Shiplake Lock closure extended after boat crash damage

A barge crashed into the lock gate on the Tuesday, April 7, putting Shiplake Lock, which is between Shiplake and Lower Shiplake on the edge of Oxfordshire, indefinitely out of action.

The Environment Agency confirmed the following day that the lock would be closed to all river navigation ‘until further notice’, but later gave the provisional reopening date of April 16.

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However, the latest agency update has said contractors need longer to carry out the ‘complex’ repairs to the gate.

Floating pontoons and equipment to lift the gate back into the correct position were ‘mobilised’ on Tuesday (April 14) which will now be towed to the lock and assembled on site.

Shiplake Lock (file photo). The lock is closed ‘until further notice’ (Image: Wikimedia Commons)

The lifting operation is now expected to start on Monday, April 20, with the agency hoping for a fix and a reopening of the lock after that.

A spokesperson for the agency said: “We continue to manage this asset recovery operation as a matter of urgency, however, due to the complexity of this lifting operation and the associated risk management, our contractor requires slightly more time to ensure they can lift and re-position the lock gate safely.

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“Due to the time now required to review the overall operation, we may not be able to start the lifting operation until Monday, April 20.

“Once the lock gate is back in place, we will test the gate opening operation to ensure it can open and close safely. Once this has been confirmed, we will re-open the lock.

“If any further issues are observed, we will update our customers and carry out all emergency works as a priority.”

Updates are being issued on the gov.uk website.