British Waterways and MSSC have announced details of the winter closure programme affecting canals in the South Pennine area to enable repairs and maintenance work to take place.
Information from British Waterways and Manchester Ship Canal Company.
The information shown on this page is believed to be correct but if you are planning to travel by canal during this period you should check the details with the local waterways office.
Please note that some of the original dates have been modified and some stoppages cancelled.
| Canal: | Closure dates: | Location: | Purpose of closure: |
| Aire and Calder Navigation | no stoppages | - | - |
| Ashton Canal |
15th Oct - 10th Dec 2008 stoppage extended |
Lock 17, Fairfield | lock gate replacement |
|
5th - 23rd Jan 2009 stoppage completed 16th Jan |
Lock 1, Ancoats to Lock 18, Fairfield | lock gate replacement and repairs | |
|
23rd - 24th Feb 2009 emergency stoppage |
Lock 1, Ancoats to Lock 18, Fairfield | closed to investigate damage - now re-opened | |
|
Bridgewater Canal |
10th Nov 2008 - 27th Feb 2009 stoppage extended |
Lindgards, near A580 crossing, Leigh Branch between Boothstown and Leigh | Safety gates to be installed. |
|
12th, 13th, 14th, 17th & 18th Nov 2008 2nd & 3rd Dec 2008 stoppage planned for 2nd & 3rd Dec postponed |
Hall Bank rail and foot bridge (48), Patricroft (between Barton and Worsley) |
Bridge work by Network Rail. [Between these stoppages, scaffolding will restrict this bridge to 2.92m air draught and 4.57m width.] Work should be complete and scaffolding removed by 29th Jan 2009. |
|
|
22nd March - 4th April 2009 dates corrected |
Barton Aqueduct | Maintenance works on structure. | |
| Calder and Hebble Navigation |
23rd Feb - 20th March 2009 stoppage extended |
Ledgard Flood Lock | flood gate replacement and general repairs - towpath also closed |
|
23rd Jan 2009 until further notice emergency stoppage |
Coopers Bridge Lock to Kirklees Low Lock | Flood damage to weir - low levels - navigation impossible | |
|
23rd Feb - 20th March 2009 re-scheduled stoppage - extended |
Ganny Lock, Brighouse | Lock gate replacement | |
| Huddersfield Narrow Canal | 1st Nov 2008 - 15th Mar 2009 | Standedge Tunnel | Tunnel improvement works. |
| 10th Nov - 12th Dec 2008 | Locks 42e to Tunnel End | Minimum safety requirements and towpath repairs. | |
| 7th Jan - 7th March 2009 | Lock 33e to Booths Bridge, Marsden flight | Minimum safety requirements. | |
| Huddersfield Broad Canal | 23rd Jan 2009 until further notice emergency stoppage |
Lock 1 closed - no access onto Calder & Hebble | Flood damage to Cooper Bridge Weir - low levels - navigation impossible |
|
Leeds and Liverpool Canal |
5th Jan - 27th Feb 2009 dates amended |
Liverpool Section | highway bridge repairs by local council |
| 24th - 28th Nov 2009 | Crabtree Lane swing bridge, Burscough | decking repairs | |
| 19th - 23rd Jan 2009 | Spencers swing bridge, Parbold | decking repairs | |
|
3rd - 28th Nov 2008 dates amended |
Lock 86 Henhurst Lock, Wigan to Lock 91 Appley Locks | Lock ladders installation | |
|
3rd Nov - 12th Dec 2008 dates amended |
Dean Lock, 90 | lock gate replacement, refurbishment | |
|
12th Feb - 13th March 2009 additional stoppage |
Pottery Road changeline bridge (51), Wigan | third-party footpath repairs - navigation and towpath closed | |
| 5th Jan - 27th March 2009 | Wigan Locks | marina connection | |
| 5th Jan - 13 Mar 2009 | Lower Park Marina, Wigan | marina development | |
|
12th Jan - 20th Feb 2009 additional stoppage - now extended |
Johnson's Hillock Locks | repairs to Locks 58 & 62 - towpath diversions | |
|
8th - 13th Dec 2008 additional stoppage |
Blackburn, Lock 56 | Head and tail gate repairs | |
|
17th Feb - 20th March 2009 additional stoppage |
Gannow Bridge (127A), Burnley | third-party bridge painting - navigation closed | |
|
19th Jan - 6th Mar 2009 additional stoppage |
Bridge 130h, Godley Bridge, Burnley |
Bridge strengthening navigation closed, towpath diversion |
|
|
5th Jan - 13th Mar 2009 additional stoppage |
Bridge 141a, Carrs Lane, Nelson |
Bridge strengthening navigation closed, towpath diversion |
|
| 5th Jan - 13th Mar 2009 | Barrowford Locks 45 to 51 | lock gate replacement | |
|
1st - 5th Dec 2008 additional stoppage |
Greenberfield Locks 42 & 43 |
Paddle replacement towpath diversion in place |
|
|
5th Jan - 13 Mar 2009 cancelled |
Greenberfield Locks 42 - 44 | Lock ladders installation | |
| 3rd Nov - 12th Dec 2008 | Higherland Lock 32 to Anchor Lock 33, Gargrave | bank protection works | |
| 3rd Nov 2008 - 13 Mar 2009 | Newlay Lock 13 to Bingley 5 Rise Lock 29 | Minimum safety standards works. | |
|
12th Jan - 12th Mar 2009 stoppage extended |
Forge Locks, 8 - 10, near Newlay | replacement of gates and cills, lock ladder installation, general repairs | |
| 2nd - 22nd Feb 2009 | River Lock 1, Leeds | stoppage | |
|
5th Jan - 27th Feb 2009 dates amended - further extended |
Rufford Branch, Lathom - Tarleton | Lock gates replacement and ladders installation | |
|
30th Nov - 1st Dec 2009 dates changed |
Leigh Branch, Plank Lane Lift Bridge | annual inspection and maintenance | |
|
3rd Nov - 19th Dec 2008 cancelled |
Leigh Branch, Dover Lock to Plank Lane | Bickershaw Marina connection | |
| 3rd Nov - 19th Dec 2008 | Leigh Branch, Wigan Junction - Poolstock Lock 2 | stoppage | |
| Macclesfield Canal |
3rd Nov 2008 - 13 Mar 2009 stoppage finished early - canal open |
Macclesfield, Swettenham Wharf - Gurnett Aqueduct | rebuild collapsed retaining wall |
| Peak Forest Canal | 19th Jan - 10th Feb 2009 stoppage extended |
Marple Lock flight | lock gate replacement, wash wall repairs, lock repairs |
| 6th Jan 2009 until further notice now re-opened |
Stanley Lift Bridge, Dukinfield | closed awaiting replacement chain, following vandalism | |
| 6th March 2009 until further notice emergency stoppage |
Bridges 4 to 6, Hyde | closed to navigation due to pollution incident | |
| Rochdale Canal | 19th Jan - 2nd Feb 2009 additional stoppage |
Tuel Lane Deep Lock to Sowerby Long Bridge | de-watering during investigation works to embankment at Hollins Mill Lane |
| 3rd Nov - 21st Nov 2008 | Old Royd Lock 17, Todmorden | lock gate replacement | |
| 24th Nov 2008 - 16th Jan 2009 dates amended |
Smithyholme Lock 25, Walsden | lock gate replacement | |
| 17th - 24th Nov 2008 dates amended |
Library Lock 19, Todmordern | annual guillotine lock inspection | |
| 12th - 14th Jan 2009 additional stoppage |
Durn Lock 47, Littleborough | lock 43 gate replacement, locks 37 - 48 lock ladder installation, postponed from Oct - Dec 2008 | |
| 21st - 22nd Jan 2009 additional stoppage |
Chelburn Lock 38 to Sladen Lock 48, Littleborough | investigations | |
| 2nd Feb - 13th March 2009 stoppage amended |
West Summit Lock 37 to Ealees Lock 48, Littleborough | lock gate repairs | |
| 5th Jan - 27th Mar 2009 cancelled |
Locks 84 - 92 Manchester ("Rochdale Nine") | lock ladders installation | |
| 20th Oct 2008 - 16th Jan 2009 cancelled |
West Summit Lock 37 to Failsworth Lock 65 | lock ladders installation | |
| 3rd Nov - 19th Dec 2008 cancelled |
Lobb Mill Lock 16 to Winterbutlee Lock 30 | lock ladders installation | |
| Sheffield and Tinsley Canal | no stoppages | - | - |
| Sheffield and South Yorks Navigation | no stoppages | - | - |
| S & S Yorks New Junction Canal |
19th Dec 2008 - 19th Jan 2009 stoppage extended |
Kirkhouse Green Lift Bridge, New Junction Canal | Repairs to inoperable lift bridge |
| 22nd Jan - 20th Feb 2009 additional stoppage - now completed |
Top Lane Lift Bridge, New Junction Canal | Repairs to inoperable lift bridge | |
| Stainforth and Keadby Canal | 5th March - 20th March 2009 additional stoppage |
Mauds Swing Bridge to Crowle | blocked by dense weed (will be re-opened end of 20th March) |
