Essential repairs to Severn lock

ESSENTIAL repairs are being undertaken on Holt Lock on the Severn.

The lock, that was in need of repair, is having new top and bottom gates, its cills reinforced and new lock ladders installed at a cost of £280,000.

Canal & River Trust relates this is part of a wider project to maintain and improve the structure for boaters on the river.

A 100 tonne crane was used to help with the removal and reinstallation of the lock gates, that it was realised were required after a diver inspection in September. (Photograph by Canal & River Trust.)

Provide access

Mark Abraham, construction manager at the trust explained:

"We've used large pumps to pump water out of the chamber to allow us to build scaffolding and provide access to complete the work, with steel dams that have been specially designed and fabricated for the lock gates as we address previous issues with leakage.

"The works have been timed to strike the balance between avoiding the summer months while getting work done before the periods of typically higher river flows on the Severn which would flood our sites.

"Once completed, not only will the repairs have helped to maintain this historic structure, but they will deliver improvements for the boaters who use the lock when navigating the river for many years to come."