Birmingham Canals Main Line Closed by Vandals

Wolverhampton LocksVandals who opened top and bottom paddles along a flight of 21 locks have closed the main access into the BCN from the north.

Update 11 July – the rebuilt lock to reopened on August 12th.

A severe flooding incident, caused by vandalism, has caused a partial chamber wall failure at Lock 20 on the Wolverhampton flight and forced the Canal & River Trust (CRT) to close the main line of the Birmingham Canal Navigations (BCN).

The historic flight of 21 locks through Wolverhampton is the main access out of the BCN on to the Staffs & Worcester and Shropshire Union canals and the north-west waterway network.  There are alternative routes out of the Birmingham area but they involved first travelling a considerable distance west or east.

A recent CRT inspection report showed there that was absolutely no problem with the chamber until the vandalism caused the flooding of this lock and the local area.

CRT local engineering staff has met with contractors May Gurney and their sub-contractor Hills to agree a way forward; which includes designing a prop system to support the chamber whilst brick and stone work is first removed.   The lock is a Grade II listed structure so conservation requirements also have to be met whilst designing a detailed repair solution.

A provisional cost estimate of £80,000 has been made and no timescale for repairs and reopening has yet been.

Thanks to Harry Arnold and Waterway Images for this report and images.

All materials and images © Canal Junction Ltd. Dalton House, 35 Chester St, Wrexham LL13 8AH. No unauthorised reproduction.

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