Description
Original 15 August 2025, 12:32pm
Current navigation closure between Claydon Top Lock 17 and Little Bourton Lock 27 is to be extend to Aynho Weir Lock 33
We have continued to monitor the exceptionally dry conditions, and the impact on our reservoirs. Unfortunately, despite all our operational efforts, as rainfall has remained well below the long-term average water levels in our feeder reservoirs are continuing to fall due to canal water demands. We can now confirm that, from 4pm .Wednesday 20th August 2025, the following locks will close to navigation until there is enough rainfall to replenish our reservoirs:
- Claydon Flight Locks 17-21
- Elkington's Lock 22
- Varneys Lock 23
- Broadmoor Lock 24
- Cropredy Lock 25
- Slatmill Lock 26
- Little Bourton Lock 27
- Hardwick Lock 28
- Banbury Lock 29
- Grants Lock 30
- Kings Sutton Lock 31
- Nell Bridge Lock 33
- Aynho Weir Lock 33 *
These closures are necessary to protect increasingly limited water resources and give the navigation an opportunity to recover, as well as helping preserve canal infrastructure and ecology. We hope that this confirmation allows time for boaters to adjust their plans and relocate as needed. If we can offer any windows at all for passage, then we will advise accordingly. We will continue to monitor the situation and will provide fortnightly updates, or sooner if conditions change. Despite the measures we're taking, there may be extreme local circumstances that require us to take immediate action to temporarily close some other stretches on the South Oxford navigation. If it rains enough to allow safe navigation, restrictions will be lifted: this is likely to require sufficient and prolonged rain over several weeks rather than a sudden very heavy downpour. We understand that this continues to be disappointing news, and our priority is to reopen the canal to full navigation as soon as possible. We thank you for your support in reducing water use across our network, and reporting leaks or concerns via 0303 040 4040 or our Contact Us page.
