Canal shut indefinitely pending repairs to ‘unsafe’ swing bridges

we have no option but to temporarily close these bridges until funding can be identified to facilitate either comprehensive repairs or, preferably, a long-term upgrade to their operating mechanism.

“This unfortunately means we will need to temporarily close the Forth & Clyde Canal to through traffic.

“We see this as a temporary closure and we will work hard with the Scottish Government and partners to identify the necessary investment to get these bridges operation as soon as possible.”

The Inland Waterways Association which campaigns on navigable waterways issues, called for the repairs “as a matter of urgency”.

It said Scottish Canals had a statutory requirement as navigation authority to keep the canal in working order.

Chairman Ivor Caplan said “We are concerned about the viability of the hire boat trade with only half the canal available, the impact on those boaters based at Auchinstarry Basin, and increased future maintenance costs as nearby locks and other structures will suffer through lack of use if these bridges are closed for any significant length of time.”

Scottish Canals said Twechar bridge would be the priority for reopening following consultation with canal users.

It has offered to cut craft

0 The Twechar bridge on the Forth & Clyde Canal is one of two to be closed licences for vessels between the bridges to £1 a month. The body is also considering opening the bridges for a day to enable vessels moored between them to be moved.

Transport Scotland, which funds Scottish Canals, said was an operational decision for the organisation on how to prioritise its budget.

A spokesperson said: “Scottish Canals have been allocated £11.6 million in the draft budget for 2018-19 with an increase of £0.5m in the capital allocation to £3.5m.”

Scottish Canals infrastructure director Richard Millar said: “Boat transits through Twechar and Bonnybridge lift bridges on the Forth & Clyde Canal have been temporarily suspended until we can work up the technical solutions and source the funding required to implement the necessary repairs to the structures.

“We will always err on the side of caution in matters of public safety.

“The restrictions will only temporarily impact our transiting customers, of which there are around 50 per year. The vast majority of canal users, from runners and walkers to cyclists and kayakers, will be completely unaffected.”