CANAL REPAIR OPEN DAYS OFFER A LOOK BELOW THE WATERLINE

[Ray T]

PRESS RELEASE

 

9th December 2021

 

CANAL REPAIR OPEN DAYS OFFER A LOOK BELOW THE WATERLINE

 

The Canal & River Trust is planning to invite people to find out what lies beneath the surface this winter as it carries out a £59 million programme of repairs to protect and preserve the 200-year-old waterways in its care.

 

Every winter the waterways and wellbeing charity replaces lock gates, dredges to ensure the water is deep enough for boats, undertakes maintenance on its mechanical structures, and carries out a host of other heritage repairs and tasks to keep the network open and help ensure its resilience to climate change.

 

Subject to the latest coronavirus government guidelines, the Trust plans to run a series of in-person open days in February and March so people can walk along the bottom of a drained waterway, see the working industrial heritage up close, hear from the teams involved and find out more about the essential work to keep this important part of the nation’s history flowing.

 

There will also be a programme of online ‘behind the scenes’ tours starting in December giving people who aren’t local, or who would prefer to join online, the opportunity to see the breadth of works taking place.

 

In-person open days are being planned across the country and will encompass a variety of sites and works. People will be able to experience: the spectacular Anderton Boat Lift on the River Weaver; a walk along the drained Hertford Union Canal in the heart of London; intricate staircase locks at Grindley Brook on the Llangollen Canal; important water-saving repairs at Hebden Bridge on the Rochdale Canal; replacing lock gates at Seend on the Kennet & Avon Canal; and a chance to visit Newark’s inland dry dock – the largest in the UK.

 

In addition, virtual events include, amongst others: ‘wonder of the waterways’ Bingley Five Rise Locks on the Leeds & Liverpool Canal; works to pumping stations on the Kennet & Avon Canal; and emergency breach repairs on the Leeds & Liverpool Canal at Rishton.

 

Richard Parry, chief executive at the Canal & River Trust, said: “The work the Trust carries out every winter is at the centre of our care and maintenance. Our teams are out, often battling the elements, to keep the canals and rivers open, safe and accessible for boaters, local communities, and other waterway visitors.

 

“The task of looking after this ageing network presents an ongoing challenge, particularly as extreme weather becomes more common, so we will continue to be unrelenting in our efforts to generate the funds and support needed to keep the waterways available for generations to come. The open days are a fantastic opportunity to find out more about the work involved and why it’s so important, as well as seeing the canals from a fresh perspective.”

 

To find out more about the open days, please visit: https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/enjoy-the-waterways/events/open-days-2021-22

 

The Trust works year-round to protect and preserve the nation’s canal network but looking after these precious spaces is costly and takes many hands.  No other UK charity brings so much free, open and accessible blue and green space to the doorsteps of so many people, and the Trust is asking people to #ActNowForCanals and join in by taking part in citizen science projects, raising funds, volunteering or just clearing up litter. Every small action makes a huge difference.  For more information about the Canal & River Trust, including how to get involved, visit:  www.canalrivertrust.org.uk.

 

ENDS

 

For further media requests please contact:

Jonathan Ludford, Canal & River Trust

m 07747 897783  e jonathan.ludford@canalrivertrust.org.uk

 

 

IN-PERSON OPEN DAYS

 

5th February – Grindley Brook, Llangollen Canal in Shropshire

Carrying out repairs to locks 1, 2 and 6 – some of the busiest locks on the canal network. Locks 1 and 2 are staircase locks, where the top gate of one is the bottom gate of the next.  Visitors will have the opportunity to go into the bottom of the drained locks as our specialist carpenters reline the gates to improve their fit which will help save water on this busy stretch of canal.

 

18th & 19th February – Hertford Union Canal

This London canal adjacent to Victoria Park in Tower Hamlets is one of the busiest on the network – both with boats on the water and people using the towpath. At almost 200 years old, the walls which make up the side of the canal are in need of restoration and repair. To do this, the Trust will be draining the stretch of canal between Junction Bridge and Lock 1 – rehoming the fish to the adjacent stretch of canal which will remain full of water – and then carefully repairing the walls using traditional building techniques.  Visitors will be able to take a walk along the bottom of the drained canal for a rare ‘fish-eye’s-view’ of the repairs to one of London’s waterway gems.

 

26^th February, 10am–4pm – Seend Lock 18, Kennet & Avon Canal, near The Barge Inn

The five locks at Seend on the Kennet & Avon Canal were once a hive of activity with trade. Today, they are a picture of tranquillity. This winter the Trust is replacing some lock gates, each handmade at our specialist workshop, which will be carefully craned into position to keep this busy canal open and available for boaters. The Trust’s specialists will be on hand to talk about the works taking place as well as the wider efforts to look after this 200-year-old canal which has become a haven for boaters, locals, tourists and wildlife.

 

26th and 27th February – Anderton Boat Lift, River Weaver

Family friendly activities and an insight into the repair works taking place at the lift. Visitors will hear about the works taking place and the effort to keep this ‘wonder of the waterways’ operating for years to come.  There will also be an insight into a £multi-million future refurbishment of the ‘Cathedral of the Canals’ currently being planned – what is set to be the biggest refurbishment of the Lift since its restoration 20 years ago.

 

26th & 27th February, 10am–4pm – Newark Town Lock, Newark 

Newark was once an important port on the mighty River Trent. Today, exploring the lovely old riverside buildings provides a great family day out. This open day is hoping to give visitors the opportunity to take a tour down into the bottom of the drained Newark Town Lock as the Canal & River Trust carries out important maintenance and repairs to the historic structure. There will be refreshments and family friendly activities available in the lock-side garden, and an opportunity to visit the town’s dry dock – the largest inland dry dock in the UK.

 

12^th March, 10am–2pm – Lock 9, Rochdale Canal, Hebden Bridge.

The Trust is carrying out important water saving repairs to this historic lock. The public footbridge provides a perfect viewing platform down into the drained lock, and the Trust’s specialists will be on-hand to describe the work taking place and to host some fun family canal-themed activities. Coincide the event with a visit to the town’s independent shops, galleries and cafes for a great family day out.

 

VIRTUAL OPEN DAYS

• Bath, Claverton and Foxhangars Pumping Stations, Kennet & Avon Canal.
• Bingley Five Rise, Leeds & Liverpool Canal – lock gate replacement.
• Hertford Union Canal – as above – draining a stretch of canal to repair the wall using traditional techniques.
• Leeds & Liverpool Canal – breach at Rishton.
• Lock 3 at Ryders Green, Walsall Canal – lock gate replacement.
• Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal – draining of a mile stretch of canal to carry out bridge and culvert repairs.
• Watford Flight, Grand Union Canal.

 

 

Jonathan Ludford

National communications manager

M 07747897783

E Jonathan.ludford@canalrivertrust.org.uk

[Alan de Enfield]

1 hour ago, Ray T said:

26th & 27th February, 10am–4pm – Newark Town Lock, Newark 

Newark was once an important port on the mighty River Trent. Today, exploring the lovely old riverside buildings provides a great family day out. This open day is hoping to give visitors the opportunity to take a tour down into the bottom of the drained Newark Town Lock as the Canal & River Trust carries out important maintenance and repairs to the historic structure. There will be refreshments and family friendly activities available in the lock-side garden, and an opportunity to visit the town’s dry dock – the largest inland dry dock in the UK.

 

 

I wonder if they will take the opportunity to replace the  20 yard long lock-side signage that gives the history of the dry dock and explains about the CORKING work that was carried out there.

 

It is now about 5 years since I told them of the spellling errors.

[Jen-in-Wellies]

On 10/12/2021 at 12:33, Alan de Enfield said:

 

 

I wonder if they will take the opportunity to replace the  20 yard long lock-side signage that gives the history of the dry dock and explains about the CORKING work that was carried out there.

 

It is now about 5 years since I told them of the spellling errors.

You should tell them it has a CaRT swan logo on it. Always a chance the spellling mishtake gets fixed when it is immediately replaced.

[Alan de Enfield]

7 minutes ago, Jen-in-Wellies said:

You should tell them it has a CaRT swan logo on it. Always a chance the spellling mishtake gets fixed when it is immediately replaced.

 

 

 

[Tracy D'arth]

If you go, bring your own tools, C&RT have sold all theirs.

[Heartland]

I suppose any lock is interesting to see close up, yet there is less heritage with this reconstructed lock . Whilst all locks have some aspects of reconstruction, some value may be found in what can be seen of the drained lock at Newark , especially if elements of the original structure remain