Leicester lockdown: waterways update from Canal & River Trust

The Canal & River Trust has issued guidance on use of the waterways in Leicester and surrounding areas during the localised lockdown.

In line with government advice, the Trust is asking leisure boaters to stop all non-essential travel into and through the city with immediate effect.

In order to help those who live aboard, the Trust has suspended the requirement to move every 14 days on moorings between Wanlip (Bridge 18, Wanlip Road Bridge) and Newton Harcourt (Bridge 82, Turnover Bridge). The suspension will be kept under review in line with revised government guidance. Continuous cruisers outside of this area should continue to cruise, using other parts of the network outside of the lockdown area to do so.

Leisure boaters with a mooring within the affected area who do not live aboard will be unable to visit their boats during this period.

Hire boat bases, which are due to begin operating again from 4 July, are asked to direct their customers away from the affected area.

Angling and paddle sports have now been suspended on the River Soar/Grand Union Canal between the locations identified above.

While towpaths in the city will remain open, use of them should be limited. The trust is asking people to please stay local, avoid any stretches with moored boats and strictly observe social distancing at all times. In particular, cyclists should go slowly and take care around other users.

During this period, the trust will be working to ensure that vital boater facilities and services are accessible to those that need them. Work in the city will be focused on those roles which are critical to the safe management of the waterways, for example managing water levels, carrying out statutory inspections of canal structures, and ensuring essential facilities for boaters are available. All volunteering, including work done by partner groups, in the affected area is now suspended.

Comments are closed.