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All closures / Why they close / Vandalism

Vandalism

Unplanned closures with this cause: 7 in June to August 2026 against 6 a year earlier, within what chance produces; tested on its own, not among the trends page's findings. How a change is tested.

On record: 22 notices since May 2025: 21 closures and 1 restriction

In force today

No closure with this cause is in force today.

By canal

17 canals have had a closure with this cause. A closure naming two canals counts on both.

Closures with this cause on each canal since May 2025, most first.
Canal	Closures
Leeds & Liverpool Canal	6
Leigh Branch (L&L Canal)	4
Grand Union Canal	2
Glasson Branch (Lancaster Canal)	1
Huddersfield Broad Canal	1
Kennet & Avon Canal	1
Lancaster Canal	1
Macclesfield Canal	1
Northampton Arm (GU Canal)	1
Regent's Canal	1
River Witham	1
Rochdale Canal	1

Show 5 moreShow fewer

Canal	Closures
Rushall Canal	1
South Stratford Canal	1
Stourbridge Canal	1
Trent & Mersey Canal	1
Walsall Canal	1

Every closure on record

Showing 21 closures and 1 restriction whose cause reads “Vandalism”.

PeriodFrom To

Rank byClosure daysNumber of closures

Population

5 closures are in neither group: 5 unplanned with no day in the cruising season since May 2025.

Status

Duration

Cause

Asset affected

Lock part

Unplanned lock failures naming a part

Water problem

Unplanned failures naming one

CRT reason

Region

closures

closure-days since May 2025

in cruising season

no reopening date

What these figures mean

Population: Which closures a figure counts. All closures is everything; Unplanned closure drops the works CRT flags as its winter programme and any day outside the cruising season (the Friday nearest 15 March to the Sunday before the first Monday in November). Scheduled work CRT does not flag as winter works still counts here. CRT Planned closure is the flagged winter programme alone.
Defensible duration: The days between a closure's start and its reopening date, counted only where the dates allow it. A cancelled notice, or one whose reopening precedes its start, has no defensible duration and is in no total.
Closure-days: One day on which one closure was in force. Two closures on the same day are two closure-days; where the question is how long a canal was actually disrupted, overlapping notices are unioned into single intervals. They are counted from 1 May 2025, when this archive begins: a closure that started earlier adds only its days since then, though its own row shows its whole length. Every figure and chart counts only the days inside the Period chosen above them.
In force: A closure is in a Period, and a day is one a closure affected, if it was in force at any time that day, including the morning it reopened. Closure-days measure how long, so they count whole days and not the reopening day: a closure can be in a Period and add no closure-day to it.

Closures in force each month

closures active during the month

May 25Jun 25Jul 25Aug 25Sep 25Oct 25Nov 25Dec 25Jan 26Feb 26Mar 26Apr 26May 26Jun 26Jul 26Aug 26Sep 26

Canals ranked by the season's closures

share of the period's cruising-season days up to today — a closure somewhere on a long canal is likelier, and does not mean the canal was impassableclosures in force on the period's cruising-season days — a longer canal has more to go wrong on

Where

closure-days by regionclosures by region

North West209

West Midlands194

Yorkshire and North East163

London and South East82

East Midlands62

Wales and South West21

North West920

West Midlands419

Yorkshire and North East316

London and South East28

East Midlands26

Wales and South West12

A region with more canal has more to go wrong on, so these totals partly measure its size. Regions compared by length of canal are on the Reliability page.

CRT's reason

closure-days by the reason CRT filedclosures by the reason CRT filed

Suspected Vandalism336

Low Water Levels3111

Information42

Underwater Obstruction21

Boating Incident11

Low Water Levels1131

Suspected Vandalism633

Information24

Underwater Obstruction12

Boating Incident11

What fails

closure-days by assetclosures by asset

Canal or river5516

Lock154

Swing bridge11

Canal or river1655

Lock415

Swing bridge11

What fails on a lock

closure-days by part — unplanned lock failures naming a partclosures by part — unplanned lock failures naming a part

Paddle71

Gate61

Paddle17

Gate16

How long they last

closures by full length, including any days before May 2025 — the bands are not equal in width

<=1d2-7d8-30d31-90d91-365d>365d

22 results · every closure whose cause reads “Vandalism”Jump to list

Lock 6, Brearley-16 Rochdale Canal - REOPENED
Rochdale CanalYorkshire and North East
10 days
From 17 July 2026
Reopened 27 July 2026
CRT's title says reopened
Where
Lock 6, Brearley to Lock 16
CRT reason
Low Water Levels
Cause
Vandalism
Asset
Canal or river
We have been closely monitoring the water levels and there is enough for passage so we are reopening this section from Lock 16 to Lock 6. Below Lock 12 down to Lock 6, it is navigable but may be a little lower than usual, however we have boats travelling downstream which will…
Latest of 8 CRT updates, 27 July 2026.
Lock 1, Lodge Hill - Lock 6, Glasson Branch, Lancaster Canal
Glasson Branch (Lancaster Canal)North West
9 days
From 7 May 2025
Reopened 16 May 2025
Where
Lock No.1 to Lock No.6
CRT reason
Suspected Vandalism
Cause
Vandalism
Asset
Canal or river
We're pleased to confirm that our teams will have the water levels restored in time for the weekend, and the canal between Lock 1 and Lock 6 will reopen on Friday. Our teams have been working hard to get the navigation back open. Progress had been paused to resolve an issue with…
Latest of 4 CRT updates, 14 May 2025.
Rushall Lock Flight
Rushall CanalWest Midlands
9 days
From 1 June 2026
Reopened 10 June 2026
Where
Lock 1, Top Lock Rushall to Lock 9, Rushall
CRT reason
Suspected Vandalism
Cause
Vandalism
Asset
Canal or river
Water levels have shown some improvement; however, they remain below the required level for navigation. We are aiming to reopen on Wednesday and will provide a further update at that time.
Latest of 3 CRT updates, 8 June 2026.
Navigation Closure - Grand Union Canal, Lock 84 Copper Mill Lock, Harefield
Grand Union CanalLondon and South East
7 days
From 17 April 2026
Reopened 24 April 2026
Where
Lock 84, Copper Mill Lock
CRT reason
Suspected Vandalism
Cause
Vandalism
Asset
Lock
The ground paddle has been repaired and the gates have been lined. The gates still leak below the water, increasing the time it takes for the lock to fill. Operatives will return in the morning to complete the repair. Once we have a further update we will update this notice…
Latest of 4 CRT updates, 23 April 2026.
Walsall Lock Flight
Walsall CanalWest Midlands
6 days
From 20 February 2026
Reopened 26 February 2026
Where
Lock 1, Walsall Top Lock to Lock 3, Walsall
CRT reason
Suspected Vandalism
Cause
Vandalism
Asset
Lock
The lock flight will remain closed until the team have dewatered it and removed the rubble. We will provide a further update on Thursday.
Latest of 2 CRT updates, 24 February 2026.
Northampton Arm of the Grand Union, between lock14 and lock16
Northampton Arm (GU Canal)East Midlands
5 days
From 22 June 2025
Reopened 27 June 2025
Where
Lock 14 to Lock 16
CRT reason
Low Water Levels
Cause
Vandalism
Asset
Canal or river
Despite colleagues running water all day yesterday, the levels have not sufficiently recovered for navigation and the section between lock 14 and lock 16 remains closed. We are back on site today to continue to run water and will update this notice as soon as we have an update…
Latest of 2 CRT updates, 24 June 2025.
Huddersfield Broad Canal Closure - Reopened
Huddersfield Broad CanalYorkshire and North East
4 days
From 26 February 2026
Reopened 2 March 2026
CRT's title says reopened
Where
Aspley Basin Waste Weir to Bridge 1, Lock 1 (Cooper Bridge)
CRT reason
Low Water Levels
Cause
Vandalism
Asset
Canal or river
The water levels have been closely monitored over the weekend and this has given the levels the time to recover. The Huddersfield Broad Canal has reopened and crafts are able to navigate the canal.
Latest of 4 CRT updates, 2 March 2026.
Lock 22 (Lapworth) to Red Lion (Stratford)
South Stratford CanalWest Midlands
2 days
From 6 July 2025
Reopened 8 July 2025
Where
Lock 22 to Red Lion
CRT reason
Low Water Levels
Cause
Vandalism
Asset
Canal or river
Please note that navigation on the South Stratford Canal remains closed due to ongoing low water levels. Our team attempted to refill the pounds yesterday; however, on returning this morning, they found that a paddle had been wound up overnight, resulting in the pounds being…
Latest of 3 CRT updates, 8 July 2025.
Lock 85-Lock 86 - Leeds & Liverpool Canal Lock 1 - Leigh Branch
Leeds & Liverpool Canal, Leigh Branch (L&L Canal)North West
2 days
From 28 July 2025
Reopened 30 July 2025
Where
Lock 1, Top Lock, Leigh Branch
CRT reason
Low Water Levels
Cause
Vandalism
Asset
Canal or river
Navigation will remain closed between Lock 85 and Lock 86 on the Leeds and Liverpool Canal and Lock 1 on the Leigh Branch due to vandalism with paddles having been left open. The local team is working to restore the levels by feeding water down to the area, but it's taking…
Latest of 2 CRT updates, 29 July 2025.
Stourton Locks 1 - 2 Low Water Levels and boat possible capsize.
Stourbridge CanalWest Midlands
2 days
From 25 May 2026
Reopened 27 May 2026
Where
Stourton Lock 4 (Bottom Lock) to Lock 16, Stourbridge Bottom Lock
CRT reason
Low Water Levels
Cause
Vandalism
Asset
Canal or river
The canal section has suffered from vandalism overnight resulting in large sections of canal being drained resulting a boat grounding and possible capsize. No running of water until craft has been recovered by specialist team.
CRT's only update, 25 May 2026.
Lune Aqueduct
Lancaster CanalNorth West
2 days
From 1 June 2026
Reopened 3 June 2026
Where
Aqueduct B.107, Lune Aqueduct
CRT reason
Underwater Obstruction
Cause
Vandalism
Asset
Canal or river
Navigation is currently closed at Lune Aqueduct on the Lancaster Canal due to metal fencing that has been thrown into the canal, causing an underwater obstruction. Our teams are aware and are working to remove the obstruction this week. We will provide a further update on or…
CRT's only update, 1 June 2026.
Locks 65 to Lock 85
Leeds & Liverpool CanalNorth West
2 days
From 24 June 2026
Reopened 26 June 2026
Where
Lock 85, Lock 21 to Lock 65, Top Lock
CRT reason
Low Water Levels
Cause
Vandalism
Asset
Canal or river
Navigation remains closed between Lock 65 and Lock 85 on the Wigan Flight of the Leeds & Liverpool Canal due to vandalism, which has resulted in severely low water levels, where the paddles have been left open. Our team are continuing to replenish the pounds however, this may…
Latest of 2 CRT updates, 25 June 2026.
Lock 67 , Little Bedwyn Lock and Lock 68 Oakhill Down Lock.
Kennet & Avon CanalWales and South West
2 days
From 17 July 2026
Reopened 19 July 2026
Where
Lock 68, Oakhill Down Lock to Lock 67, Little Bedwyn Lock
CRT reason
Information
Cause
Vandalism
Asset
Canal or river
Please be advised that due to low water levels, the pound between lock 67 and 68 is closed to navigation to allow water levels to recover. It has been identified that there has been deliberate misuse of the lock, which has contributed to the current situation and has…
CRT's only update, 17 July 2026.
CLOSED - Kirkstall, Forge and Newlay Locks
Leeds & Liverpool CanalYorkshire and North East
2 days
From 23 July 2026
Reopened 25 July 2026
Where
Lock 13, Newlay Top Lock to Lock 7, Kirkstall Little Lock
CRT reason
Information
Cause
Vandalism
Asset
Canal or river
Our local team has attended site and assessed the water levels along this section of the canal. While levels have improved since the temporary closure was put in place, they have not yet recovered sufficiently to allow navigation to reopen safely. To ensure there is enough water…
Latest of 2 CRT updates, 24 July 2026.
Navigation Closure; Between Lock 85 and 86, Leeds & Liverpool, and Lock 1, Leigh Branch (L&L Canal)
Leeds & Liverpool Canal, Leigh Branch (L&L Canal)North West
1 day
From 3 June 2025
Reopened 4 June 2025
Where
Lock 1, Top Lock, Leigh Branch
CRT reason
Low Water Levels
Cause
Vandalism
Asset
Canal or river
Navigation is currently closed between Lock 85 and Lock 86 on the Leeds and Liverpool Canal and Lock 1 on the Leigh Branch due to vandalism with paddles having been left open. The local team are aware and onsite feeding water down to the affected area. A further update will be…
CRT's only update, 3 June 2025.
Navigation Closure; Between Lock 85 and 86, Leeds & Liverpool, and Lock 1, Leigh Branch (L&L Canal)
Leeds & Liverpool Canal, Leigh Branch (L&L Canal)North West
1 day
From 10 June 2025
Reopened 11 June 2025
Where
Lock 1, Top Lock, Leigh Branch
CRT reason
Low Water Levels
Cause
Vandalism
Asset
Canal or river
Navigation is currently closed between Lock 85 and Lock 86 on the Leeds and Liverpool Canal and Lock 1 on the Leigh Branch due to vandalism with paddles having been left open. The local team are aware and onsite feeding water down to the affected area. A further update will be…
CRT's only update, 10 June 2025.
Navigation Closure; Between Lock 86, Leeds & Liverpool, and Lock 1, Leigh Branch (L&L Canal)
Leeds & Liverpool Canal, Leigh Branch (L&L Canal)North West
1 day
From 24 June 2025
Reopened 25 June 2025
Where
Lock 1, Top Lock, Leigh Branch
CRT reason
Low Water Levels
Cause
Vandalism
Asset
Canal or river
Navigation is currently closed between Lock 86 on the Leeds and Liverpool Canal and Lock 1 on the Leigh Branch due to vandalism with paddles been left open. The local team are aware and onsite feeding water down to the affected area. A further update will be provided Wednesday…
CRT's only update, 24 June 2025.
Stamp End Lock 1
River WithamEast Midlands
1 day
From 9 September 2025
Reopened 10 September 2025
Where
Lock 1, Stamp End Lock
CRT reason
Suspected Vandalism
Cause
Vandalism
Asset
Lock
Due to suspected vandalism to the locking mechanism, Stamp End Lock is not currently operational. We are working to fix this as soon as possible. We will update this notice as soon as we have further information.
CRT's only update, 9 September 2025.
Ongoing Overnight closures Commercial Road, Lock 12 between 3.45pm and 8am
Regent's CanalLondon and South East
1 day
Fully shut 1 of CRT's 245 days
From 18 November 2025
Reopened 21 July 2026
Where
Lock 12, Commercial Road Lock
CRT reason
Boating Incident
Cause
Vandalism
Asset
Lock
Please be advised that there will be a continued overnight stoppage at Commercial Road Lock between 15.45 and 08:00 for the foreseeable future due to vandalism.
Latest of 11 CRT updates, 2 June 2026.
Bridge 49, Royal Oak Swing Bridge
Macclesfield CanalNorth West
1 day
From 2 December 2025
Reopened 3 December 2025
Where
Bridge 49, Royal Oak Swingbridge
CRT reason
Suspected Vandalism
Cause
Vandalism
Asset
Swing bridge
Due to suspected vandalism on the lock mechanism at Bridge 49, Royal Oak Swing bridge on the Macclesfield Canal, we've had to temporarily close navigation. Contractors have been instructed to attend. A further update will be provided Wednesday 3 December.
CRT's only update, 2 December 2025.
Lock 57 hassall green to Lock 66
Trent & Mersey CanalNorth West
1 day
From 30 June 2026
Reopened 1 July 2026
Where
Lk 66, Bottom Lock - Off Side to Lk 57, Top Lock
CRT reason
Low Water Levels
Cause
Vandalism
Asset
Canal or river
Navigation is closed between Lock 57 and Lock 66 on the Trent & Mersey Canal due to vandalism, which has resulted in severely low water levels, where the paddles have been left open. To allow the water levels to recover, navigation will remain closed until further notice. A…
CRT's only update, 30 June 2026.
Lock 52 -lock 53 Grand Union closure at 15:30
Grand Union CanalLondon and South East
4 days
From 16 January 2026
Ended 20 January 2026
Restriction, not a full closure
Where
Lock 52, Gas 2 Lock to Lock 53
CRT reason
Low Water Levels
Cause
Vandalism
Asset
Lock
We have been advised the locks will be re-opened at 09:00 and this pattern of closure will continue until the team has assessed the locks can remail fully open.
Latest of 3 CRT updates, 16 January 2026.

Showing the 22 longest of 22. Every row links to the notice CRT published.

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