Lock 63, Misterton Top Lock, Chesterfield Canal

Carry out repairs to the bywash channel bed.

01/06/2020:  The information above is a draft notice of works planned as part of our winter 2020/21 stoppages programme.  This is subject to change depending on the latest advice from the UK government on coronavirus.  Please follow our guidance relating to coronavirus when using the canals and towpaths https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/coronavirus.

Many thanks for your comments and suggestions. Please be assured our engineers have considered very carefully the best, and safest, method of carrying out repairs to the bywash at Lock 63 and a closure of the navigation is required. This is so the canal can be completely drained to enable the extent of the damage to be fully inspected and repairs carried out. Work will be completed as quickly as possible and the navigation re-opened when it is safe to do so.

Following this first phase of consultation and your comments, we have made some changes to the programme which we hope will address some of your concerns. This includes a longer window of navigation (9 days) between stoppages at Bridge 83 and Lock 63.

While I am no engineer the length of stoppage proposed for the works to be done seems out of proportion and having talked about this with people who have a much better understanding of the situation that myself I felt the need to comment. It has been suggested to me that a stoppage is not required for the work being done and it could be handled by proper water management. I note a 2 day weekend opportunity for boat passage between this and the other stoppage at Misterton. This means that those boaters usually moored at Clayworth or Retford who need to access necessary services at West Stockwith (diesel and pump out) only have one weekend in a 7 week period to do so (assuming that the canal has not frozen at that time) This is likely to mean that leisure boaters who have a pump out toilet will need to restrict their use of their boats over the winter period which, after a spring and summer of restricted boat movement is not really acceptable. The concurrent running of a stoppage at Osberton means boaters can't use the facilities at Shireoaks as an alternative

The stated work content should be completed without a stoppage through close attention to water control in the long and relatively stable pound above the lock: CRT has several members of staff who live locally to make such an approach easy. The duration of the work is considered significantly inflated for the stated work content at 18 days. Materials and plant can access the lock island during the preceding stoppage and / or via workboats in the lock chamber; a navigation notice can be published warning of marginally reduced water levels and possible slight delays while workboats are moved out of the lock during the proposed timeframe for the works. Defaulting to a stoppage for works of this nature sets a very unhealthy and unhelpful precedent. Several bywashes have had their beds completely relined on this canal in the last year without a stoppage.