Skip to main content

The charity making life better by water

Perry Barr Lock Flight

Type: Navigation Closure

Waterway(s): Tame Valley Canal

From: 27 July 2026, 1pm

To: On-going

Region: West Midlands

Reason: Low Water Levels

Subject to review on: 28 August 2026

Location

Closest waterwayTame Valley Canal
Starts atPerry Barr Lock 1, Top Lock
Ends atPerry Barr Lock 13, Bottom Lock

Descriptions

Update 3 August 2026, 3:46pm

Due to the ongoing dry weather and continued pressure on water resources, the Tame Valley Canal will remain closed to navigation until further notice.

Current water availability is insufficient to maintain water levels and replenish pounds, making it necessary to suspend navigation to protect the canal and the wider network. Our teams will continue to monitor conditions closely and review the situation regularly.

A further update will be provided when water levels have recovered sufficiently to support safe navigation.

Update 29 July 2026, 12:20pm

Following a review of water resources, Perry Barr Lock Flight will remain closed to navigation. Unfortunately, water levels have not improved sufficiently to allow the flight to reopen at this time. Our team will continue to monitor the situation closely and plans to review the closure again on Monday 3 August to determine whether the lock flight can move to restricted operation or whether the closure needs to remain in place. A further update will be issued following this review.

Update 27 July 2026, 12:27pm

Following a further assessment of water resources, Perry Barr lock flight will be closed to navigation due to low water levels. This closure is necessary to allow water levels within the canal to recover and to help protect the wider navigation network during the current period of prolonged dry weather. Our team is closely monitoring the situation and plans to review the closure on Wednesday 29 July. A further update will be issued once this review has taken place. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause and thank customers for their patience and understanding while we work to manage water resources as effectively as possible.

Original 22 July 2026, 2:38pm

Due to ongoing water resource challenges, a navigation restriction is being introduced on Perry Barr Lock Flight from Tuesday 4 August 2026. This restriction has been introduced to help conserve water supplies and maintain navigation during a period of reduced water availability. The following operating times will apply: Perry Barr Lock Flight * Open: 10:00 * Last passage: 14:00 * Close: 15:00 Last passage through the lock flight will be one hour before the published closure time to allow boats sufficient time to clear the flight safely before locks are secured. The situation will be reviewed regularly. Should water resources not improve, it may become necessary to introduce further restrictions or a temporary closure to navigation. Any future changes will be communicated as soon as possible. Boaters can help reduce water usage by sharing locks where possible and ensuring paddles are fully lowered and lock gates are properly closed after use. For further guidance, please refer to the Thrift Code - a set of simple actions boaters can take to save water. We appreciate the patience and cooperation of all boaters as we work to conserve water resources and maintain navigation.

Stay connected

Sign up to our newsletter and discover how we protect canals and help nature thrive