HERE ARE SOME OF ARTICLES that you missed whilst the site was off.
It was understood that the site had been hacked, but this was not so, it was an infrastructure issue with the server software that has now been resolved.
Ashton Canal has two paddle failures
Paddle problem again, this time two on the Ashton Canal.
The navigation being closed again from lock 9 to 18. (It was previously closed due to low water, to be reopened then closed again on the 2nd August.
The closure being caused by paddle failures at both Lock 9 and Lock 18.
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Annual narrowboat show a success
Audlem Wharf on the Shropshire Union Canal was packed with boats and people for the three days of the annual Historic Narrowboat Club.
This was a free event with around 20 historic narrowboats on show, with their owners only too willing to tell about them and their history as working boats.
In addition to the boats there were plenty of other activities at the show and many stalls selling all manner of items together with food and entertainment.
The Historic Narrowboat Club was formed way back in 1966 as a non-profit organisation preserving historic working narrowboats and their histories.
Being set in Audlem there were also drinks and refreshments at the nearby Shroppie Fly by the waterways and the Audlem Mill was specially opened display artwork, some created by local schoolchildren.
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Kennet & Avon Canal falling apart
The Kennet & Avon Canal is certainly falling apart with its closures.
Sulhamsted Lock
Engineers and Operations teams have examined Sulhamstead Lock 100 and discovered that a replacement balance beam is required before it can be operational again.
But unfortunately, it will be some time before one can be manufactured and delivered.
Heales Lock
There is to be an extended in-season stoppage of Heales Lock 93.
Work required on the lock mean a complete replacement of both top and bottom gates, and being told that to complete the work safely the stoppage will be in place from the 5th October until the 20th November.
The works were originally planned for last winters' maintenance period, but had to be deferred due to river flooding.
Monkey Marsh Lock
Monkey Marsh Lock has sustained boat damage we are told has resulted in sustained damage to the collar.
This has caused the lock gate to fall into the lock chamber.
We are told engineers have been informed and are currently assessing the extent of the damage.
Low water
All this is in addition to the closures caused by low water, of which there were three already this month, all making navigation unreliable.
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Terrible state of Cambridge river
Resident boaters in Cambridge living on the Cam are telling of the terrible state of the river in the city and when it was tested earlier this year, the designated bathing site at Sheep’s Green the water was found to be amongst poorest in England, with the Environment Agency advising people not to swim there.
Boaters are telling that the weeds are so thick that boats are getting stuck. And a huge section of the concrete siding has just fallen into the river, and the public has been warned to stay away from the riverbank near Jesus Green Lock where a section is collapsing into the river. The lock itself has been shut since summer 2024.
Jesus Green Lock and Baits Bite Lock were both closed after being found unsafe. Until the latter reopened in October 2025, resident boaters were trapped in the pound between them.
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Mercia Marina retains award
Mercia Marina has retained the prestigious Five-Star Gold Award.
And is delighted to share that Mercia Marina has once again been awarded the Visit England Five-Star Holiday Park rating, achieving an outstanding 97% quality score and retaining its Gold Award for another year.
The independent assessor praised the marina's exceptional standards, highlighting its beautifully maintained grounds, outstanding cleanliness, excellent visitor facilities and welcoming atmosphere.
The report also recognised its continued investment in enhancing the visitor experience, including the exciting Promenade development and future plans for a unique wellbeing-focused lodge retreat.
Particular praise was given to the marina's commitment to conservation, the quality of the independent shops, cafés and restaurants, and the dedication of the entire Mercia Marina team in maintaining such high standards.
It give a huge 'thank you' to everyone who helps make Mercia Marina such a special place to visit, stay and enjoy.
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Boats stranded
The continued dry weather is leaving boats stranded throughout the entire system, with a particular section of the Trent & Mersey Canal closed in late July from the Big Lock in Middlewich to Plants Lock at Kidsgrove.or an estimated 25 miles since late July.
Not only are private boaters having their boats grounded due to low water but this is really hitting the hire companies.
On this particular section, Andersen Boats, based in Middlewich, told that water levels have fallen so low that two of its boats are currently grounded near Wardle Lock.
However, the situation became worse as on Monday, 3rd August, was reported boats had also become stranded on the Middlewich Branch after water levels dropped further.
Alan Garner, of the Canal & River Trust, told:
“The summer’s hot weather and lack of rain means our charity is doing all we can to save water and transfer the flow that’s available to the right places on the network to meet demand."
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Lack of water stops navigations
Oxford Canal
There are two separate closures of the Oxford Canal announced on the 5th of this month due to the lack of water, making the canal most difficult to navigate.
Locks 17 to 33 were closed. Then on Saturday 9th of this month Napton Flight locks 8 to 16 will be closed.
Grand Union Canal
Hatton Flight locks 37 to 46 on the Grand Union Canal are now closed.
With the trust telling it has made the difficult decision to temporarily close Hatton Lock Flight to navigation from 1pm on Thursday 6th August. To allow boats already on the flight to clear the locks, the last entry into Lock 46 and Lock 37 will be at 11:30am.
Chesterfield Canal
Following the recent reopening of this section, Between Gringley Lock and Shaw Lock has had to close due to water levels on this section of the canal falling to a level where we need to temporarily suspend navigation, the trust tells.
It is now closed between locks 61 and 62.
Regent's Canal
The Regents Canal is now closed between locks 10 and 12.
This, we are told is due to low water levels and the trust's need to preserve water to maintain safe navigation.
Rochdale Canal
The water levels from Lock 13 down to Lock 9 have improved enough to be reopened and the padlocks are being taken off. However, the section from Lock 8 to Lock 5 still has not recovered, so will remained padlocked up until the water levels improve we are told.
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Canal & River Trust launches new Restoration Delivery Plan and appoints engineer to support restoration projects.
Canal & River Trust has launched a new Restoration Delivery Plan alongside the appointment of a senior restoration engineer, setting out a clearer, more structured approach to supporting waterway restoration projects.
At the heart of the new plan is a step-by-step process to help restoration groups deliver projects that meet legal and regulatory requirements, with a particular focus on the construction design and management regulations. These requirements can be complex, and the plan is designed to provide clarity, consistency and confidence at every stage of project delivery.
Alongside improving compliance, the plan also introduces greater transparency around the time, expertise and input required from the Trust to support restoration work.
This is reinforced by the appointment of Andrew Dobson as senior restoration engineer, a dedicated role funded by the Trust. Working on secondment, Andrew will provide support to restoration groups and act as a central point of contact – marking a significant step forward from previous arrangements, where support was often provided on an ad hoc basis alongside other responsibilities.
Recognising the vital contribution of restoration societies in reopening canals, preserving heritage and revitalising underused waterways, the new approach is designed to support stronger, more effective partnerships. It aims to ensure that projects are not only ambitious, but also realistic, well-planned and deliverable within the wider context of the Trust’s responsibilities.
The framework has been developed collaboratively with the IWA and restoration groups, with feedback from across the sector helping to shape a more practical and user-friendly approach.
To support adoption of the new framework, the Trust has suspended cost recovery for its work on restoration projects until 31 March 2027, enabling organisations to focus on meeting the requirements of the plan and progressing delivery.
Sean McGinley, regional director at Canal & River Trust, told:
“Restoration projects play a hugely important role in bringing our waterways back to life, but they also involve complex legal, technical and safety requirements that must be properly understood and managed.
“Our new Restoration Delivery Plan sets out a clear, step-by-step process to help groups navigate those requirements, particularly around the construction design and management regulations, ensuring work is carried out safely.
“Just as importantly, it provides clarity on the level of input and specialist support needed from the Trust, so that projects can be planned realistically and delivered in a coordinated way alongside our wider responsibilities.
“The appointment of a dedicated senior restoration engineer is a major step forward. It means we now have focused resource in place to support restoration groups, rather than relying on goodwill and limited capacity alongside other work.
“We are committed to working in partnership to support restoration where we can, while continuing to prioritise the safe upkeep of the existing network. This new approach will help ensure projects are delivered safely, sustainably and with the best possible outcomes for everyone involved.”
The IWA has welcomed both the launch of the Restoration Delivery Plan and the collaborative approach taken in its development.
George Rogers, Chair of IWA’s Restoration Delivery Group, explained:
“The updated Restoration Delivery Plan significantly progresses restoration efforts. IWA has collaborated closely with Canal & River Trust to help enhance both the Plan itself as well as the processes, and we welcome the positive changes that have resulted.
“We remain committed to working with the Trust and the wider restoration community to support the successful delivery of these shared objectives.”
The plan will be reviewed after its first year of operation, with the Trust, IWA and restoration groups working together to identify opportunities for further improvement.
The Restoration Delivery Plan is available to download from the Canal & River Trust website.
[We realise that every boater with a licence will have received the above direct from from Canal & River Trust, but have included it has there are thousands of people who read narrowboatworld who are on the periphery of boating and have an interest, such as hire boaters and such, who will not have seen the Restoration Delivery Plan.
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Trent & Mersey Canal
Unexploded bomb closes Trent & Mersey Canal at Stoke.
Yesterday morning, Thursday, an unexploded bomb was discovered near Wychnor with the emergency services establishing a 200 metre safety cordon in the area.
Navigation and towpath closed
At the request of the emergency services, both the navigation and towpath are closed within a 900 metre radius of the affected area.
The situation is being assessed and managed, with boaters advised to avoid the area.
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Invitation to join a new boaters panel
Boaters are being invited to play a defining role in shaping the future of boating as part of a volunteer Citizens’ Boater Panel, by Canal & River Trust, it telling:
The panel will help Canal & River Trust create its upcoming consultation, part of the charity’s response to the independent Commission on Boat Licensing. The consultation is to create a clearer, fairer licensing system for people who go boating, and will cover a range of topics, including boat safety, support for boaters, greater certainty around navigation requirements, fair sharing of the space, and managing the canal network responsibly.
“Boaters are at the heart of our waterways, so it’s important that they are at the heart of the conversation about their future” says Matthew Symonds, head of boating and customer service at Canal & River Trust.
“We’re inviting boaters to join a volunteer Citizens’ Boater Panel and help us design a better consultation. Whether someone lives aboard full-time, cruises for leisure, runs a business from their boat or uses the waterways in another way, we want to hear from them.
“By bringing together a representative group of around 40 boaters and giving them a genuine role in shaping the consultation, we can build a stronger understanding of the different experiences that exist across the network and develop a consultation informed by real life on the waterways.”
Applications for the Citizens’ Boater Panel are open for six weeks from 5th August to everyone who goes boating.
All Trust boat licence holders have received a unique application link via email or text. Boaters who have not given their details, who have opted out of Trust communications, or who do not currently hold a Trust licence but wish to apply can request an application link via the Trust’s customer service team on 0303 040 4040 or the website form: Contact us form | Canal & River Trust.
The Trust’s welfare and licence support teams will talk to boaters they meet about the panel to ensure boaters who may not be online or receive communications from the Trust are invited to take part.
Panel members will take part in a series of workshops and discussions between September and November, working alongside other stakeholders including national boating organisations, boater representatives and local boating groups. During the workshops, participants will explore how licensing arrangements and navigation requirements affect day-to-day life on the waterways and draft consultation questions, ensuring they are fair, balanced and easy to understand.
The panel will then reconvene after the consultation to work with the Trust to review the outcomes to build policy that truly works for those on the water. The Trust is committing to a ‘comply or explain’ approach. This means that boaters’ feedback will be accepted and built into the policy. If that is not possible, for example for legal, financial, operational, or other reasons, the Trust will provide a comprehensive and transparent explanation.
To ensure the panel reflects the boating community as fairly as possible, boaters will be asked to provide demographic details, as well as details about their boating lifestyle, as part of the application process. Applications will be anonymised and participants selected through a third party ‘random selection tool’ which is designed to create representative Citizen Panels. This approach will ensure that no single viewpoint dominates and that a broad range of boating voices can contribute to shaping the consultation.
[This will be the second such scheme, as when Richard Parry took over the trust, he formed a panel of boaters to help, but except for a few comments about its work, nothing was then heard about it—Editor.]
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Another service facility closed
Boaters have been doing rather well with service facilities, but here comes another now closed.
The services at Gilwern on the Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal was closed on Thursday 6th August.
Rules and regulations
Our being informed that it was to more new rules and regulations concerning driver regulations implemented by our the trust's waste management contractor, BIFFA.
This means collection as had to temporarily suspend the use of the service facility.
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Continuous cruiser 14 days rule suspended
Canal & River Trust has temporarily suspended the requirement for boats without a home mooring—continuous cruisers—to move at least every 14 days as part of efforts to conserve water during the current drought.
The temporary measure, which comes into force with immediate effect, has been introduced to help reduce demand on the network and avoid unnecessary lock movements at a time when waterways across England and Wales are under growing pressure from prolonged dry weather.
The suspension will remain in place until 31 August 2026 and will be kept under review if drought conditions continue.
Where water resources and local conditions allow, boaters can continue to enjoy the waterways, including summer holidays, leisure cruising and accessing essential facilities such as water points and boat yards. However, by temporarily removing the requirement for boats without a home mooring to move at least every 14 days, the Trust hopes to reduce non-essential journeys.
The temporary suspension applies only to the 14 days movement requirement. It does not allow overstaying on short-stay moorings and facilities, where existing time limits remain in force. Whilst the 14 days movement requirement is suspended, Trust rangers will focus on short-stay and facilities moorings to ensure they remain available for all users.
Matthew Symonds, head of boating and customer service at Canal & River Trust, explains:
“With drought conditions now affecting large parts of England and all of Wales, we're doing all we can to help conserve water and protect navigation where possible across the network.
“Temporarily suspending the requirement for boats without a home mooring to move every 14 days is one of those measures. The intention is to reduce non-essential journeys, helping to limit unnecessary lock use and conserve water while these exceptional conditions continue.
“We’re not asking people to stop boating. Where routes remain open and water resources allow, we want people to continue enjoying canals and rivers but to do so in a way that reduces water use as much as possible, for example sharing locks, waiting for oncoming boats and closing paddles. This temporary change simply gives boaters greater flexibility while helping to reduce pressure on the network.
“The suspension only applies to the 14-day movement requirement and does not affect short-stay moorings, which remain important for ensuring fair access to popular locations and facilities. We ask all boaters to continue respecting these time limits and be considerate of fellow boaters, towpath users and local communities.
“We're grateful for the support boaters continue to show as we work together to manage the impact of drought on the waterways.”
The announcement comes as half of England and all of Wales have been declared in drought following weeks of exceptionally dry weather. In response, the Trust has activated its highest level of operational response and is redirecting resources towards projects that help retain water and keep boats moving where conditions allow, and introducing temporary closures and restrictions where necessary. The focus is on supporting navigation on key through-routes, waterways with high levels of boat traffic, and locations that support boating businesses.
The Trust is asking boaters to report water levels that appear unusually low via its online contact form. Teams actively manage water levels and can carefully refill low pounds, investigate potential issues and help ensure moored boats remain safe.
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Breach suspected on the Shropshire Canal
There is was is described as a leak, discovered on the Shropshire Union Canal on Thursday 6th August.
Water is told to be cascading out of the waterway. This is currently being investigated.
Both the canal and towpath are closed between Butchers Bridge 9 and Stoneley Green Bridge 10.
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All of England's waterways polluted with chemicals
The Environment Agency has told that all of England's rivers, lakes and canals fed by rivers passed a separate test by the regulator for chemical pollution.
They remain in a challenging state with only around one in seven classed as being in good ecological condition, according to the first comprehensive assessment in six years.
It tells this is because legacy substances, such as heavy metals, and so-called 'forever chemicals', are building up in the waterways.
The biggest individual problem is phosphate—a nutrient from sewage and farm runoff—- with around half of rivers still exceeding safe levels.
Though a record £22bn earmarked for water company environmental improvements by 2030, the overall picture has changed little since 2019.
The government is not on course to meet its legally binding target of restoring 77% of England's waters to good ecological status by 2027—a goal the environmental watchdog, the Office for Environmental Protection, has warned will be missed by a considerable margin.
It's now investigating both the government and the Environment Agency over possible rule breaches.
Other types of pollution affecting England's water bodies include petrol, garden pesticides and contaminated water running off roads picking up microplastics and chemicals.
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Boat that was crushed by tree being removed
The navigation between Bridge 106, Paper Mill Bridge 106 Three Locks on the Grand Union Canal is closed to navigation
This is as the boat that was crushed by the tree is being removed, starting on the 7th.
There is a temporary navigation closure as shown.
Contractors are on site and working to safely remove the tree and make the area safe as quickly as possible, with the trust asking boaters to avoid the area.
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NABO welcomes temporary suspension of 14-day movement requirement during
drought
National Association of Boat Owners (NABO) has welcomed Canal & River
Trust's announcement that the 14-day requirement for boaters to move
during the current drought conditions has been temporarily suspended.
NABO has been in discussions with the Trust about how boat movements
should be managed while water levels remain exceptionally low. We
believe the temporary suspension is a sensible and pragmatic response to
the current situation.
Visitor mooring restrictions will remain in place, as they should,
ensuring that boaters continue to have reasonable access to essential
services and facilities.
NABO is asking boaters to act responsibly and considerately towards
their fellow boaters during this period of extremely low water. The
temporary relaxation should not be seen as an opportunity to occupy
visitor moorings indefinitely or to disregard the needs of others using
the network.
NABO also wishes to thank Campbell Robb for his openness and honesty in
recent discussions. We have been calling on Canal & River Trust to be
more transparent in its dealings with the boating community for many
years.
The recent open letter sent by the Trust to licence holders is, in our
view, a positive indication that it genuinely intends to reset its
relationship with boaters. NABO welcomes that approach and is prepared
to work constructively alongside the Trust and other boating
organisations to help safeguard the inland waterway network for future
generations.
However, there are important caveats.
NABO has often been described as the Trust's 'critical friend, and that
role will not change. We will continue to challenge the Trust where we
believe decisions are detrimental to boaters or the long-term future of
the network.
We recognise that difficult choices and compromises may be necessary as
the Trust faces increasing financial, environmental and infrastructure
pressures. However, we agree with the Inland Waterways Association (IWA)
that closing existing navigations in order to support a smaller network
cannot be allowed to become part of any future plan.
NABO believes that the future of the waterways must be secured through
openness, cooperation and difficult but honest conversations with the
boating community—while maintaining the principle that the existing
navigable network should be protected.
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The Shropshire Union Canal leak/breach
The teams of Canal & River Trust have been working on the a leak/breach on the Shropshire Union Canal Llangollen Canal telling that the affected section of canal has been secured, and water levels have recovered overnight.
However a photograph shows the nearby fields completely flooded.
Temporary dams are now in place so that its engineers can assess the damage and begin planning the repairs.
The investigations so far point to a culvert failure that is causing the water loss, but not confirmed.
The exact cause of the water loss will established once the canal has been drained around the site.
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Other stoppages
In addition to the many stoppages due to lack of water, breakages are still adding to boaters' problems, as you will have been read, and here are three more.
New Junction Canal
It is Sykehouse Lock on the New Junction Canal that has failed yet again, this time it's a fault with the hydraulic unit.
This bridge also failed earlier this August, on the 4th and again on the 17th July.
Grand Union Canal
It's another regular failure on the Grand Union Canal with Winkwell Swing Bridge 147 again on the blink.
This time it is out of service due to a hydraulic fault.
We are told the trust's team will attend as soon as possible to carry out the necessary repairs and restore the bridge to full operation.
Aire & Calder Navigation Main Line
Woodlesford Lock 5 in closed due to an electrical fault.
Electrical engineering teams will be attending the lock as soon as is possible.
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Cannot use Lancaster Canal
Boaters on the Lancaster Canal have told the BBC that they cannot use the waterway in their boats, due to low water levels caused by drought and supply issues.
Low water levels have been in place along the canal since 9th July, with the canal now completely closed and has been for a week.
Leakage causes problems on this waterway with the trust telling it was doing its best to manage leaks across the 200 year old canal.
One boater who purchased her narrowboat last month told she has not been able to use it because water levels are too, her believing that leaks and maintenance issues are key factors in the water level issues.
The canal, we discovered, is just one long pound of around 21 miles, so low water means it is all low water.
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Offenders clean-up canals
There is a scheme to use 500 offenders who have been sentenced to community work to clean-up canals.
This is at a cost of £93m over three years, for work undertaken by offenders to around 8 million hours per year.
Offenders will clean up canals and rivers every year under this first such agreement.
This agreement with Canal & River Trust will see offenders make reparation to their local communities by clearing litter, tidying towpaths and maintaining beauty spots along the 2,000 miles of waterways in England and Wales.
Deputy Prime Minister, Justice Secretary and Lord Chancellor Dominic Raab MP explained:
It is right that the offenders who have damaged their communities should be seen to pay back with their time and some hard graft.
With new projects such as the one run by The Canal & River Trust offenders will learn new skills and do their bit clearing and maintaining our country’s waterways.
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Narrowboat to help experience calm waters
A neglected narrowboat has been brought back to life to allow people to experience the calm waters of Skipton's Leeds & Liverpool Canal.
The organisation Skipton Calm Waters, have restored the narrowboat Achieving Together that is the result of of dedication, teamwork and a shared love of canal cruising.
It was in 2025, the nine volunteers behind Skipton Calm Waters united around the mission to help more people experience the calm and enjoyment of life on the canal.
It has a new barge, the ‘Achieving Together’, complete with colourful livery and a devoted, determined crew.
'Achieving Together' is a story of dedication, teamwork and a shared love of canal cruising. In 2025, the nine volunteers behind Skipton Calm Waters united around a clear mission: to help more people experience the calm and enjoyment of life on the canal.
It all began when the team acquired the narrowboat from a Leeds based charity realising its potential, though it had suffered years of neglect, with its fittings in poor shape,
its facilities outdated and its structural problems really unsuitable for public use.
Even so, the volunteers looked beyond the damage and saw the chance to create something special for the community. They spending just over £40,000 to renovate and overhaul almost every part of the boat.
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Of course, many of the stoppages listed above will have been cleared with navigations reopened.
With acknowledgement to Keith Gudgin, Janet Friend and other contributors.
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