Latest news with #FoxtonLocks
BBC News
4 days ago
- Climate
- BBC News
Boaters stuck at Foxton Locks due to low water levels
Boaters stuck at Foxton Locks due to low water levels fear it could be months before the site Canal and River Trust confirmed that the Grade II-listed site, near Market Harborough, was temporarily closed on 29 July and some boats are now stuck in the bottom trust said the decision to temporarily shut the site, which lies within the 34-mile closed stretch of the Grand Union Canal, "had not been taken lightly".Alan Bath and his partner, Christina, are among those caught in the close and said they have noticed a visible drop in water levels. "There's no more water coming into the system," said Mr Bath."We are short of food and cans of beer but we are making the best of it." The Canal and River Trust said the network was feeling the effects of one of the "driest springs on record".Visitors are still welcome at Foxton Locks with businesses open and a summer programme of events still going Basington, 56, who works at the lock's local cafe, said he was already noticing a difference in footfall."Customers come to Foxton Locks to see the boats moving up and down and predominantly August is one of our busiest times of the year," said Mr Basington."We have noticed visitor levels have definitely fallen."Nearby at Union Wharf, Charlie Yole hires out narrowboats. Due to the closure, Mr Yole said he has had to move boats to moorings at the top of Foxton Locks at an extra cost so holidaymakers have a longer stretch of canal to enjoy."Generally the marina would be very busy this time of year," said Mr Yole."Boaters would come down and pay to use the mooring here and the facilities, so unfortunately that means there is a lack of income to us and the local area." The closure is place from Watford Lock 1 to Kings Lock 38 with a review of the ongoing situation expected on 29 August, according to the the locks will allow adequate water levels to be maintained to keep boats afloat, protect the wildlife in the canal and "safeguard the canal infrastructure", the charity said."With insufficient rainfall and reservoir holdings dwindling, we've had to temporarily close Foxton Locks to boats," a spokesperson said."Despite a few heavy downpours recently, we need sustained rain to top up the reservoirs that feed the canals. But, as soon as water levels allow, we'll get them back open."They said they were grateful for boaters' support and patience. "In the meantime, we're making the best of the situation to bring forward planned repairs at Foxton which will make the locks more resilient and minimise disruption to boaters later in the year," the spokesperson added.
BBC News
01-08-2025
- Climate
- BBC News
Foxton Locks closes to boats due to low water levels
The Foxton Locks have closed to boats due to low water a notice on its website the Canal & River Trust confirmed locks at the site near Market Harborough, Leicestershire, closed on comes after a drought was officially declared in the East Midlands earlier in the month, following England's driest start to a year since 1976. A spokesperson for the trust said Foxton Locks was still open to visitors with businesses at the site remaining open and a programme of summer events still going ahead. The Grade II listed site is set in 34 acres (14 hectares) and attracts more than 400,000 visitors a year, according to the trust. A spokesperson said the decision to shut the locks had "not been taken lightly" and followed "continued monitoring of the exceptionally dry weather". They added: "Our canal network is feeling the effects of one of the driest springs on record and several heatwaves already this summer. "Our charity's teams and volunteers have been working round the clock to manage water levels but, with insufficient rainfall and reservoir holdings dwindling, we've had to temporarily close Foxton Locks to boats. "This will help us maintain adequate levels of water to keep boats afloat, protect the wildlife that lives in the canal, and safeguard the canal infrastructure itself." The closure is place from Watford Lock 1 to Kings Lock 38 with a review of the ongoing situation expected on 29 August, according to the trust. Closing the locks will allow adequate water levels to be maintained to keep boats afloat, protect the wildlife in the canal and "safeguard the canal infrastructure", the charity could not be confirmed when exactly the locks would reopen but the charity said it would be "as soon as the water levels allow" and it needed "sustained rain" to top up the reservoirs."It's important to stress that Foxton Locks is still very much open for visitors looking for a day trip this summer," the spokesperson said."With two incredible feats of historic engineering, a canal museum, cafes, pubs and our programme of summer events about to get under way, we're very much looking forward to welcoming people over the summer."
BBC News
06-06-2025
- General
- BBC News
Foxton locks to host procession of historic boats
A procession of historic boats will descend Foxton Locks during an event to mark the 75th anniversary of a campaign to save the nation's inland waterways. The Inland Waterways Association (IWA) was set up to protect the nation's rivers and canals in 1946 and held a Festival of Boats and Arts in Market Harborough in 1950, which it says was the "tipping point of a waterways revival". To mark 75 years since the event, the Leicestershire IWA branch has organised an event on Saturday June 7 where a flotilla of historic working boats will descend Foxton Locks from 10:00 procession will then head to Union Wharf, which hosted the 1950 festival, before making its way back to Foxton. The event will continue from 10:00 BST until 16:00 on Sunday June 8, when a Sunday service will be held in the event field at Foxton. The Quorn Ukulele Orchestra will provide live music, while Alarum Productions will tell the stories of the women who worked on the waterways through story-telling theatre and there will also be live traders will be present at the event, while on dry land there will be activities, exhibitions and stalls. Foxton Locks is a Grade II listed site, is set in 34 acres (14 hectares) and is home to the longest staircase flight of locks in Britain. It attracts more than 400,000 visitors a year, according to Canal & River Beaumont, East Midlands director for Canal & River Trust, said: "There's nowhere better to watch boats than at Foxton Locks and we can't wait to welcome people to this fantastic celebration of Leicestershire's rich canal heritage."
