Wigan Flight to Bingley Five Rise, Leeds & Liverpool Canal

Detail

From Date: 28/04/2020 12:00

To Date: 09/07/2020 17:00 inclusive

Type: Navigation Restriction

Reason: Water resources

Is the towpath closed? No

Location

Closest waterway: Leeds & Liverpool Canal

Starts at: Lock 85, Lock 21

Ends at: Lock 25, Bingley 5 Rise Bottom Lock

Updates

09/07/2020 16:57

We have had significant and sustained rainfall in the North West over the last couple of weeks that has improved our reservoir holdings sufficiently to ensure we have enough water for the remainder of the boating season. We are pleased to advise we are removing the operating times and the padlocks have been removed from the following locks allowing free flowing navigation along the Leeds & Liverpool Canal:

Johnson Hillocks (58-64)

Blackburn Locks (52-57)

Barrowford Locks (45-51)

Greenberfield Locks (42-44)

Bank Newton Locks (36-41)

Gargrave Lock (30)

The following flights will continue to operate at the times stated below:

The Wigan Flight (65-85)

  • 8.30am – 10am for entry onto the flight only
  • 12.30pm – 2pm for exit off the flight only

You can see more information on the above here.

Bingley Three & Five Rise (22-29)

Morning

  • Passages down the lock flights between 8am – 10am, last entry at 9am
  • Passages up the lock flights between 10am – 12pm, last entry at 11am

Afternoon

  • Passages down the lock flight between 1pm – 3pm, last entry at 2pm
  • Passages up the lock flight between 3pm – 5pm, last entry at 4pm

You can see more information on the above here.

Kirkstall Lock to Newlay Locks (7-13)

Morning:

  • Passages down the lock flights between 8am – 10am, last entry at 9am
  • Passages up the lock flights between 10am – 12pm, last entry at 11am

Afternoon:

  • Passages down the lock flight between 1pm – 3pm, last entry at 2pm
  • Passages up the lock flight between 3pm – 5pm, last entry at 4pm

You can see more information on the above here.

We would ask all boaters to help us manage our water efficiently by doubling up in locks where possible and ensuring all paddles are left down and locked where possible.

Please continue to follow the government advice regarding coronavirus – stay alert, control the virus, save lives.

Please our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for more information.

30/06/2020 17:02

Due to rainfall experienced over last week we are pleased to advise the Leeds & Liverpool Canal will re-open earlier than planned.

The Leeds & Liverpool Canal will now re-open on Friday, 3 July, instead of the previously advised Monday, 6 July. The operating times are still required to effectively manage the water levels and they are as follows:

Wigan Flight (65-85) – daily

•           8.30am – 10am for entry onto the flight only

•           12.30pm – 2pm for exit off the flight only

Top and bottom lock will be closed between these times to ensure no more boats can gain entry onto the flight.  No boats will be permitted to enter the flight to start a journey in the second window.

Johnson Hillocks (58-64) – daily

•           Open 10am closed 5pm. Last entry 4pm

Blackburn Locks (52-57) – daily

•           Open 10am, closed 4pm. Last entry 3pm

Barrowford Locks (45-51) – daily

•           Open 10am, closed 4pm. Last entry 3pm

Greenberfield Locks (42-44) – daily

•           Open 10am, closed 5pm. Last entry 4pm

Bank Newton Locks (36-41) – daily

•           Open 10am, closed 5pm. Last entry 4pm

Gargrave Lock (30) – daily

•           Open 10am, closed 5pm. Last entry 4pm

Bingley Three & Five Rise (22-29), and Kirkstall to Newlay Locks (7-13) - daily

Morning

•           Passages down the lock flights between 8am and 10am. Last entry 9am

•           Passages up the lock flights between 10am and 12pm. Last entry 11am

Afternoon

•           Passages down the lock flights between 1pm and 3pm. Last entry 2pm

•           Passages up the lock flights between 3pm and 5pm. Last entry 4pm

Boats must double up in locks where possible for all of these passages to help conserve water.

These operating times will remain under review and could be subject to change.

Please be reminded, recent government guidance has stated customers can stay onboard their craft overnight from Saturday, 4 July.

Please continue to follow the government advice regarding coronavirus – stay alert, control the virus, save lives.

For more information about navigation restrictions on the Leeds & Liverpool Canal, please see our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).

19/06/2020 16:07

Further to the update on Wednesday 17 June, the Leeds & Liverpool Canal will open to navigation from Monday 6 July, with operating times.  This will enable boat movement to resume and help with conservation of water resource. 

Please double check the operating times carefully as these vary according to location.

Passage through locks on the Leeds & Liverpool Canal will be available as follows:

Wigan Flight (65-85) – daily

  • 8.30am – 10am for entry onto the flight only
  • 12.30pm – 2pm for exit off the flight only

Top and bottom lock will be closed between these times to ensure no more boats can gain entry onto the flight.  No boats will be permitted to enter the flight to start a journey in the second window.

Johnson Hillocks (58-64) – daily

  • Open 10am closed 5pm. Last entry 4pm

Blackburn Locks (52-57) – daily

  • Open 10am, closed 4pm. Last entry 3pm

Barrowford Locks (45-51) – daily

  • Open 10am, closed 4pm. Last entry 3pm

Greenberfield Locks (42-44) – daily

  • Open 10am, closed 5pm. Last entry 4pm

Bank Newton Locks (36-41) – daily

  • Open 10am, closed 5pm. Last entry 4pm

Gargrave Lock (30) – daily

  • Open 10am, closed 5pm. Last entry 4pm

Bingley Three & Five Rise (22-29), and Kirkstall to Newlay Locks (7-13) - daily

Morning

  • Passages down the lock flights between 8am and 10am.  Last entry 9am
  • Passages up the lock flights between 10am and 12pm.  Last entry 11am

  

Afternoon

  • Passages down the lock flights between 1pm and 3pm.  Last entry 2pm
  • Passages up the lock flights between 3pm and 5pm.  Last entry 4pm

Boats must double up in locks where possible for all of these passages to help conserve water.

These operating times will remain under review and could be subject to change.

NB According to current Government guidelines, boaters are not presently allowed to remain on their boats overnight, unless they live aboard.

Please continue to follow the government advice regarding coronavirus – stay alert, control the virus, save lives.

For more information about navigation restrictions on the Leeds & Liverpool Canal, please see the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on the Canal & River Trust website. https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/specialist-teams/managing-our-water/drought/water-management-faqs

17/06/2020 16:03

Please be advised the Locks along the Leeds & Liverpool Canal will re-open on Monday, 6 July.

More information, including operating details, will be provided Friday, 19 June.

Please continue to follow the government advice regarding coronavirus – stay alert, control the virus, save lives.

You can read more on our response to the coronavirus crisis here.

03/06/2020 18:17

The Canal & River Trust has arranged a special ‘window’ of three days for boaters wishing to move their craft on the Leeds & Liverpool Canal before the planned canal reopening in July. 

Passage through locks will be available from Friday 12 June – Sunday 14 June. If you are planning to move please double check opening times carefully as these vary according to location due to water conservation and staffing restrictions.

Wigan Flight, Locks 65 to 85

8.30am – 10am for   entry onto the flight only

12.30pm – 2pm for   exit off the flight only

Top and bottom lock will be closed between these times to   ensure no more boats can gain entry onto the flight.  No boats will be   permitted to enter the flight to start a journey in the second window.

Johnson Hillocks, Locks58 to 64

Open 10am closed 5pm.   Last entry 4pm

Blackburn Locks, Locks 52 to 57

Open 10am, closed   4pm. Last entry 3pm

Barrowford Locks, Locks 45 to 51

Open 10am, closed   4pm. Last entry 3pm

Greenberfield Locks, Locks 42 to 44

Open 10am, closed   5pm. Last entry 4pm

Bank Newton Locks, Locks 36 to 41

Open 10am, closed   5pm. Last entry 4pm

Gargrave Lock, Lock 30

Open 10am, closed   5pm. Last entry 4pm

Bingley Locks, Locks 22 to 29

Open 10am, closed   5pm. Last entry 4pm. Restricted access

East to West (up)   morning passages 10am -12:30pm.

West to East (down)   afternoon passages 1:30pm - 4pm

Where possible please double up in locks for all passages.

Locks on the canal are currently closed due to water shortages caused by the combined effect of reduced reservoir capacity and one of the driest springs on record. Reservoir holding is currently only 62% of capacity - far below what is required for unrestricted use of the canal at this stage of the year. (The canal relies on a regular supply of rainfall throughout the year to replenish resources.) The plan is to conserve water now with the hope of reopening the canal during the peak holiday months of July and August.  

For more information, please see our updated FAQs.

Please continue to follow the government advice regarding coronavirus – stay alert, control the virus, save lives.

You can read more on our response to the coronavirus crisis here.

29/05/2020 16:46

Navigation opportunities along the Leeds & Liverpool canal this summer will be restricted due to the combined effect of reduced reservoir capacity and one of the driest springs on record.

Our main objective is to keep the canals open during the peak holiday months of July and August and the Trust’s operational and water management teams are working hard to conserve enough water now to make this happen.  In July, the three canals (Leeds & Liverpool, Peak Forest and Macclesfield) will be fully open to navigation but with certain restrictions, to be confirmed at a later date. This is likely to coincide with when Government lockdown guidelines change to allow boaters to stay overnight on their boats and holiday hire boats to start operating again.

To conserve water and ensure we are able to offer navigation in July, the three North West canals will not be re-opened on 1st June as coronavirus navigation restrictions are relaxed across the rest of the canal network. However, the Trust is planning to offer boaters a window of opportunity of two or three days for emergency boat movements. This window will be in the next couple of weeks (mid-June) and we’ll be confirming these dates next week.

Please be advised the FAQs will be updated early next week and we will issue an update accordingly.

Please continue to follow the government advice regarding coronavirus – stay alert, control the virus, save lives.

You can read more on our response to the coronavirus crisis here.

22/05/2020 16:19

Due to the recent exceptionally dry weather, the Leeds & Liverpool canal will have to remain closed to navigation from 1 June, as the majority of the network reopens after the coronavirus lockdown.

We are working closely with our water management and operations teams to review our options for arranging a small window of opportunity for customers to move their boats.

We will provide a further update on Friday, 29 May.

For more information, please see our updated FAQs.

Please continue to follow the government advice regarding coronavirus – stay alert, control the virus, save lives.

You can read more on our response to the coronavirus crisis here.

07/05/2020 16:47

Further to the notice of 27 April, please follow this link to view the water resource FAQ

A further update will be issued on Friday 22 May.

Please follow all guidance relating to Coronavirus when using the canals and towpaths until further notice.  Up to date information on this can be found on this link: https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/enjoy-the-waterways/safety-on-our-waterways/coronavirus/coronavirus-and-boating-faqs

Description

Leeds & Liverpool Canal

To facilitate essential maintenance works at Barrowford and Whitemoor reservoirs, which supply the Leeds & Liverpool Canal, water levels have been kept at a lower level than normal.  This draw down along with the continued low rainfall means that we have started the boating season with less water than we need for unrestricted movement for the coming months.  With forecasts for further dry weather and Coronavirus related restrictions already in place, we have taken the decision to protect water resources further by implementing closures on the Leeds & Liverpool Canal Lock Flights from lunchtime on Tuesday 28 April 2020.  

The following locks will be affected:

Wigan Flight (Locks 65 to 85)

Johnsons Hillocks (58 to 64)

Blackburn Locks (52 to 55) – please note that Locks 56 and 57 at the bottom of the flight will remain open to allow access / winding for the services.

Barrowford Locks (45 to 51)

Greenberfield Locks (42 to 44)

Bank Newton Locks (36 to 41) 

Gargrave (Holme Bridge Lock 30)

Bingley Five Rise Locks (25 to 29)

To conserve as much water as possible while these closures are in place, all flights will be padlocked closed and the gates will be ashed up to reduce leakage.  To prevent unauthorised access through vandalism, measures may be taken to make the locks inoperable. 

Implementing these closures now means that we can reduce the feed to conserve water so that our canals can remain open for as long as possible for the rest of the year, albeit with some restrictions.  It’s not clear how long the closure will last for but it’s likely to be throughout May and potentially beyond if there is no significant, sustained rainfall.  While the closure will prevent use of the lock flights, cruising between the locks for essential purposes will remain available and the towpaths will be open for the local community to use in line with Government guidance.  Please follow all guidance relating to Coronavirus when using the canals and towpaths until further notice.  Up to date information on this can be found on this link: https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/enjoy-the-waterways/safety-on-our-waterways/coronavirus/coronavirus-and-boating-faqs

If you have a Liverpool Canal Link or Ribble Link booking and need some advice, please contact us on 03030 404040. 

An update will be issued next week along with a water resource FAQ.