New lock gates for the Birmingham and Fazeley Canal in winter repair programme

New lock gates for the Birmingham and Fazeley Canal are among a winter programme of repairs announced by the Canal and River Trust, designed to make the region's historic waterways more resilient after an exceptionally dry summer.

The charity, which looks after more than 2,000 miles of canals and rivers in England and Wales, says the work will tackle ageing structures, cut water loss and help keep the network open for the future.

Curdworth Locks get new gates

Closest to Birmingham, the trust will replace the top and bottom lock gates at Curdworth Locks on the Birmingham and Fazeley Canal, the waterway that carries boats from the city centre out towards Fazeley and Tamworth. Top and bottom gates will also be renewed at Hatton Locks on the Grand Union Canal, the famous flight between Birmingham and Warwick.

The trust says the renewals will keep both sets of locks working safely and reliably for boaters.

Saving water after the drought

Water is a big part of the story. Following the summer's drought, the trust says keeping supplies reliable is a priority. Projects on the Coventry Canal and the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal will reduce water seeping through canal banks and lock chambers.

Elsewhere in the region, the trust will repair a centuries-old wall that forms the edge of the Caldon Canal in Staffordshire and supports its towpath, fix lock equipment on the Stourbridge Canal, and carry out essential repairs at River Lock in Stratford-upon-Avon.

Winter is the quiet season

Henriette Breukelaar, the Canal and River Trust's director for the Midlands, said: "From replacing lock gates and repairing walls to reducing water seepage and improving water efficiency, these projects will help safeguard the canal network against the impacts of climate change while preserving it for future generations."

"While some temporary closures are necessary to carry out this work safely, undertaking major repairs during the quieter winter months helps minimise disruption for boaters and local communities."

The works are part of a wider investment programme across England and Wales to protect a network that is more than 250 years old.

Why it matters for Birmingham

Birmingham famously has more miles of canal than Venice, and its towpaths are a green route through the city for walkers, cyclists and anglers as well as boaters. Canals also support wildlife, from kingfishers to bats, right into the city centre.

Keeping the gates, walls and banks in good repair means less water lost, fewer emergency closures and a network that can cope better with the dry summers and heavy downpours that are becoming more common.

Boaters planning winter trips should check the trust's stoppage notices before setting off, as some locks will close temporarily while the work is carried out. The towpaths themselves generally stay open, making a winter walk along the water a good way to see the work in progress.