JUST OVER A WEEK to the start of the season when the winter works of maintenance and repairs end.
Yet such as paddles are going down like nine pins!
With Keith Gudgin telling of four separate locks with their paddles failing. These being Huddersfield Narrow Canal, Rochdale Canal (two) and now a paddle failure on Lock 5 on the Walsall Canal.
All closures
With all of them causing closures.
And from Canal & River Trust is—A navigation closure is in place while we repair a failed paddle at Lock 5 on the Walsall Canal. And of course apologies.
It certainly does not give confidence for the coming season.