Our reactive team and engineer have inspected the affected lock gate and identified significant deterioration to both the heel and head posts, with extensive rot present.

Temporary repair options have been considered but are unlikely to provide a safe and reliable solution due to the extent of the damage, and there remains a risk of failure.

A specialist lock gate technician will attend site to carry out a further assessment of the gate's structural integrity. This will determine whether a repair is feasible or if a full gate replacement is required.

We will provide a further update following the specialist assessment.

Please be advised that navigation on the Walsall Lock Flight remains closed.

Repair plans are currently being developed following the damage to Lock 7, and the navigation will need to remain closed while these are finalised.

We will provide a further update once a confirmed repair plan and timescales are in place.

Please be advised that navigation is currently closed on the Walsall Lock Flight, as Lock 7 is not operational due to the top gate having snapped. Initial indications suggest this may have been caused by vandalism or misuse.

Our teams are aware and will attend site to assess the damage and determine the required repairs. Further updates will be provided as more information becomes available