A STALYBRIDGE lock is set to receive brand new replacement gates later this year.
It’s part of a nationwide investment celebrating 15 years of support from Postcode Lottery players.
Lock 6 West on the Huddersfield Narrow Canal – around the Armentieres Square area – will be among 15 locks across the country to benefit from the Canal & River Trust’s “15 locks for 15 years” programme.
It will see bespoke new gates manufactured and installed to help protect the future of the historic waterways network.
The work will involve replacing both the top and bottom gates at the Stalybridge lock, with the new structures being specially crafted at the Canal & River Trust’s specialist workshops.
Lock gates play a vital role in keeping canals operational, controlling water levels and allowing boats to navigate the network. Constant exposure to the weather and regular use means they typically need replacing after around 25 years.
The Canal & River Trust said the investment highlights the impact of funding from Postcode Lottery players, which has helped the charity maintain more than 2,000 miles of waterways across England and Wales.
The charity says canals are now much more than historic transport routes, providing important spaces for walking, cycling, boating and connecting with nature, while also supporting wildlife and biodiversity.
Campbell Robb, Chief Executive of Canal & River Trust, said: “Support from Postcode Lottery players over the past 15 years has been instrumental in helping us care for our canals.
“This programme of lock gate replacements is a fitting way to mark that support, ensuring everyone who loves the waterways can continue to enjoy and get the health and wellbeing benefits of time spent on or by them.
“Lock gates are at the very heart of canal operations and replacing them is essential to maintaining the resilience of the network. Thanks to Postcode Lottery players’ support, we can continue to help safeguard these special places for boaters, local communities and the wildlife that call our canals home.”
Laura Chow, head of charities from Postcode Lottery, said: “What better way to celebrate fifteen years of player support for the Canal & River Trust than by funding 15 new lock gates across the country? These vital structures keep our waterways flowing and connected.
“Thanks to player funding, alongside the Trust’s ongoing conservation and maintenance work, these historic waterways can continue to be enjoyed and valued by communities, boaters and visitors for generations to come.”
Installation work will take place over the winter months, with the charity saying the schedule will be carefully planned to minimise disruption.
The Canal & River Trust is also encouraging people to continue supporting the upkeep of the waterways through volunteering and donations, helping preserve the canals for future generations.