THE PROBLEMS CONTINUE affecting the system causing stoppages.
With three new closures yesterday, Friday, Keith Gudgin reports.
Pocklington Canal
The Pockington Canal is now closed. It is told that though some rainfall, it has not made an impact on water levels. This has led to the closure of the canal to protect wildlife and moored craft.
To assist with water management of the canal, it is closed to reduce water usage.
A further notice tells that Swingbridge 7 on the waterway is unable to swing due to a fault with its pintle and so is inoperable.
Gloucester & Sharpness Canal
Low Level Bridge 1 and High Level Bridge 2 are closed due to the warm weather.
Our being told that 'Sharpness bridges will not be operated until Monday 7th July, from when early tides coinciding with the coolest part of the day are expected'.
The trust is to continue to seek solutions to this ongoing difficulty.
Aire & Calder Navigation
Though boats have been assisted through Woodnook Lock on the Wakefield Branch of the Aire & Calder, after problems with a sluice, a bent stalk has broken thus closing the lock for navigation with no assisted passages.
A dive team is booked to attend on Monday to assess the necessary repairs.
Two now open
The Northampton Arm of the Grand Union, between locks 14 and 16 is now open to navigation, with water levels having sufficiently improved between the locks.
However, there is a restriction on 9th July between locks 1 to 17.
Dimmingsdale Bridge 53 on the Staffs & Worcs Canal that had its parapet shattered, dropping into the waterway and was closed, has now reopened to navigation.
Though there is scaffold on the south side of the bridge this will have no effect on use of the canal or towpath.