Napton Lock 8 to Marston Doles Lock 16

Please be advised of updated arrangements for Thursday 13 August only, after which the closure will resume at Napton & Marston Doles Locks 8, 14, 15 and 16.

The aim of this closure is to reduce water demand and allow water levels to recover during the current dry spell.

To accommodate craft travelling through Lock 17, we will temporarily open the flight on Thursday 13 August:

• Lock 16 will be open from 08:00 until 11:00 for boats entering the flight.

• Boats entering at Lock 16 will be permitted to continue through and exit at Lock 8 by 13:00.

• All craft must be clear of the affected section prior to the reintroduction of the closure.

• No mooring is permitted between Locks 8 and 16.

Boaters are advised to plan their passage carefully and allow sufficient time to clear the flight before the closure resumes.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation. You can read about other ways to help preserve water supplies on our website.

A further update will be provided by Monday 31 August, or sooner if the situation changes.

Despite our efforts to conserve water and maintain navigation, continued dry weather and falling reservoir levels mean we can no longer maintain passage through this section. From Sunday 9 August, Locks 8, 14, 15 and 16 will be closed to navigation. Last entry into the flight will be at 2pm, with all locks closed by 3pm. These closures are necessary to protect limited water resources, support navigation recovery and safeguard canal infrastructure and ecology. Subject to conditions remaining suitable, we intend to provide a limited movement window on Monday 10 August between 10am and 3pm, with the last entry at 1pm. We are closely monitoring the situation and doing everything possible to maximise available water supplies across this part of the network. We will continue to review conditions and update this notice as further information becomes available. 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.