Canal Drained for new lock gates

British Waterways drained the canal between lock one and the River Aire last month to undertake important repairs to the listed lock and graving docks.

"The refurbishment programme, expected to cost around £50,000, will see the timber floor of the lock chamber replaced and repairs carried out to the two graving docks – areas where the water can be completely pumped out so boats can be repaired and checked.The larger graving dock will also have new lock gates fitted.Judy Jones, heritage advisor for British Waterways Yorkshire said: "River Lock, which was built around 1770 and was Lock No. 1 on the Leeds and Liverpool Canal, is the point where the River Aire meets the canal."Canals are such an important part of the country's landscape, so it's important to preserve and protect the waterways for the future."River Lock contains approximately 20,000 cubic feet of water when full.That has been dispersed into the Navigation so that the work, expected to take a month, can be carried out.During preliminary inspections the lock gate at the small graving dock was found to be very rare.A British Waterways spokesman said it would be cleaned, measured, photographed and recorded, then left on the dock floor as an archaeological point of interest.Mark Howe, director for ISIS, said once the development was complete the canal basin, particularly the graving docks, would form a key area of interest for visitors and residents in light of the canal's industrial heritage.There will also be moorings for visitors travelling by boat, so they can park their vessels and venture into the city centre."

Yorkshire Evening Post 9th Feb 09
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