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Canal & River Trust Annual Lockage Report
Each year Canal & River Trust (CRT) report on the usage of locks throughout their network. Not every lock is directly monitored but they do report on 158 individual locks.
Our branch area includes waterways in three different CRT regions West Midlands, Wales & South West and North West which are 1st, 3rd and 5th respectively in the overall ranking by average annual lockage. The rankings are unchanged compared to 2021.
Interestingly, five of the top 10 locks fall within our branch area.
◊ Cholmondeston Lock on the Shropshire Union Middlewich Branch at No 2 (after Hillmorton on the Oxford canal)
◊ New Marton Lock on the Llangollen at No 3
◊ Hurleston Lock 1 on the Llangollen at No 7
◊ Marbury Lock on the Llangollen at No 9
◊ Wheaton Aston Lock on the Shropshire Union at No 10
If you are interested in knowing more, the whole report is available at: https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/refresh/media/original/47514annuallockagereport2022.pdf
New top gate at Hurleston Lock 4
With the Hurleston locks being some of the busiest in the country, it is not surprising that the top gate of Lock 4 needed replacing during the recent CRT winter works programme.
Thanks to Graham Russell for visiting the lock to get a shot of the new gate.
PLANNING A CRUISE?
Summer opening times
As we go to press, CRT's programme of winter stoppages for repairs and maintenance is more or less complete. Summer opening times for various key locations in or near our branch area have now been published though some, such as the Anderton Boat Lift, are still pending the results of the winter repair and maintenance works.
Frankton Locks
Summer Opening 2023 (4th April to 4th November 2023)
Booking is required for passage through the locks and must no later than the day before passage bookings are not accepted on the day.
Opening Times: 09:00 13:00 daily.
Please note that a return passage must be entered at time of booking.
There is a minimum of 1 day and a maximum of 14 days after you have entered onto the Montgomery Canal.
Please arrive at the locks anytime between 09:00 and 13:00.
There will no passage outside of these opening times.
Harecastle Tunnel
Summer Opening Times (1 March 2023 31 October 2023)
Open passages are available 08:00 12:00 Monday to Sunday. Unbooked (Open) passage must arrive at the tunnel portal between 8am and 12 noon. There is no guarantee of passage for arrivals after 12 noon unless prebooked online.
Booking slots are available between 9am to 12noon on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays only:
◊ North to South – 14:00 & 16:00
◊ South to North – 15:00
All bookings must be made in advance at least the day before.
Bookings can be made online at https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/enjoythewaterways/boating/goboating/planningyourboatroute/bookingyourpassageonline. Alternatively, you can call CRT on 0303 0404040.
Passage is only permitted with a working horn and tunnel light; at present CRT is unable to lend such items.
Anderton Boat Lift
As we were finalising this issue, CRT confirmed that the Anderton Boat Lift will be open with one caisson from the Easter Weekend i.e. Friday 7 April.
The lift will be working on a reduced schedule for the first two weeks. Passage for the first two weeks only will be available to book from Monday 3 April.
From Monday 24 April, CRT expect to be in a position to offer their normal full passage schedule with both caissons in operation. This is subject to testing during the initial two week period.
Passage from Monday 24 April will be available to book from Monday 17 April subject to successful testing during the initial two week period.
All passages must be booked in advance. Booking can not be taken on site. Bookings can be made online or by calling CRT on 0303 0404040.
Vale Royal, Hunts, Saltersford and Dutton Locks
Weaver Navigation
Summer Opening Times
For lock passages between 14 April and on 31 October, bookings will need to be made 48hours in advance. To book passages, please call the North West Customer Service Team on 0303 040 4040.
From Wednesday, 5 April till and inclusive of, Monday, 30 October, lock keepers will be onsite to operate the 4 locks 7 days a week, as per the following times. No booking required.
◊ Monday to Friday: 08:00 – 17:00. Last entry at 16:30
◊ Saturdays, Sundays & Bank Holiday Mondays: 08:00 – 18:00. Last entry at 17:30
Hypozomatic boats
In the last issue we asked whether anyone had experience of Hypozomatic boats following an enquiry at one of our summer events.
Branch member Peter Brown sent us this photo of one that he had travelled in at IWA's 1991 Trailboat Rally at Ranworth in the Norfolk Broads.
This was clearly a different model to the one featured in the previous issue. This one was a "folding camping punt" and Peter described it as " very light, but unstable and noisy".
