An investigation into a vandalised canal lock in Audlem is continuing in what the Canal and River Trust labelled a “serious incident”.
It’s feared yobs vandalised the tail gates if lock 10 on the Shropshire Union Canal.
The shear pins at the top of the gates had been removed.
It resulted in a boat becoming stuck when the lock was in use being emptied as the gates dropped and became “inoperable”, said the trust.
Specialist lifting equipment is now having to be brought in to try and remove the boat and repair the gates. The lock is set to be out of action until Saturday (August 3).
A Canal and River Trust spokesperson said: “Our engineers have completed their inspections, and in order to lift the gates back into position, we require lifting equipment to be brought to the site.
“Our priority is supporting the boaters who are currently stuck in the lock and ensuring the lock is safe.
“This incident was due to vandalism, where someone has removed both gate collars fixing, resulting in the gates becoming detached from the lock walls.
“Works to secure the gates our more complicated due to one of the gates being wedged against the other one.
“This has prevented us from using our normal methods of installing gates and now required to be lifted by a crane.
“The specialist crane required to lift the lock gates back into place is unavailable until Saturday morning, 3 August. Once the crane is on site our team will then lift the gates back into position and secure them.
“We are doing everything we can to reopen navigation over the weekend and a further update will be provide Saturday 3 August, once the works have been completed.”
Cheshire Police are now probing the vandalism incident.
Witnesses with any information or who saw any suspicious activities around Lock 10 on Tuesday night (July 30) should contact Cheshire Police using reference number 24000667511 or the trust’s North West Customer Support team at 03030 404040.
(Image courtesy of Canal and River Trust)
Having walked along the locks recently, I would say it was more a lack of maintenance than vandalism as most of the gate pins seem to be held in place with bent over nails, I am sure that this was not the way they were built.
someone will know, problem is most never want to involve themselves or even call the authorities, this was not done by one moron, it was a whole range of dumbheads
Why is it feared that yobs vandalised the lock, were there any witnesses? We shouldn’t all tarnish all youths as yobs as there are a lot of very decent youngsters about.
Sounds more like somebody must have known what they were doing to remove shear pins – whatever they are.