By George Jenkins
A planning application has been submitted for repair works to improve safety at historic Newlay Locks.
Newlay Locks is a flight of three locks in Bramley, along the Leeds and Liverpool Canal.
The plans would see the extension of a lock ladder back to the required length, and repair work on the offside quadrant on lock 12.
The ladder on lock 11 needs to be extended by 900mm to meet Canal & River Trust safety guidelines, and the quadrant on lock 12, which has eroded over time as excess water has eroded the mortar between stones, has become loose and uneven, making it a tripping hazard. Work will therefore be done to repair the quadrant back to its earlier condition.
The locks, which have been a Grade II Listed Heritage site since 1976, are one of the over 370,000 listed buildings in England and are deemed to be of special interest.
The application will see the locks inaccessible to visitors during the repairs.
The Heritage Statement from the Canal & River Trust said: “Newlay Locks illustrate the approach to canal building adopted by the engineer in the early phases of the construction of this canal, and as such they present historic and evidential value.
“These works will bring the locks into line with the Trust’s safety standard, designed to ensure people in the lock chamber can escape safely. Repairs to the quadrant will make operation of the lock gates safer and remove trip hazards from close to the lock chamber.
“The works will not affect the character of the lock and consequently are judged not to cause harm.”
Comments can be submitted on the application until 3 June and a decision expected by 13 June. The plans can be viewed in full here.