Nantwich Memories: Swanley Locks at Nantwich given facelift

By Crewe Chronicle on Dec 2, 09 10:05 AM in 1500-1799

NEW lock gates are being installed on the Llangollen Canal near Nantwich.

It is hoped it will improve the Swanley Locks, where more than 10,000 boats pass through annually, many on their way to visit the newly crowned World Heritage Site of Pontcysyllte Aqueduct in Wales.

British Waterways undertakes a major upgrade programme along its waterways every year, replacing and refurbishing lock infrastructure ready for the following year's season.

North Wales & Borders Waterway Manager Wendy Capelle said the work was being rolled out wherever necessary across the region to improve network efficiency and reliability.

She added: "The bulk of this work involves installing and renewing time expired infrastructure, making navigation easier for our boating customers."

Work on the project is under way, with completion scheduled for mid-December Further work will take place on the stretch in February, when new gates are due to be installed at Hurleston Locks.

British Waterways is responsible for more than 2,200 miles of canals and rivers and maintains 1,654 historic locks, 54 tunnels, 3,115 bridges, 417 aqueducts and 91 reservoirs.