Smethwick Stop Lock

We’re off again, on a leisurely cruise.

This morning we went up the Smethwick flight.  There was certainly no stop lock there as we went up.

We were intending to cruise along the old main line but …

On the top beam of the top lock there was notice of an emergency stoppage.

The old main line was shut.

I phoned the British Waterways number on the notice, just to double check and a very helpful lady explained that Spon Lane Bridge parapet was unsafe and the old main line was shut until it has been made safe.  We had to finish going up the third lock to turn the boat.

I suggested that it would be better for a stoppage notice to be posted at the bottom lock to stop other boaters wasting time climbing through 3 locks, then having to turn the boat and go back
down again.

Good idea, she said – but I thought we’d already done that – I’ll get someone to check it out.

We cruised the Engine Branch while we were there (and there were plenty of stoppage notices everywhere you looked), then started back down the locks.  As we went into the bottom lock I was pleased to see big stoppage notices had been put up since we were there an hour or so earlier.

Great news, until we reached the bottom paddles and found them locked with nice shiny locks and chain.  They weren’t there when we came up.

We’d found Smethwick Stop Lock.

Another phone call to the helpful British Waterways lady who apologised profusely and said she would arrange help.  Two minutes later she phoned back to say Eugene would be there in five minutes.

Sure enough, a helpful, smiling Eugene was there in five minutes and quickly removed the chain and locks.  Apparently BW have posted several stoppage notices at the bottom lock but the vandals remove them as fast as they put them up.

Someone decided the best way to stop boaters wasting their time going up the locks was to padlock them out of use, unfortunately not realising that we were still on the way down.  A BW response that was too quick and helpful.

We can confirm there were two A3 size notices attached firmly to the bottom gate when we left – but no idea if they are still there now.  Spon Lane locks at the other side were similarly marked.

So, after a couple of hours ascending and
descending the Smethwick flight we headed off
along the new main line where we are now.

Posted on Friday, 31 August 2007 at 19:21        Comments (0)

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