Contractors will be working downstream of Stoke Lock to remove the gravel/sand bar that is currently affecting safe navigation and relocate material away from the main navigable channel.

Works are planned to take place from Tuesday 5 May to Tuesday 12 May 2026. During this period, boaters should expect delays of up to one hour while contractors temporarily pause works to allow safe passage.

Contractors are scheduled to begin dredging works to remove the gravel/sand bar at Stoke Lock from Tuesday 5th May, following the Bank Holiday weekend. The works are expected to last for approximately one week.

The navigation and lock will remain open throughout, although boaters may experience short, managed delays at times while plant and equipment are repositioned. These works have been planned to minimise disruption to navigation as far as possible.

The following guidance is recommended for use to boaters approaching and exiting Stoke Lock   Approaching from Gunthorpe Keep left of the marker buoys by a minimum of five metres. Turn into the lock when at a minimum of five metres upstream of the orange marker buoy.   Departing Stoke Lock Keep right exiting the lock, turning sharp right into the centre of the river. Maintain a position at minimum of five metres right of the orange marker buoy.   The attached map indicates a red area that should not be entered and a typical blue line approach/departure.

We will continue to have a Lock Keeper on site at Stoke Lock each day between 9:00am and 4:30pm to provide assistance and guidance as needed.

As an interim measure, until a solution to address the sand bar is confirmed, we are working to ensure that a Lock Keeper will be on site at Stoke Lock daily between 9:00am and 4:30pm to provide assistance and guidance where required.  Outside these hours the lock will be inoperable.

Navigation guidance Approaching from Gunthorpe

• Keep at least five metres to the left of the marker buoys.
• Begin your turn into the lock no sooner than five metres upstream of the last marker buoy.

Departing Stoke Lock

• Keep to the right when exiting the lock, making a sharp right turn into the centre of the river.
• Maintain a position at least five metres to the right of the marker buoys.

The image (visible on the website version of this notice) shows:

• A red area that should not be entered
• A blue line illustrating a typical safe approach and departure route

Please proceed with care and follow the guidance provided at all times.

Recent plough dredging works at Stoke Lock were unable to remove the gravel/sand bar immediately downstream of the lock due to insufficient water depth and the coarse nature of the deposits. As a result, a shallow gravel/sand bar remains in place.

A narrow navigable channel is currently available, and the affected area has been marked with buoys to reduce the risk of grounding. These measures are an interim mitigation only. Further plough dredging is not considered a viable solution at this location. We are assessing alternative options, including targeted conventional dredging and will update once a solution is confirmed.

Please proceed with caution and follow on‑site markings and guidance.

We have had reports of recent groundings on the River Trent below Stoke Lock. We believe that this is due to silt deposit building up, combined with the current low water levels.

Dredging is scheduled to improve this situation and we will update this notice as soon as we have further information.