Due to ongoing pressure on water resources, Rushall Lock Flight will be closed to navigation from Monday 27 July 2026 until further notice.

The restrictions currently in place were intended to reduce water demand and conserve limited water supplies whilst maintaining navigation opportunities. Despite these measures, water resources have not recovered sufficiently to support continued lock operation. Following ongoing assessment by our operational and water management teams, closure is now necessary to conserve water supplies and protect the wider navigation network.

We understand that this closure will impact boating plans and apologise for the inconvenience caused. This decision has not been taken lightly and remains necessary to help conserve available water supplies during a period of sustained dry weather and reduced water availability.

The closure will remain under regular review and will be lifted as soon as water resources allow safe and sustainable operation of the lock flight. Our teams will continue to monitor conditions closely and provide further updates as soon as circumstances change.

Boaters are encouraged to check the latest noticesbefore travelling as operating arrangements may change at short notice in response to water resource conditions. Boaters can continue to help conserve water across the network by sharing locks where possible, ensuring paddles are fully lowered after use and checking that lock gates are properly closed. For further guidance, please refer to the Thrift Code - a set of simple actions boaters can take to save water.

We appreciate the patience and cooperation of all boaters during this challenging period.

To help conserve water and manage available resources during the current period of prolonged dry weather, the Rushall Canal will be subject to daily operating restrictions until further notice.

The locks between Lock 1 and Lock 9 will will operate as follows:

• 8am – Locks open for navigation.
• 2pm – Locks closed for the remainder of the day.

Boaters are advised to plan their journeys accordingly and allow sufficient time to clear the flight before the daily closure comes into effect.

We apologise for any inconvenience and thank you for your patience and cooperation while we take steps to protect water supplies and maintain navigation across the network.

We will continue to monitor the situation and provide further updates as necessary.