Leeds Liverpool

[Moke]

  After wasting five weeks for the Wigan flight to reopen last year we got as far as kirkstall before we were stopped by the failure of river lock in Leeds. OK, turn round and overwinter in Skipton during which time the canal was closed between Newley and Kirkstall flights followed, just as we weee setting off, by the failure of Steg Neck lock! 
  We’ve now heard conflicting reports of a closure at Rishton but I can’t find any reference to it on the CRT site, or on fact, anywhere other than an article found via Google that says there will be an update in October !…… are we trapped on here for ever? Can anyone out there shed any light on this?

[jonathanA]

I think Google is reporting old news... there was a breach at Rishton 6 or 7 years ago. Think it lasted from August to October. We were stuck on the wrong side of it....

 

There is a problem at Wigan, but that reopens next Friday.  

 

 

[Moke]

Oh, I know about Wigan. That was planned into our itinerary but this latest stoppage keeps moving the goalposts a week at a time!

[hoopdriver]

I’m on the summit pound of the Leeds & Liverpool myself, having been stranded here for six months thanks to a warranty issue in my boat, but I hope to be moving next week. I am a single hander on an 58-foot narrowboat and want to go south and am trying to decide between going west and through Manchester, or heading back to Leeds and travelling south via the Huddersfield or Rochdale. There’s no easy options from up here!

[Moke]

The problem with heading east is that the canal is shut at Newley locks

[hoopdriver]

I’m hoping that will be sorted soon!

[Moke]

I’m hoping anything will be sorted anytime

[jonathanA]

I think part of the problem is their  communication approach, which whilst better than a few years ago still leaves most boaters thinking WTF is going on... 

 

this stoppage is a good example - a bit of the L&L that AFAIK is not known for 'water issues' - not even 'vandalism'.... 

 

what on earth is going on here ?  I assume there is a major leak somewhere if after 2 weeks they haven't managed to restore water levels.....  

Notice Alert

Leeds & Liverpool Canal
Location: Navigation Closure; Between Lock 90 and Lock 91, Leeds and Liverpool Canal
Starts At: Inside Track- Deep Lock
Ends At: Dean Lock - Nearside

Thursday 13 March 2025 12:00 until further notice

Type: Navigation Closure
Reason: Water resources

---

 

Update on 26/03/2025:

Please be advised navigation remains closed between Lock 90 and Lock 91 on the Leeds & Liverpool Canal due to low water.
The local team are currently planning to install weir boards into the canal to improve the water levels.
A further update will be provided Monday 31 March. 

 

 

Update on 24/03/2025:

Please be advised navigation remains closed between Lock 90 and Lock 91 on the Leeds & Liverpool Canal due to low water.

The local team have managed to secure water levels in the area to prevent further loss and are working daily to try and increase levels.

A further update will be provided Wednesday 26 March.

[Pie Eater]

The latest update states that the local team are currently planning to install weir boards to improve water levels.

 

The next update will be on Monday 31st March 2025.

[Number 9]

16 hours ago, Pie Eater said:

The latest update states that the local team are currently planning to install weir boards to improve water levels.

 

The next update will be on Monday 31st March 2025.

This suggests that it has taken two weeks to identify the need for weir boards or that it has taken two weeks to plan the install. Either option doesn't sound like they are rushing to help the section reopen

 

[jonathanA]

which is my point. Clearly its not just low water levels that needed topping up as per the original notice on 13th March,  something else is going on, but either CRT dont know or rather as i suspect, they aren't telling us. its the lack of transparency and often condescending nature of their comms that irritates a lot of folks.  why are weir boards needed now ? 

 

@Pie Eater merely quoting a repeat of what i had already quoted doesn't add anything, although he usually has excellent local knowledge. 

 

might have to wonder up to the deep lock and have a look. 

Edited March 27, 2025 by jonathanA

[Pie Eater]

7 hours ago, jonathanA said:

which is my point. Clearly its not just low water levels that needed topping up as per the original notice on 13th March,  something else is going on, but either CRT dont know or rather as i suspect, they aren't telling us. its the lack of transparency and often condescending nature of their comms that irritates a lot of folks.  why are weir boards needed now ? 

 

@Pie Eater merely quoting a repeat of what i had already quoted doesn't add anything, although he usually has excellent local knowledge. 

 

might have to wonder up to the deep lock and have a look. 

Guilty as charged - I must read the posts more thoroughly before replying.

[jonathanA]

Lol 😆  yeah I've never done that..... 

 

Well not today anyway. 😁