IT WAS five weeks ago that the editor of narrowboatworld reported that the bottom gates were out of alignment on Shardlow Lock on the Trent & Mersey Canal, with nothing done we discovered last Tuesday.
The lock was still badly leaking, and with a top gate having swung open the pound above, as readers will possibly have read, was so low that boats could not proceed and the trip boat taking disabled people, Symphony, grounded. (Boats stuck by lack of water.)
Gates damaged
Now Canal & River Trust tell us the lock gates are damaged and have also come out of alignment, and surprise, surprise, this has resulted in the loss of water within the lock, along with the pound above, so the waterway is closed, Keith Gudgin tells us.
The reason give by the Trust for the eventual closure—boat damage! With staff currently on site looking at ways in which to rectify the issue...
UPDATE:
The workers have now managed to re-align the lock gates, with the waterway re-opened.