From a complaint made at weekend, the reply from C&RT.
Thank you for your email and I am sorry to read of the concerns you have raised in the North West region. Whilst other waterways are mentioned, I must note I can only speak for the North West.
If you have any specific concerns following this email, please do let me know and I can raise them with the respective regional teams.
Lock repairs have been and remain a priority here in the North West. Repairs were planned for many of our North West Locks back in March ready to start the cruising season. However, due to COVID-19 Government guidelines, all planned works across the Trust had to cease, focussing solely on emergency and essential repairs.
Since resuming “normal” working conditions, we have completed repair works to many of the Locks as planned, if not somewhat delayed. This includes those along the Trent & Mersey, Middlewich Branch, Shropshire Union, Rochdale and Huddersfield Narrow Canals to name just a few. I believe you may have been referring to Wardle Lock, which was repaired yesterday, Monday 3 August, due to the failure of the second paddle. Repairs for the initial paddle were in the discussion stage and we were waiting on confirmation of when our Reactive Response Team could attend site to complete the repairs. These works then went on to emergency due to the failure of the second paddle.
All the works recently completed have been carried out by our local Operation Teams, if the job was beyond their capability, our Reactive Response Team carried out the works. Our Reactive Response Team is made up of inhouse team members who have worked on the canals for many years, either in our operation or construction teams. This team came about in the restructure of the North West and have been successfully repairing locks, bridges, canal banks and other structures in the North West ever since. The team is made up of mixed skills, including masonry, joinery and their invaluable experience on our canals and rivers. Due to the repairs needed across the North West, this team are in high demand and works are planned with them on a priority basis. The team have just completed relining of a lock floor at Lock 46 on the Rochdale Canal and are already onsite working on their next repair.
Whilst I do not want to tempt fate, we currently do not have any navigation closures here in the North West. Navigation was closed at Lock 1, Wardle Sunday night, however navigation was re-open by Monday afternoon following a repair to both paddles. Whilst we do have restrictions on some locks, mainly on the Trent & Mersey twin locks, these are in for repairs with our Reactive Response Team and are due to be complete over the next month. The online notices will be updated this Friday, 7 August. You can find all these on our Online Notice page.
As I am sure you are aware, most of our waterways are over 200 years old and repairs will be needed from time to time. We do our best to keep our waterways open for navigation, but closures may be required as a result of occasional unforeseen events or essential maintenance and repair work. Except in emergencies or for other unavoidable reasons, we try to arrange our maintenance work to cause you the least disruption. This means that most work requiring closures will be done between the beginning of November and the end of March. There may be other occasions when, due to causes beyond our reasonable control, we have to close part or (exceptionally) all of the Waterway. The Licence fees are calculated on the assumption that you will be affected by closures from time to time.
An agreement has been reached between Bridgewater Canal Company and the Canal & River Trust, effective from 1 September 2020, that gives licence holders for each organisation permission to cruise between Trust waterways and the Bridgewater Canal.
Both Trust and Bridgewater Canal boaters are required to book online and can now spend up to 7 days, travelling as far as they want, cruising away from their home navigation free of charge. If, during this time, you’ve ventured from those navigation authority’s waters, you’ll get a further three days to make the return journey to your home navigation.
This new system allows the Trust to monitor Bridgewater Canal customers more closely. Currently, we do not have direct access to contact details for Bridgewater Canal license holders. From 1 September we will be able to access these details, being able to contact the customers direct and charge those who overstay or break Trust navigation terms and conditions.
I hope the above goes in some way of answering your concerns. I must stress, I can only speak for the North West, however, I am happy to pass on your concerns to the respective regions should you have specific lock concerns.
With kindest regards,
Alison Schwarz
Customer Support Administrator
T: 03030 404040
Anything to comment about? In line of the repair at Wardle Lock, Stanthorne lock continues to have only one paddle working. Presumably the super team will get there eventually.