Notice Alert

Peak Forest Canal
Location: Closure: Lock 1 to lock 16, Marple Flight, Peak Forest Canal
Starts At: Lock 1
Ends At: Lock 16

Thursday 7 November 2024 12:15 until further notice

Type: Navigation Closure
Reason: Repair

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Update on 17/01/2025:

Our team will begin emergency repairs to Lock 14 on Monday 17 February, as part of these repairs we need first remove a tree from site to get access into the damaged bywash culvert. After the tree is removed, a temporary bridge will be installed to allow heavy equipment to reach the site. This will enable us to remove the top of the culvert and proceed with repairing and restoring the bywash.

Whilst these repairs are taking place, we will not be able to allow passage through the lock fight, with the final assisted passage will be taking place on 11th February.
The next scheduled dates are:
Tuesday 21st January
Tuesday 28th January
Tuesday 4th February
Tuesday 11th February

If you wish to book on one of these passages, please call our North West Customer Service team at 0303 0404 040. Please note that booking is required as there is a limit to the number of boats we can safely assist through the locks while we await repairs.

We plan to have the repairs completed by the 28 February. A further update will be provided on 21st February to confirm repair progress and reopening date.

Update on 18/12/2024:

Whilst our engineers continuing exploring a different repair methods our team will continue to manage assisted weekly passages through the Marple Locks after Christmas. The next scheduled dates are:

Tuesday 7th January

Tuesday 14th January.

If you wish to book on one of these passages, please call our North West Customer Service team at 0303 0404 040. Please note that booking is required as there is a limit to the number of boats we can safely assist through the locks while we await repairs.

We will share an update on the design and repair program on Friday 17 January.

Update on 04/12/2024:

Our teams will continue to provide managed assisted passage through the Marple Locks up until Christmas. The next scheduled dates are: 

Tuesday, 10th December
Tuesday, 17th December

If you wish to book on one of these passages, please call our North West Customer Service team at 0303 0404 040. Please note that booking is required as there is a limit to the number of boats we can safely assist through the locks while we await repairs. 

Meanwhile, our engineers are exploring different repair methods, and we’ll share an update on the design program on 18th December. 

Thank you for your patience and understanding

Update on 27/11/2024:

Following the successful assisted passage through the Marple Locks which took place yesterday, We’re pleased with the outcome and would like to thank everyone involved.
Our teams are planning another assisted passage on Tuesday, 3rd December at 9am, If you require an urgent passage, please call our North West Customer Service team at 0303 0404 040. Boaters that have already been added to the list will be contacted to confirm passage. 

Our engineers are progressing with their design phase, and we will provide a further update on 4th December.

 Thank you for your patience and understanding. 

Update on 20/11/2024:

Our teams are working this week to carry out temporary repairs, and we’re pleased to share that we plan to assist the first boats through the flight on Tuesday, 26th November. Once this initial trial has been completed, we’ll review the process and look at arranging further passage dates for customers who have already been in touch.

In the meantime, our engineers are progressing with the design phase for the permanent culvert repairs, which remains a priority.

If you’re in urgent need to pass through the Marple Flight, please contact our North West Customer Service team at 0303 0404 040. We’ll provide another update on Wednesday, 27th November.

Thank you for your patience and understanding as we work to reopen navigation.

Update on 14/11/2024:

Our engineer and the design team have been on-site today, focusing on the area around Lock 14. It appears the culvert has suffered significant damage from the tree roots and will need a complete rebuild along a 6 metre length. For now, navigation through Locks 1 to 16 on the Marple Flight will remain closed.We’re working on arranging an assisted passage to help any boats that need to travel through the flight. While we’re still sorting out the logistics, we expect to have a clearer plan early next week and will prioritise assisting customers who have already been in touch.

Our excavation work has revealed that one side of the culvert wall has been completely washed out, and the interior is clogged with tree roots. Given the damage, our design team is now planning the necessary repairs. Since our teams are also managing many planned winter repairs across the network, we’re not able to confirm a start date for these repairs yet, but we hope to have more details next week. 

If you’re in urgent need to pass through the Marple Flight, please contact our North West Customer Service team at 0303 0404 040. We’ll share another update on Wednesday, 20th November.

Update on 11/11/2024:

Following an on-site assessment by our engineers, we have confirmed a failure in the by-wash culvert near Lock 14 on the Marple Flight. To understand the extent of the damage, our teams will begin excavation work on-site Wednesday to assess the condition of the culvert and determine the necessary repairs. 

Due to this issue, water levels in the lock pounds are affected, and Locks 1 to 16 on the Marple Flight along the Peak Forest Canal will remain closed. We are actively exploring options to assist boaters through the flight safely, and as part of our investigation, we will be assessing potential solutions for safe, assisted passage. 

Any boaters needing to travel urgently on the Marple Flight, please contact our North West Customer Service team on 03030 404040 for assistance.  

We will provide a further update on, Thursday 14th November. Thank you for your patience and understanding. 

Original message:

Our teams responded today to a report of a large hole today and have discovered damage to a culvert at Lock 14 on the Marple Flight. To safely investigate and assess the situation with our engineers, we need to close Locks 1 to 16 on the Marple Flight along the Peak Forest Canal. This closure will allow us to lower the water levels and take a closer look at the damage. 

We’ll keep you updated and share more information on Monday, 11 November. 

You can view this notice and its map online here:
https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/notices/30010-closure-lock-1-to-lock-16-marple-flight-peak-forest-canal

You can find all notices at the url below:
https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/notices

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Peak Forest Canal
Location: Wood End Lift Bridge, Strines, Peak Forest Canal
Starts At: Bridge 24, Wood End Lift Bridge
Ends At: Bridge 24, Wood End Lift Bridge

Wednesday 15 January 2025 08:00 until further notice

Type: Navigation Closure
Reason: Structure failure

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Original message:

Please be advised navigation is currently closed at Bridge 24, Wood End Lift Bridge on the Peak Forest Canal due to a fault with the Bridge motor.

Our specialist contractors have been informed and we are hoping they will be in attendance late this afternoon.

An update will be provided tomorrow, Thursday 16 January.

You can view this notice and its map online here:
https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/notices/30593-wood-end-lift-bridge-strines-peak-forest-canal

You can find all notices at the url below:
https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/notices

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How many times have you travelled down to Macclesfield Canal to Poynton, and as you pass, cricked your neck looking at the shells, and painted boats in the Braidbar Boat yard.

Well nows you chance to have a look. Braidbar boats are hosting an open day on Saturday August 31st from 10am to 4pm.

Everyone is welcome to attend.

FBW was launched at the end of June 2023 in response to the inadequate funding and deteriorating state of Britain’s network of canals and navigable rivers. Despite the widespread appreciation of the value of this unique and well-loved national asset and the benefits it delivers, the Government appears intent on significantly reducing its funding. Through FBW more than 110 organisations are campaigning together for national and local government to act now and protect the public benefit and natural capital of our waterways.

FBW’s activities to date have focused on raising awareness of the challenges facing our canals and rivers and the message that increased and sustainable funding is needed. Three well-reported Campaign Cruises were held in 2023, in Birmingham, Gloucester and past the Palace of Westminster on the Thames. In 2024 there will be a weekend of action over the May Day Bank Holiday weekend (4 to 6 May 2024). This will comprise a series of events across the country on waterways managed by different inland navigation authorities, in addition to IWA’s annual Canalway Cavalcade at Little Venice in London. It will culminate in a second Campaign Cruise past the Houses of Parliament on Wednesday 8 May, when Parliamentarians will be invited to view the event and express their support for the continued maintenance of the waterways.

At the same time as campaigning for increased funding for navigation authorities, FBW recognises the importance of those navigation authorities being able to explain how they are making the best possible use of funds for the waterways. FBW will therefore be holding sessions with major navigation authorities, starting with the Canal & River Trust on Wednesday 10 April 2024.

The sessions will be chaired by FBW and live streamed to FBW members, with a recording and written notes of the meeting to be made publicly available at a later date. FBW members are invited to submit detailed written questions, which will be collated and submitted to each navigation authority two weeks in advance of its meeting. FBW will then ask the questions in the meeting and the navigation authority will provide detailed answers, both in person in the meeting and also in writing.

Les Etheridge, Chair of FBW said “By arranging these sessions we are enabling FBW members to ask questions on any area including those where reservations are publicly expressed.  These will be positive and constructive sessions which we hope will benefit both the navigation authority and FBW”   

About Fund Britain’s Waterways (FBW): FBW brings together a wide range of organisations with the sole purpose of campaigning collectively for an increase in government funding of Britain’s inland waterways to avert their decline, and to promote awareness of the huge economic, environmental and social well-being value they provide. Established in June 2023, it already has over 110 members representing hundreds of thousands of users and supporters of inland waterways.

Contact:

For further information about Fund Britain’s Waterways, or to submit a question for the Canal & River Trust session (by 13 March 2024), contact info@fundbritainswaterways.org.uk

Malcolm has kindly sent some more details over for the funeral of Mr Mac.  If you are attending the funeral and wake, can you please let me know so that I can keep Malcolm informed.  Please see the details at the bottom of this email.

As you may already have seen, depending on which earlier emails you have received, John Foley has drawn attention to the fact that parking in the streets near St. Matthews is very difficult as staff from North Manchester General Hospital now park there because the hospital has started charging for onsite parking. He therefore suggests that anyone who can should come by Metrolink. St. Matthews is about a 10 minute walk from Crumpsall Metro; the Irish Heritage Centre is even closer to Queens Road. If anyone wants help with travelling please let me know and I will try to help.

Jane has asked for numbers for the wake by 6th February. Please would you let me have them by 5th so that I can save her the job of tallying lots of individual replies. The three who have already booked dossing space at No 89 and the two who have told me they can’t come are excused from replying.

Family flowers only. Details of charity donations to follow.

Regards,

Malcolm

David Arthur McCarthy MBE – 26/2/1924 – 17/1/2024

Funeral arrangements Service of Thanksgiving  Tuesday 13^th February 2024 1.30pm

Service at St. Matthew with St. Mary, Cleveland Road, Crumpsall, Manchester M8 4QU  (Metrolink Bury Line Zone 2)

Committal at Blackley Crem – Family Only – 3pm Blackley Cemetery and Crematorium · Victoria Avenue, Blackley, M9 8JP

Wake and chance to meet with friends and loved ones to share tales and laughter, maybe some tears

Irish World Heritage Centre 1 Irish Town Way Cheetham Hill Manchester M8 0AE (Metrolink Bury Line Zone 2)

The family thank you for coming and invite you to join them after the service for refreshments at the Irish World Heritage Centre

I have just received the information below from Malcolm Bridge about Mr Mac who had a long association of WRGNW with the club including holding partiers to celebrate his 80^th and 90^th birthdays.

I am very sad to tell you that Mr. Mac died yesterday morning (17th January), exactly 40 days short of his 100th birthday. He slipped away peacefully, lasting just long enough to learn that his second great grandchild had just been born. His death was inevitable, even expected, but to lose North West’s eminence grise still comes as a dreadful shock.

Obviously it is too early to talk about funeral arrangements but I will circulate details when I get them in case anyone from the Club wants to attend.

Please pass on the news to anyone else you think should know.

Best regards,

Malcolm Bridge

nb Ampère

Commodore calling…. I hope that you all had a lovely and festive Christmas Day and that today, Boxing Day, hasn’t been too strenuous.  Ruth and I, along with Steve and Catherine from NB Aalin, cruised up to Whiteley Green on Christmas Eve.  Although it has been awfully wet and Whiteley Green and the towpaths are extremely muddy, it has been wonderful to get out on NB Sunbeam and enjoy her – as they say, use it or lose it.

The plan for the New Year’s Day Cruise is for all boats to set off at 12.00 sharp.  We will then proceed to Higher Poynton, along the way wishing a Happy New Year to all we meet.  Upon our return there will be soup, sandwiches, hot drinks etc available in the Clubhouse and the bar will also be open.  

All members, family and friends are more than welcome to come along to the clubhouse from 1.30pm onwards, whether taking part in the cruise or not.  For those members who are no longer boating but would enjoy a couple of hours on the adorable Macclesfield canal, please email commodore@nccc.org.uk as soon as possible so that arrangements can be made for you to join one of the boats.

If the weather is not suitable for cruising, the Clubhouse will still be open at 1.30pm for good company and refreshments.

Detail

From Date: 27/07/2023 17:00 / To Date: On-going

Type: Navigation Closure / Reason: Repair / Is the towpath closed? No

Location

Closest waterway: Peak Forest Canal / Starts at: Bridge 24, Wood End Lift Bridge / Ends at: Bridge 24, Wood End Lift Bridge

Description

Please be advised navigation is closed at Bridge 24, Wood End Lift Bridge on the Peak Forest canal due to a failed bearing.

Our team are currently arranging an onsite meeting with our specialist engineers and contractors and an update on this will be provided by Wednesday 2 August.

William Walker, a long serving and devoted, retired employee of British Waterways (now Canal & River Trust) will be given a most fitting send off when he makes his last waterborne journey aboard the Phoenix narrowboat on Friday 21^st July 2023.

Departing from Whaley Bridge at 10am, William’s coffin will be transported on a last trip afloat, in traditional style, to Bugsworth Basin, one of his favourite places on the Peak Forest Canal where he was foreman for many years. The boat will be captained by William’s good friend Ian Braine.

Bugsworth Canal Basin, the head of navigation of the canal, was the largest and busiest inland port on Britain’s narrow canal system and the only one to survive intact. William was fascinated by its restoration and complete transformation with an abundance of wildlife, true escapism and tranquillity. 

William resided at Wharf Cottage in High Lane for over 40 years and was a highly valued member of the adjacent North Cheshire Cruising Club, where he would regularly be seen presenting local history talks, quizzes and film nights.

He had recently been made a director and was looking after the archives as well as a special event to commemorate the club’s 80^th Anniversary, which will still be going ahead as a tribute to William in September.

An extremely passionate local historian, William cared so much about educating people of all ages, about lost crafts and traditions and the important history and heritage of canals, mills and working life during and after the war.

Friends from William’s extremely diverse life will be represented as passengers on board the Phoenix together with his close family.

A long-serving member of Stockport Harriers, William successfully completed several London marathons and other significant runs in Europe, including Austria, Germany and the Netherlands   and he was a pioneer in raising funding for a professional track at Woodbank Park in Stockport.

One key thread ran throughout the entire life of William’s adventures – to always be learning, sharing knowledge, giving people reasons to smile and living life to its full.

He was certainly the sunshine in everyone’s life and he has left behind an amazing and rich legacy of memories to be cherished by many future generations.

The Life of William

William Henry Walker was born in Edgeley neighbourhood in 1939 and grew up with his three sisters and one brother and derived an early passion for motor vehicles which later inspired him to undertake a 7- year apprenticeship.

He became a fully officiated rally driver and a specialised mechanic in performance racing cars.

In his thirties, William engaged in a new hobby that often found him knee deep in mud and debris and up against much political opposition when he joined ASHTAC and was involved in restoring the Ashton Canal.

This experience inspired a complete career change and William was delighted when he was offered a job with British Waterways in 1979.

The new role was William’s absolute niche in life and he became a greatly admired “Friend to the waterways” where he excelled in “Making a difference” which he described as his “Raison d’etre” in life. 

When he officially retired from his last role as Project Officer in 2004, William could not resist but to return to a part-time job as License and Moorings Officer, where once again his delightful smile and chivalrous, influential manner ensured that lots of boaters’ unpaid fees soon got paid.

A True Waterways Stalwart with Unique Persona

Stuart Mills, Canal & River Trust chief investment officer, said: ““I have very fond memories of working with Bill in his role as a trades union representative and of his deep passion for the waterways. I know that he has been a dedicated waterways supporter for over 40 years and his commitment has been remarkable.

“His passion for local history and the canal network has meant that he has served tirelessly as a volunteer, both before and after his retirement, including managing the heritage boat Ibex and later being involved with the Saturn Project.

“In 2000, I can recall that William successfully put the canal network in the spotlight when he delivered barrels of Royal Ale, “mashed” in person by Queen Elizabeth II, from Bass Brewery in Burton-upon-Trent to Camden Wharf aboard our heritage boat.

“I personally greeted the small volunteer crew upon arrival of the boat at Camden and, destined for delivery to Buckingham Palace, the barrels were transferred to the Royal Family horse and dray. It took three weeks to complete the journey from Burton-upon-Trent and William volunteered for this opportunity in his own time.

“William could often be seen in a traditional boatman’s costume, making a lasting impact with the younger generation and keeping historic boating traditions alive. He will be greatly missed.”

The Funeral

Following William’s “Last Journey Afloat”, a historic tradition, the funeral procession will depart from Wharf Cottage at 1pm for a service in Rowan Chapel at Stockport Crematorium at 1:45pm.

Friends and family are warmly invited for refreshments and reminiscences afterwards at High Lane Conservative Club from 2:30pm.

Jeremy Unsworth’s Funeral Directors, New Mills are taking care of funeral arrangements and have organised previous bespoke funerals for canal enthusiasts who want to follow the boating traditions as their last wishes.

The Phoenix. The Phoenix started her life as a live aboard narrowboat. In the mid 2000’s, most unfortunately, she was vandalised and set on fire. The subsequent sinking would have meant the end for most boats, but not for Phoenix. The previous owners re-floated the vessel, repaired the damage and undertook modifications to turn her into a day hire boat. Phoenix didn’t exactly rise from the ashes, she rose from the mud.

Ian Gilman the owner of Phoenix is proud to be enabling the family and friends to take William on his “Last Journey Afloat”

Phoenix Day boat Hire