notice. You can find these here.
27/10/2022 15:55
Since the re-opening of the Leeds & Liverpool canal to allow customers to return back to moorings for the winter, we have seen a significant increase in the reservoirs that supply of the canal following the recent rainfall. We are now in a position to keep navigation open until further notice, albeit with opening times continued on several lock flights.
From Monday 31 October, the following lock flights will continue to open from 10am to 4pm, daily:
North West:
- Wigan Flight (65 to 85). Last entry at 12pm
- Blackburn Lock Flight (52 to 57). Last entry at 2:30pm. Please note the Blackburn Lock Flight will be closed on Monday 31 October, only, due to planned repairs.
- Greenberfield Lock Flight (42 to 44). Last entry at 3pm. Please note access through Lock 43 is currently restricted to narrowboats only, you can see more about this here.
Yorkshire & North East:
- Bank Newton Locks (36 to 41) Last entry at 3pm
- Gargrave (Holme Bridge Lock 30) Last entry at 3pm
Please see the below links for the opening times for Bingley 3 & 5 Rise, and Newlay, Forge & Kirkstall:
From Monday 31 October, Poolstock Locks on the Leigh Branch, Johnsons Hillock Lock Flight, Barrowford Lock Flight and Lock 31, Eshton Road Lock on the Leeds & Liverpool canal will open without restriction.
Please be reminded, the planned winter works programme starts week commencing Monday 7 November with closures implemented across the winter period. Please check your route for any upcoming closures that may affect your journey.
Should customers find themselves approaching an empty pound, please contact our North West or Yorkshire & North East Customer Support Teams for assistance on 0303 040 4040, selecting the relevant region.
Our teams will continue to monitor our reservoir holdings. These operating times will remain under review and could be subject to change.
14/10/2022 13:02
Following our update on the re-opening of the Leeds & Liverpool canal, to allow customers to return back to moorings for the winter, Poolstock Locks 1 & 2, Leigh Branch, and Lock 86 on the Leeds & Liverpool canal will open for passage from 10am till 4pm on Monday 17 October. This will also open for a period of 2 weeks, closing again on Monday 31 October, with last passage on Sunday 30 October.
Any customers with a current booking through Poolstock Locks and Lock 86 during this period will still be honoured, though passage will not be assisted, and alternatively, you are able to travel during the open period on an alternative day. Please contact our North West Customer Support Team on 0303 040 4040 should you have any queries regarding your booking.
Bookings through Poolstock Locks 1 & 2, Leigh Branch, and Lock 86 on the Leeds & Liverpool canal will then resume from Monday 31 October, on Mondays and Fridays only.
Please note, passage through these locks will be closed during the planned winter works to Lock 87, you can see more about this, here:
https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/notices/22254-lock-87-wigan-flight-bottom-lock
12/10/2022 15:03
Due to recent improvements in the water levels within Winterburn & Slipper Hill Reservoirs, which feed the Leeds & Liverpool canal, we are now in a position to resume navigation with operating times from Lock 1, Leeds to Lock 85, Wigan from Monday 17 October. This week, our local teams will recharge the pounds along the lock flights and ensure the locks are ready for reopening.
The canal will remain open for a period of 2 weeks to give customers an opportunity to return to moorings for the winter, closing again on Monday 31 October, with last passage on Sunday 30 October. This is subject to the weather over the next 2 weeks, and if we are in a position to extend the opening period, further updates will be provided.
From Monday 17 October, the following lock flights will be open from 10am to 4pm, daily:
North West:
- Wigan Flight (65 to 85). Last passage at 12pm.
- Johnsons Hillock Lock Flight (58 to 64). Last passage at 2:30pm.
- Blackburn Lock Flight (52 to 57). Last passage at 2:30pm.
- Barrowford Lock Flight (45 to 51). Last passage at 2:30pm.
- Greenberfield Lock Flight (42 to 44). Last passage at 3pm.
Poolstock Locks 1 & 2, Leigh Branch and Lock 86 on the Leeds & Liverpool canal will remain open to prebooked passages only, you can see more about this here:
Yorkshire & North East:
- Bank Newton Locks (36 to 41) Last passage at 3pm.
- Gargrave (Holme Bridge Lock 30) Last passage at 3pm.
Navigation through Bingley 3 & 5 Locks, and Newlay, Forge & Kirkstall will resume on Friday 14 October as per the following opening times:
Bingley Three & Five Rise:
Morning:
- Passages down the lock flights between 08:00-10:00, last entry at 09:00.
- Passages up the lock flights between 10:00-12:00, last entry at 11:00.
Afternoon:
- Passages down the lock flight between 13:00-15:00, last entry at 14:00.
- Passage up the lock flight at 15:00, only due to reduced daylight hours.
Newlay, Forge & Kirkstall:
- Locks will be available for self-operation between the hours of 08:00 and 15:00 daily. However, there will be roving lock keepers between Leeds & Newlay to offer assistance through the locks if required.
Lock 1, Leeds to Lock 6 will be open for passage without restriction.
Should customers find themselves approaching an empty pound during this navigational window, please contact our North West or Yorkshire & North East Customer Support Teams for assistance on 0303 040 4040, selecting the relevant region.
19/08/2022 15:00
Despite some recent rainfall, it has not been enough to impact on the reservoirs that supply water to the Leeds & Liverpool canal and navigation remains closed from Lock 1, Leeds to Lock 86, Wigan.
To allow us to conserve as much as water as possible, we will be reducing the available bookings for Poolstock Locks 1 & 2 on the Leigh Branch and Lock 86 on the Leeds & Liverpool canal from Monday 29 August. You can read more on this here.
Our teams will continue to monitor our reservoir holdings and surface water feeders and we will provide updates on the water position throughout the closed period.
17/08/2022 08:17
Due to continued lack of rainfall and low water levels we are implementing further closures as below:
Yorkshire & North East from:
Bingley 5 Rise Top Lock to Dobson Lock.
All locks will be locked closed and last passage will be 5pm today 17th August.
Lock keepers will be present for the next few days to help assist boats back to their moorings.
This is alongside the following lengths of the canal which are already closed:
Bank Newton to Gargrave and
Newlay Top Lock to River Lock.
10/08/2022 16:53
Due to continued low water levels and limited water resources we need to reduce passage times on the Bingley 3 rise and Bingley 5 rise.
Morning
Passages down the lock flights between 09:00-11:00, last entry at 11:00.
Afternoon
Passages up the lock flight between 13:00-15:00, last entry at 15:00.
All other restrictions on the Leeds and Liverpool canal remain the same.
29/07/2022 14:20
Despite some recent rainfall, it has not been enough to impact on the reservoir holdings that supply the Leeds & Liverpool canal and navigation remains closed on the below lock flights:
North West:
- Poolstock Locks 1 & 2 (Leigh Branch) (Open Mondays & Thursdays for pre-arranged bookings only)
- Wigan Lock Flight (86 to 65)
- Johnsons Hillock Lock Flight (64 to 58)
- Blackburn Lock Flight (57 to 52)
- Barrowford Lock Flight (51 to 45)
- Greenberfield Lock Flight (44 to 42)
Yorkshire & North East:
- Bank Newton Locks (41 to 36)
- Gargrave (Holme Bridge Lock 30)
Whilst these closures will prevent use of the lock flights, cruising between the locks will remain available.
We have taken this opportunity to bring forward a planned project from the winter work programme at Lock 49 on the Barrowford lock flight. Due to the nature of these works, we have been able to devise a method of repair that should navigation be able to resume, we will be able to demobilise at short notice.
In addition to the above works, our local team are also carrying out leak prevention works to Lock 45, with routine maintenance and improvement works carried out along the lock flights.
Bingley 5 & 3 Rise Locks and Newlay, Forge and Kirkstall Locks remain open as per the Summer Opening Times. Our surface water feeders to the Skipton pound are providing a sufficient feed to support the canal from this point down.
Our teams will continue to monitor our reservoir holdings and surface water feeders and we will provide updates on the water position throughout the closed period.
08/07/2022 10:06
To confirm the details of our notice published on the 1 July, unfortunately there has been no improvement to our reservoir holdings for the Leeds & Liverpool canal, therefore we will be implementing closures on the lock flights listed below, from Monday 18 July 2022. We will continue to monitor the situation and we will advise should the reservoirs recover enough to be able to reopen the canal. We apologise for the inconvenience this will undoubtedly cause our boating customers and boating businesses.
In advance of this closure, we have chosen to carry out the works to Forge Lock starting on the 11 July. The cills of the lock have lifted and although we have carried out a temporary repair and have assisted passage through the lock in recent weeks, we cannot be certain that passage will remain possible without a more comprehensive intervention. In doing this work now we are aiming to ensure the route east towards Leeds is available when the water shortages described above will close the route west towards Gargrave, and so provide boaters with an alternative option.
North West:
- Poolstock Locks 1 & 2, Leigh Branch (Open Mondays & Thursdays for pre-arranged bookings only)
- Wigan Lock Flight (86 to 65)
- Johnsons Hillock Lock Flight (64 to 58)
- Blackburn Lock Flight (57 to 52)
- Barrowford Lock Flight (51 to 45)
- Greenberfield Lock Flight (44 to 42)
Yorkshire & North East:
- Bank Newton Locks (41 to 36)
- Gargrave (Holme Bridge Lock 30)
An update will be provided by Friday 29 July.
01/07/2022 16:47
Despite some recent rainfall, there has been no significant impact on our reservoir holdings that supply the Leeds & Liverpool canal as this has been absorbed into an already dry landscape.
Therefore, we will be implementing closures on the following lock flights along the Leeds & Liverpool canal from Monday 18 July 2022. Customers must complete their last passage through the lock flights on Sunday 17 July 2022.
North West:
- Poolstock Locks 1 & 2 (Leigh Branch)
- Wigan Lock Flight (86 to 65)
- Johnsons Hillock Lock Flight (64 to 58)
- Blackburn Lock Flight (57 to 52)
- Barrowford Lock Flight (51 to 45)
- Greenberfield Lock Flight (44 to 42)
Yorkshire & North East:
- Bank Newton Locks (41 to 36)
- Gargrave (Holme Bridge Lock 30)
To enable boat movements to Ribble Link, Wigan Dry Dock, Liverpool Canal Link and Salthouse Dock, we will temporarily open Poolstock Locks 1 & 2 on the Leigh Branch and Lock 86 on the Leeds & Liverpool canal 2 days a week, for pre-arranged bookings only, as follows:
- Mondays, 10am and 2pm
- Thursdays, 10am and 2pm
Bookings can be made online, or by calling 0303 040 4040.
Please note, Ribble Link, Wigan Dry Dock, Liverpool Canal Link and Salthouse Dock bookings cannot be changed to accommodate this closure, unless there is availability to do so. We urge customers to plan their journeys effectively with this in mind. If you have a current booking in place and would like to discuss or cancel your booking, please call our North West Customer Support Team on 0303 040 4040, or alternatively by accessing your online account.
We appreciate this is disappointing news for our customers and we hope that by providing 2 weeks' notice, it will help our customers plan their upcoming journeys or move to alternative locations to avoid the impact of the closures on their cruising plans.
To conserve as much water as possible whilst these closures are in place, the lock flights will be padlocked closed and secured against operation with the gates 'ashed up' to reduce leakage. Implementing these closures now means that we can conserve water, allowing the reservoirs to start to refill should we have significant rainfall. Whilst these closures will prevent use of the lock flights, cruising between the locks will remain available.
Bingley 5 & 3 Rise Locks and Newlay, Forge and Kirkstall Locks will remain open as per the Summer Opening Times. Our surface water feeders to the Skipton pound are providing a sufficient feed to support the canal from this point down.
Our teams will continue to monitor our reservoir holdings and surface water feeders and we will provide updates on the water position throughout the closed period.
17/06/2022 14:49
Our teams have been closely monitoring the water usage along the Leeds & Liverpool canal which has reached a record high due to the increase in boat movement following the re-opening of Lock 31, Eshton Road Lock.
To be able to continue to protect our water resources and infrastructure, from Friday 24 June, we will be further reducing the current opening times for the locks along the canal. Without a sustained and significant rainfall, a full closure is likely before the end of July, significant reduction in water use could delay a potential closure, but this without significant inflows into our reservoirs will not prevent the need to close the canal.
From Friday 24 June, the Wigan Lock Flight Locks 65 to 86 will remain open from 8am until 4pm, with last entry at 12pm.
Poolstock Locks 1 & 2 on the Leigh Branch will remain open from 10am until 4pm, daily.
The following lock flights will be open from 10am and 4pm daily at the following locations:
North West:
- Johnsons Hillock Lock Flight (58 to 64). Last passage at 2:30pm.
- Blackburn Lock Flight (52 to 57). Last passage at 2:30pm.
- Barrowford Lock Flight (45 to 51). Last passage at 2:30pm.
- Greenberfield Lock Flight (42 to 44). Last passage at 3pm.
Yorkshire & North East:
- Bank Newton Locks (36 to 41). Last passage at 3pm.
- Gargarve (Holme Bridge Lock 30). Last passage at 3pm.
The lock flights will be padlocked closed at 4pm. Please ensure that you enter the lock flight with sufficient time to get through, noting the last passage times above. Moorings are available at the top and bottom of the flights.
Bingley 5 & 3 Rise Locks and Newlay, Forge and Kirkstall Locks will remain open as per the Summer Opening Times. Our surface water feeders to the Skipton pound are providing a sufficient feed to support the canal from this point down. This will continue to be monitored.
By implementing these operating times, we hope it will allow our customers to plan their journey knowing what to expect over the summer months as our teams continue to work hard to conserve water at every opportunity.
You can help us conserve water by:
- Sharing locks where possible and making the best use of the water available.
- Ensuring paddles are fully closed once they have passed through a lock.
- Aiming for minimal contact when navigating through locks by ensuring gates are fully open as they pass through. Pushing gates open using a boat can damage the gate lining, increasing its leakage.
Our teams will continue to monitor our reservoir holdings throughout the season. Please note, these operating times will remain under review and could be subject to change.
You can find out more about our current reservoir situation, Here
30/05/2022 15:32
Due to the increase in boat movement following the re-opening of Lock 31, Eshton Road Lock and the ongoing essential maintenance works to the reservoirs that supply the Leeds & Liverpool Canal, we will be reducing the current opening times along the canal to help maintain a stable water resource over the coming months.
From Monday 13 June, the following lock flights will be open from 10am until 5pm, with last passage at 4pm, daily:
- Greenberfield Lock Flight
- Barrowford Lock Flight
- Blackburn Lock Flight
- Johnsons Hillock Lock Flight
The Wigan Lock Flight will be open from 8am until 4pm, with last entry at 12pm.
Please note, the following locks along the Yorkshire & North East section of the canal are also affected and will be open from 10am until 5pm, with last passage at 4pm, daily:
- Bank Newton Lock Flight
- Lock 31, Eshton Road Lock
- Gargrave (Lock 30, Holme Bridge Lock)
By implementing these operating times, we hope it will allow our customers to plan their journey knowing what to expect over the summer months as our teams continue to work hard to conserve water at every opportunity.
You can help us conserve water by:
- Sharing locks where possible and making the best use of the water available.
- Ensuring paddles are fully closed once they have passed through a lock.
- Aiming for minimal contact when navigating through locks by ensuring gates are fully open as they pass through. Pushing gates open using a boat can damage the gate lining, increasing its leakage.
Our teams will continue to monitor our reservoir holdings throughout the season. Please note, these operating times will remain under review and could be subject to change.
For the Summer Operating Times for the remaining Yorkshire & North Locks please see the following links:
