Major overhaul of canal waterways gets underway
THE Canal & River Trust has begun a major overhaul of Leicestershire’s waterways as part of a five-month winter maintenance programme on canals and rivers across England and Wales.
The charity, which cares for 2,000 miles of the nation’s historic waterways, is starting its annual programme of winter repairs and restoration.
The works, taking place until the end of February, will see skilled craftsmen painstakingly repairing historic locks and canal walls.
The programme will see the Trust invest more than £200,000 on the River Soar, Grand Union Canal and Ashby Canal.
Sections of canal will be drained, lock gates repaired and 200 year-old brickwork carefully restored.
Bishop Meadow Lock on the River Soar near Loughborough will have its gates relined to make them more watertight and there will also be repairs to the cill - a step on the floor of the lock which the lock gates sit against to form a seal.
Junction Lock near Rothley will also have its gates relined and the Trust’s staff will repair some of the historic brickwork within the lock. Improvements will be made to make it easier for boaters to walk over the balance beams while they’re operating the lock.
Sluices which allow boaters to empty and fill Cossington Lock will also be repaired as part of the programme.
Sean McGinley, waterway manager for the Trust, said; “Leicestershire’s waterways are an important part of the area’s rich heritage and each year are enjoyed by thousands of people either on the water or the towpath.
“These works are all about caring for the waterways so that they can continue to play an important role in people’s daily lives for many years to come. If we didn’t carry out works such as these then boats couldn’t visit the area and local people wouldn’t have a safe, enjoyable place to get away from it all.
“Over the next few months our engineers and heritage experts will be braving the cold to give the canal the painstaking care and attention it deserves.”
The Canal & River Trust carries out a year-round programme of works to maintain and repair the 2,000 miles of canals and rivers in its care so they can be enjoyed by the 33,000 boats and 10 million towpath visitors each year.
Many of the biggest projects are carried out during the winter months to minimise the impact on waterway users. This year, essential maintenance will include the replacement of worn-out lock gates and repairs to aqueducts, reservoirs and tunnels.
To find out more about the work of the Canal & River Trust, and how you can get involved, go to www.canalrivertrust.org.uk.