Waterway Notices / Napton Lock 8 to Marston Doles Lock 16

Please note that, following a review of boat transit times through the flight, the last boat entry time will change from 1:00pm to 12:00 noon from Thursday.

The lock flight will continue to be open for passage on Mondays and Thursdays between 9:00am and 2:00pm. To allow sufficient time for boats to complete their passage through the flight, the last boat entry on Monday and Thursdays will now be 12:00 noon.

We will continue to monitor water resources closely and review these arrangements as conditions change.

Please note that the last boat entry will be at 1:00pm.

Following a review of water resources, Napton (Locks 8 to 16) will move from a closure to a restricted opening schedule from Monday 19 October 2026, subject to ongoing review.

From Monday 19 October, the locks will be open for passage on Mondays and Thursdays between 9:00am and 2:00pm. The last boat entry will be at 1:00pm

We will continue to monitor water resources closely and review these arrangements as conditions change.

Following a review of water resources, Napton (Locks 8 to 16) will move from a closure to a restricted opening schedule from Monday 19 October 2026, subject to ongoing review.

From Monday 19 October, the locks will be open for passage on Mondays and Thursdays between 9:00am and 2:00pm.

We will continue to monitor water resources closely and review these arrangements as conditions change.

Please note that restrictions remain in place on other parts of the network. Before travelling, we encourage all boaters to check the latest notices on our website for up-to-date information on any restrictions or closures that may affect their journey. Notices and stoppages | Canal & River Trust

Please be advised, due to the ongoing impact of the drought and continued low water levels, we are not yet in a position to safely reopen the navigation. As a result, the closure between Napton Lock 8 to Marston Doles Lock 16 will remain in place.

We will continue to closely monitor water levels, weather forecasts, and the wider drought conditions affecting the waterway, and are reviewing the situation regularly.

Please be assured that we are keeping conditions under constant review and will update this notice as soon as there is any significant change or further information to share.

Following ongoing monitoring of water levels, the navigation remains closed between Napton Lock 8 and Marston Doles Lock 16.

While conditions have improved in some areas, water resources remain under pressure and it is not yet considered sustainable to reopen the navigation.

Our teams will continue to monitor the situation closely and keep the closure under regular review. We will update this notice as soon as there is any significant change or further information to share.

We thank boaters for their patience and understanding while this closure remains in place.

Please be advised of updated arrangements for Thursday 13 August only, after which the closure will resume at Napton & Marston Doles Locks 8, 14, 15 and 16. The aim of this closure is to reduce water demand and allow water levels to recover during the current dry spell. To accommodate craft travelling through Lock 17, we will temporarily open the flight on Thursday 13 August: * Lock 16 will be open from 08:00 until 11:00 for boats entering the flight. * Boats entering at Lock 16 will be permitted to continue through and exit at Lock 8 by 13:00. * All craft must be clear of the affected section prior to the reintroduction of the closure. * No mooring is permitted between Locks 8 and 16. Boaters are advised to plan their passage carefully and allow sufficient time to clear the flight before the closure resumes. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation. You can read about other ways to help preserve water supplies on our website. A further update will be provided by Monday 31 August, or sooner if the situation changes.

Despite our efforts to conserve water and maintain navigation, continued dry weather and falling reservoir levels mean we can no longer maintain passage through this section. From Sunday 9 August, Locks 8, 14, 15 and 16 will be closed to navigation. Last entry into the flight will be at 2pm, with all locks closed by 3pm. These closures are necessary to protect limited water resources, support navigation recovery and safeguard canal infrastructure and ecology. Subject to conditions remaining suitable, we intend to provide a limited movement window on Monday 10 August between 10am and 3pm, with the last entry at 1pm. We are closely monitoring the situation and doing everything possible to maximise available water supplies across this part of the network. We will continue to review conditions and update this notice as further information becomes available. We understand that this continues to be disappointing news and our priority is to reopen the canal to full navigation as soon as possible. We thank you for your support in reducing water use across our network, and reporting leaks or concerns via 0303 040 4040 or our Contact Us page.