Crane out at last

AFTER four weeks, and a completely closed waterway, Canal & River Trust has at last managed to remove the crane that toppled into the Leeds & Liverpool Canal at Apperley Bridge.

It needed two 200 ton capacity cranes to lift the 90 ton capacity crane that fell into the waterway when its bank gave way on the 9th February. Allan Richards tells us.

Not fit for use

It took six and half hours for the operation to remove the crane, which was being used to replace the Dobson Lock gates, but the crane is not now fit for use, so another will have to be brought in.

With work still needed on the lock, this means that it will still be weeks before the Leeds & Liverpool Canal can be reopened.

CaRT Operations Director Vince Moran, explained:

"We're still reviewing the circumstances behind this rare event and I am thankful that neither the driver nor anyone nearby was injured. Now that the crane has been removed we're aiming to get things back to normal as quickly as possible, including re-opening the canal by Easter."

Tourist attraction

The stranded crane was a tourist attraction with people coming to view it and take photographs, but it was certainly no attraction for local marina owner Steve Wright of Apperley Bridge Marina, it leaving the marina virtually landlocked all winter as there was further work along the waterway.

He has threatened to report the Trust to the Waterways Ombudsman, being most unhappy at the protracted delay, affecting his business for 20 days longer than he had allowed for.