A bitter row has erupted over a lock on the Huddersfield narrow canal, pitting boaters against local homeowners. The conflict centers on lock 20W near Greenfield, where low water levels have left boats grounded, while residents claim that failing to drain the lock causes sewage to overflow into their homes.
Signs of Trouble
Homemade signs began appearing on the lock earlier this month, bearing the misspelled message: “Canel And River Trust. Please leave this paddle up after use. To prevent flooding to properties.” Boaters have repeatedly torn down these signs, only for residents to replace them.
Adam Byram, a boater, reported being stuck in the middle of the canal due to low water. “I saw the fake sign on the actual lock and obviously the spelling was ‘canel’ so I knew straight away,” he said. “As I went up, the canal was more or less empty, and I got grounded above where the sign is.” He had to ask a passerby to help open a paddle to refloat his boat.
Residents’ Perspective
One resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity, explained the reason behind the signs: “When that lock’s full for a matter of hours – we’re not on days here, a matter of hours – it floods. And there’s nothing worse than getting sewage coming up [into] your bath.” Another resident, Ken, an 80-year-old retired gardener, admitted to making and posting the signs. “It’s been a nightmare all this month,” he said. “I’ll go and have a bath, but I can’t, it is gurgling back, and you flush the loo, and it doesn’t flush. It’s not nice – and it smells.”
Boaters’ Concerns
Michelle Beddow-Green, a liveaboard boater of nearly three years, described the impact on her daily life: “It’s terrible on the Huddersfield narrow canal because there are always breaches going on, water levels drop a lot... I can’t open my doors sometimes because it drops by that much, you can’t open your hatches.” Another boater, David Murray, worried about damage to his vessel: “I don’t know how long my boat’s going to stand being smashed on the floor.”
Canal & River Trust Response
The Canal & River Trust (CRT) acknowledged the “ongoing issue” at the Grade II-listed lock. A spokesperson said: “When this lock pound is left full, water unfortunately leaks into the cellar of an adjacent cottage... Our charity has carried out extensive grouting of the lock wall and installed pumps that automatically remove any water leaks.” The CRT noted that additional signage has been ordered and will be fitted to explain the situation. They attributed recent low water levels to increased boat traffic for the 25th anniversary of the canal’s restoration, not to paddles being left open.
The trust urged all parties to respect official advice signs, which are in place to ensure safety and protect the canal.
