Canals in the Black Country and Birmingham are being restored as part of a £50 million programme to maintain the nation’s 2,000-mile canal and river network.

The works will include the replacement of more than 100 oak lock gates with new hand-crafted locks. It is as part of the British Waterways maintenance programme which takes place between October and March. In Sandwell works will take place at locations including Ryders Green, West Bromwich and Smethwick Locks during November and December.

Work will also take place along the Tame Valley Canal and Wolverley Court Lock near Kidderminster

The 100 lock gates that will be replaced have been made by British Waterways’ specialist lock gate workshops in Bradley, Bilston and Stanley Ferry, Yorkshire.

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