Waterway Notices / Wolverhampton Lock Flight

Following a review of the current water resource situation, the Wolverhampton Lock Flight will reopen to navigation from Saturday 12 September 2026 under restricted operating arrangements.

To help conserve water supplies, passage through the lock flight will be available on a pre booked basis only and will operate on Saturdays and Sundays.

The following restrictions will apply:

• Passage must be booked in advance via Contact us | Canal & River Trust
• Days of Operation: Saturdays and Sundays only. No passage will be available Monday to Friday.
• The lock flight will be open between 9:00am and 2:00pm. (Last entry will be at 1:00pm.)
• A maximum of eight boats per day will be permitted to travel through the lock flight.

These measures are necessary to help manage water resources and maintain navigation through this section of canal. The team will continue to monitor water availability on a daily basis. The restrictions will be reviewed regularly and may be amended, relaxed or strengthened in response to changing conditions to help protect the navigation and conserve water resources.

Boaters wishing to book passage should contact us on 0303 040 4040 or email [email protected].

Before travelling, please check the latest navigation notices and stoppage information, as other restrictions may still be in place on your route. For the latest updates, please visit: Notices and stoppages | Canal & River Trust

Due to the ongoing dry weather and drought conditions affecting much of England, the Wolverhampton Lock Flight remains closed to navigation.

We continue to monitor conditions on a daily basis and will provide further updates as the situation develops.

This notice will be reviewed again at the end of September 2026, or sooner should conditions change.

To assist boaters currently affected by the navigation restrictions and stoppages, we will be making a one-off exception to allow boats trapped between stoppages to pass through the Wolverhampton Lock Flight.

Boats wishing to make use of this opportunity must be waiting at either the top or bottom of the lock flight by 9:00am tomorrow (Tuesday 28 July.)

We thank customers for their patience and cooperation during this period of prolonged dry weather and low water levels.

Due to ongoing pressure on water resources, Wolverhampton 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.

Please be advised that assistance will be provided to boaters navigating the lock flight to ensure they are through in time for the amended closure time of 3:30pm. The time of the last available passage remains 1pm.

Due to ongoing water resource challenges, a navigation restriction is being introduced on the Wolverhampton Lock Flight from Monday 20 July 2026.

These restrictions have been introduced to help conserve water supplies and maintain navigation during a period of reduced water availability. This measure has been implemented following ongoing reviews of water resources and operational requirements across the network.

Wolverhampton Lock Flight Open: 08:00 Last passage: 13:00 Close: 14:00

Last passage through the lock flight will be one hour before the published closure time to allow boats sufficient time to clear the flight safely before locks are secured. This restriction applies daily until further notice.

The situation will be reviewed regularly. Should water resources not improve by 27 July 2026, the Wolverhampton Lock Flight may be closed to navigation until further notice. Any future changes will be communicated as soon as possible.

We appreciate the patience and cooperation of all boaters as we work to conserve water resources and maintain navigation. Boaters can help reduce water usage by sharing locks where possible and ensuring paddles and gates are properly closed after use. This helps protect water resources and supports continued navigation across the network.