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Top Lock on London's canals

19th Aug 2005

Waterway operatives Gary Nicholls, Mick Stephenson and Mark Banks have have won British Waterways’ Lock & Bridge London competition for their work to maintain Norwood Top Lock on the Grand Union Canal in Southall. They were competing against 20 other teams caring for 100 miles of canals and rivers across London.

The Norwood team also received the runners-up award in the Waterway Length Competition for their stretch of the Grand Union Canal from Hanwell Lock 92 to Lock 97.

Now in their 49th year, the annual Waterway Length and Lock & Bridge Awards recognise the achievements of individual British Waterways employees in the management, maintenance and improvement of specific locks, bridges and waterway lengths.

Gary aged 46 from Ruislip, Mick aged 51 from Northolt and Mark aged 33 from Brentford, have worked for British Waterways for two, six and five years respectively. Their duties range from day-to-day maintenance work like removing litter, grass mowing, tree management and lock gate painting to undertaking skilled engineering work like replacing lock gates and rebuilding waterway walls.

"We are delighted to receive this recognition for our work," explained Gary. "The Grand Union Canal provides a green and pleasant place to visit. Our job is to maintain it to the highest standard possible, to help keep it safe and attractive for everyone who visits – whether they are walking the dog, cycling to work, visiting the capital by boat or spending the day fishing.

"Our work to keep the Hanwell Flight in tip top condition includes water control, gate and towpath repairs, mending fences, graffiti removal, weeding, painting lock gates and clearing rubbish. And as well as looking after the Hanwell Flight, we are responsible for routine maintenance work across a total of 14 miles of canal, including a section of the Grand Union Canal Main Line, its Slough Arm and the Paddington Arm as far as Alperton."

Norwood Top Lock is the beginning of a 12-lock drop down to the River Thames at Brentford, including the Hanwell flight of six locks, a Scheduled Ancient Monument which raises the canal by just over 53 feet in a third of a mile. This stretch of canal was opened in 1794 and ran from the River Thames at Brentford to Uxbridge.

Last updated: 22/10/2008