THE REPAIRS AT BEESTON LOCK 11 on the Shropshire Union Canal have been progressing well.
With the planned works on the head gate have, Keith Gudgin reports.
Unexpected conditions
But unexpected conditions on site are affecting the next stage of the programme.
It was the deterioration of the lock that brought repairs forward and work starting on Monday 2nd March and were expected to last until the 23rd March.
However the team has been unable to achieve a full seal on one of the dams, with further investigation has shown voiding beneath the towpath, allowing water to escape around the dam. To safely continue with the gate repairs, the dam now needs to be repositioned so it can form an effective seal.
This of course needs extra work required to refit the dam and adjust the pumping arrangements, so the lock closure will need to be extended until 27th March.
Trust confident of new reopening date
But now that the underlying issue has been identified, the trust is confident that this new date allows the time required to complete the remaining repairs safely.
There is also a towpath void that will require repair. This repair will be carried out under a local restriction, but navigation will remain open during that phase.
The teams will be working at weekends and will also be working longer hours during the day now that they have more daylight, as it recognises how important this route is for boaters at this time of year, especially those planning to attend the Easter Gathering at Ellesmere Port, so the trust tells it is doing everything it can to complete the repairs as quickly and safely as possible.
Beeston Lock is most unusual as it is constructed in iron, for it is built on unstable ground, so it can move as the ground moves. The problem however is that there are no ladders, and have been told that one boater at least was stuck in his boat as a single hander for days before someone came by and opened a gate to let the boat out—Editor.