Section of Canal above Wolverley Locks

There is still a partial blockage in the navigation and we are monitoring the stability of the bank.

We will inspect for movement on a daily basis at approximately 8.30am.

 We are requesting if passage can be restricted through the slip between the hours of 8.30am to dusk.

 Please do not moor within 50mt either side of the slip.

For the most part the cutting has remained stable so we are increasing the opening hours to run from 9.00 am to 3.00 pm each day.  Boats will pass through unsupervised, but staff will periodically check the cutting to ensure it remains stable and safe to navigate.

Could we ask boats to kindly slow right down to tickover speed through the slipped section.

This will take effect from 9am on 4th April.

Our contractors have managed to dredge a narrow route through the slippage that will allow boats to pass through under supervision. Further works to stabilise the embankment will be undertaken by Severn Trent & Worcestershire County Council in the near future.

Although the canal is closed between Wolverley and Debdale Locks. Starting on the 14th of March at 3.00pm the closed section will be opened for boats to pass through the slip on the following times each day, to include weekends – 9.00am to 10.00am and 2.00pm to 3.00pm. The open times will be reviewed weekly.

Please note: If any further slips occur the canal maybe temporarily closed again until further investigations have taken place.

Our contractors started to excavate this morning having reviewed the condition of the slope the previous day.

WCC attended site with the Trust and provided us with ongoing advice whilst we carefully removed material form the canal.

Our joint observations confirmed that we could continue to cautiously remove material and were able to create a small channel by late morning and start to supervise the passage boats.

A total of 80T of material was removed from the canal, which given the nature of the work, is a great achievement.

This afternoon five boats had been moved past the slip.

Two unoccupied boats are awaiting passage with our supervision as soon as the owners are contacted.

The canal remains closed whilst we assess the stability of the slope following our operations.  We remain concerned about the unsupported material at the top of the slope which includes the road itself.

Progress to fully reinstate the cutting and support to the road will be investigated by WCC.

During the course of yesterday and today our contractor has been mobilising plant to site.  Despite some very unfavourable conditions they have been able to receive all plant to site using the Lock Inn as an access point. 

They are now ready to start to carefully remove material which they will begin, weather permitting, tomorrow.  We have experienced heavy rain today, saturating and potentially weakening the exposed slope.  We are unsure how the slope will react to our excavation, but we want to give it the best chance.  So we plan to commence works with a full day ahead of us tomorrow.  This will be a critical time in the programme, and so we will update at the end of tomorrows operations hopefully with a better understanding of how successful we think we might be and how long it will take

Our contractors are going to mobilise on Monday the 11th of March and start excavating material on Tuesday the 12th. Please be aware there is a real risk with removing the spoil from the canal because presently it might offer support to the material above it, which in turn supports the road. The works will be monitored by our own Engineers and Worcester Council Engineers and should further slippage occur the spoil excavation works may have to be halted to prevent the road being undermined.  

Further updates will follow on Tuesday the 12th of March.

A landslide has caused trees to fall into the canal and block navigation just above Wolverley Locks. As a result, this section of canal will be closed until we are able to remove the trees.

We apologise for any inconvenience caused.