THERE ARE TO BE MULTIPLE closures of the Oxford Canal starting next week.

At first it was told that just the Claydon Flight would be closed on Monday 21st July, Keith Gudgin reports.

NaptonFlightLater announcement

But a later announcement from Canal & River Trust told that there would be multiple closures, these being from Napton Bottom Lock 8  on Napton Flight (pictured) to Cropredy Lock 25.

These include Napton Flight (last entry to flight at 3pm), Claydon Flight (last entry to flight at 3pm)Elkington's LockVarneys Lock, Broadmoor Lock and Cropredy Lock.

With the trust telling that these closures are necessary to protect increasingly limited water resources.

Allow boaters to adjust plans

And of course give the navigation an opportunity to recover, in addition to helping preserve canal infrastructure and ecology. The trust give an early announcement to allow boaters to 'adjust their plans and relocate as needed'.