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Lock 5 of the Watford Flight - Leicester Line (Grand Union Canal)

Type: Navigation Closure

From: 5 June 2025 5:30 pm

To: 11 June 2025 4:07 pm inclusive

Reason: Repair

Subject to review on: 12 June 2025

Location

Closest waterwayLeicester Line (Grand Union Canal)
Starts atLock 5
Ends atLock 5

Descriptions

Update 6 June 2025 1:07 pm

Multiple Teams from across the Trust have been on site this morning to assess and attempt to repair the damage.  Unfortunately, their attempts have been unsuccessful and the Lock remains inoperable.  Specialist equipment is required to lift the gate so that some further work can be carried out and the gate can be lowered back into position.  The earliest we can mobilise this equipment is Wednesday 11th June. We will update this notice by 6pm on Thursday 12th June, or earlier if we have more information on the progress of this repair.  

Original 5 June 2025 5:33 pm

Lock 5 of the Watford flight has been hit by a boat ascending on its way to Foxton for the IWA festival this weekend.  The force of the impact has dislodged one of the lock gates out of its pot.  Colleagues have been on site since the incident, attempting to reposition it and reopen the flight but attempts so far have been unsuccessful.  Conscious that a number of boaters will be heading towards Foxton for the festival over the weekend, we will be back on site first thing tomorrow to drain the lock, allowing us to put the gate back in position and re-open the flight.  We will update this notice as soon as we have confirmation that Lock 5 is operational again. 

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