Canal & River Trust open days planned

THIS winter Canal & River Trust is hosting a series of free winter open days to showcase the work on locks being repaired.

Between now and the arrival of spring we are told the Trust is draining pounds as it replaces 118 lock gates and carries out important repairs and inspections to structures and the public is being given ‘behind the scenes’ access at ten different sites.

Access into lock chanbers

The open days will give visitors access into drained lock chambers on the Grand Union Canal, Soar and Trent & Mersey Canal, whilst repairs to the Anderton Boat Lift and the draining for inspection of Pontcysyllte Aqueduct both provide an opportunity to get a rarely-seen view of two of the ‘wonders of the waterways’.

A number of the events, including at Sharpness Dock where the canal network connects with the sea, will highlight the Trust’s plastics challenge which invites people to get involved in helping to stop the flow of plastic litter into the world’s oceans.

The above photograph shows the public inspecting the Bingley Five Rise repair, whilst the photograph below shows the queue waiting to go down into the lock.

Get away from the hussle and bustle

Richard Parry, Chief Executive of the Canal & River Trust, comments:

“Millions of people visit our canals and rivers each year. They are places to relax and take time out, they are places for leisure, boating, and recreation and are often places in our towns and cities to get away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

“But many people may not realise the work and attention that our charity and our volunteers put into caring for the waterways or indeed how getting involved, simply by visiting their local canal, can improve their health and wellbeing.

“We look forward to seeing lots of new faces as well as many old friends at this winter’s open days.”

The above pictures shows the queue to inspect the Leeds & Liverpool Bingley Five Rise Flight.

Because the open days are often linked to winter construction and maintenance work, many of the precise dates will be confirmed on the Canal & River Trust website nearer the time.