Kirklees Top & Low Locks
Starts At: Lock 12, Brighouse Bottom
Ends At: Lock 15, Kirklees Low Lock
NAVIGATION CLOSURE (7am Monday 16 October until 4pm Friday 27 October 2023)
Following inspection of Kirklees Top Lock last week, it has been identified that the sluice frame on the upper towpath side gate has failed. A short-term fix implemented earlier in the year to last until winter, when permanent repairs could be undertaken, is also failing. This temporary repair prevents the gate sluice closing completely resulting in water always filling the lock. While inconvenient it was still possible to make a lock.
This temporary repair has been regularly monitored and during a recent inspection it was found the same failure had taken place to the upper off-side gate sluice frame. A similar temporary repair was undertaken to try and keep the lock operational.
It has now become necessary to undertake the permanent reactive repairs sooner than expected and these will commence from Monday 16th October 2023 and are anticipated to last for 2 weeks, completing on Friday 27th October 2023.
Our workshop at Stanley Ferry and Operations Team have commenced making up new gate sluice frames, gate paddles, stalks and open gearing blocks. These will be ready to fit week commencing Monday 16th October 2023.
The closure of both locks provides an opportunity to undertake necessary repairs to Kirklees Bottom Lock, and prevent a future closure in doing so. The repairs to Kirklees Bottom Lock include gate paddle replacement on the upper offside gate, the upper ground paddle towpath side, replace the open gearing wooden block and tumbler on the upper towpath side gate including inspecting sluice stalk and investigation and repair of the gate sluice which has been jamming during operation.
