Aston Locks on the Birmingham & Fazeley Canal have been closed, because a boat has become jammed so tightly that it can’t be freed without dismantling part of the walls.
Aston Locks on the Birmingham & Fazeley Canal have been closed, because a boat has become jammed so tightly that it can’t be freed without dismantling part of the walls.
The 11-lock flight on the east side of Birmingham city centre was closed on Friday 4 October when a boat became stuck in Lock 5. Canal & River Trust staff attempted to free the boat, but it proved to have become wedged so securely that it couldn’t be shifted. Eventually CRT decided that the only solution would be to remove coping stones and brickwork from the lock chamber walls, remove the boat, and reinstate the masonry. This is expected to take until Friday 11th; however in the meantime an alternative route via the Saltley Cut (Birmingham & Warwick Junction Canal) and the Digbeth Branch remains open.
