Descriptions
Update 11 August 2026, 3:03pm
Due to the continued period of dry weather and ongoing challenges with water resources remaining lower than would normally be expected for this time of year, the current navigation restriction will remain in place. Restricted operating hours continue to apply between Lock 34, Meaford Top Lock and Lock 28, Yard Lock on the Trent & Mersey Canal. This section of canal remains closed overnight from 6pm and reopens at 9am each day. These restrictions are helping to conserve water resources and support the sustainability of navigation on the Trent & Mersey Canal and the wider connected canal network. Our teams continue to monitor water levels and water resources daily and will keep the situation under regular review. We will provide further updates as soon as conditions change or further information becomes available. We appreciate that this may affect planned journeys and apologise for any inconvenience caused. We would like to thank boaters and other waterway users for their continued patience, understanding, and cooperation during this period.
Original 27 July 2026, 3:20pm
Due to prolonged dry weather and ongoing challenges with water resources lower than would normally be expected for this time of year, and in order to help conserve water resources and maintain navigation for as long as possible, we are introducing restricted operating hours between the following locks from Wednesday 29 July 2026:
Between Lock 34, Meaford Top Lock and Lock 28, Yard Lock, the T&M Canal will be closed overnight from 6pm, reopening again at 9am each day.
This restriction will help conserve water and allow the affected section to recover, supporting the sustainability of navigation on the Trent & Mersey Canal and the wider connected canal network.
We appreciate that this may affect planned journeys and apologise for any inconvenience caused. Our teams will continue to monitor conditions closely and we will provide further updates as they become available.
We would like to thank boaters and other waterway users for their patience, understanding and cooperation during this period.
