LHCRT News 2022

New towpaths (shown in red) and the 26m dia. winding hole

Sadly, the route of HS2 clashes with our Cappers Lane Bridge built in 2005/6 using ERDF funding … so the bridge will have to go.

On the plus side HS2 is giving more than it’s taking away. As part of the work, Cappers Lane will be diverted to the North and back down again and the Lichfield Canal will also have a slight diversion. Balfour Beatty Vinci will carry out this work for us. This means a new Cappers Lane bridge and a new section of water-ready canal from the diverted point to just south of the new HS2 viaduct.
All of this will be carried out between 2023 and 2025.

Cappers Lane will be re-routed further to the north and a new bridge built over the canal. 

Artists' impression of the HS2 viaduct.

From the end of the current work at Darnford Lane to the new winding hole is a distance of only around 150 yards. The Trust have purchased the line of the canal from here onwards, including Lock 30, but agreement will need to be reached with neighbouring land owners before this section can be reopened. It may be necessary to resite Lock 30 slightly above its current location towards the new lift bridge.

How the area looked in 1883 on the OS six-inch map. (Courtesy National Library of Scotland). The canal was closed in  the 1950's.