New anti-vandal lock causes Shropshire border canal bridge chaos
A number of boats were left stuck at a canal bridge near the Shropshire border because a vandal lock had been fitted.
Boaters were left dismayed – and many stuck – after Shropshire Council installed the lock to the Tilstock Park Bridge, also known as Bridge 42, between Whixall and Whitchurch on Llangollen Canal.
The lock caused issues on Wednesday afternoon.
The Canal Network Twitter account criticised the lack of notice that the lock had been installed to the council-owned bridge.
They posted: "Busiest canal in the country in very rural location does not require an anti-vandal key.
"I hope @ShropCouncil contact hireboats, marinas and moorings to make people aware or it will be a very long and chaotic summer."
They also said it caused issues for boaters as the lock required a key which few on the waterway have. Thankfully Hannah Wardman, who runs the fuel boat on the canal with her husband, came to the rescue as they had a key.
She said: "We were affected but only because we had to scramble around for our key."
The Shropshire Star also contacted the person who runs the Canal Network account, who reiterated that the lock was not needed.
It said: "These locks are used in high risk city areas to stop locks and pounds being drained of water, they are not needed in a rural location. Also people have guides for canals and it would not state that they require an anti-vandal key so will not have one. Also there's nowhere local to buy them," they said.
During June last year, Shropshire Council received reports that the bridge was broken and shortly after being alerted to it, strapped it open for the summer season.
Despite the problems boaters have encountered, the Canal Network praised the local authority for acting fast.
They added: "I would like to point out that Shropshire Council's bridge department responded straight away the following morning through Twitter and agreed shortly after to remove the lock."
Lynn Pegler, spokeswoman for the North Wales & Borders Canal & River Trust, said they had received complaints from boaters inconvenienced by the lock.
