Waterways charity, Canal & River Trust, has been able to quickly restore navigation at Lock 5 on the Camp Hill Locks, part of the Grand Union Canal in Birmingham, after a damaged lock gate temporarily brought boat movements to a halt.
The issue was reported when a lock gate became dislodged after the lock gate collar – the bracket designed to hold it securely in place – was damaged. This left the gate leaning at a steep angle and at risk of falling into the canal, making the lock temporarily unsafe to use.
The Trust’s West Midlands response team attended promptly and carried out emergency repairs to secure the gate and reinstate safe operation. A boater whose boat had been held within the lock during the incident was safely assisted through once the works were complete.
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Thanks to the team’s swift action, the lock was returned to service within a few hours, limiting disruption to those using this busy stretch of Birmingham’s waterways. Initial assessments showed that the bracket bolts had been removed, suggesting that the damage may unfortunately have been caused by vandalism rather than normal wear and tear of the historic lock
Camp Hill Locks sit on the Grand Union Canal, a major route linking London with the Midlands, and are part of a historic lock flight dating back to the late 18th century when canals were central to Birmingham’s growth as an industrial hub.
Richard Preston, West Midlands regional operations manager at Canal & River Trust, said: “Our reactive response team acted quickly to deal with what could have become a more serious situation. By securing the gate and making the lock safe, they were able to get things moving again in a short space of time.
“We understand how frustrating unexpected stoppages can be for boaters, so being able to reopen the lock and help the affected boater continue their journey so quickly was a really positive outcome.”
For more information on Canal & river Trust including how you can donate money or volunteer to support our work visitwww.canalrivertrust.org.uk
