WOULD you lock at that?

People at Marsden have had the rare opportunity to see a canal lock in all its glory.

As part of a major Huddersfield Narrow Canal revamp, lock 32 near Sparth Reservoir has been drained.

It is one of 15 locks that is due to have its gates replaced by British Waterways in a £500,000 overhaul.

Many of the locks were believed to have been put in place between 1981 and 2001 and according to Alan Stopher, chairman of the Huddersfield Canal Society, they should be replaced every 25 years.

David Baldacchino, waterway manager for British Waterways Manchester & Pennine region said: “The lock gate replacement project is due to be completed by the end of March in time for the main boating season which begins about that time.

“Currently the team are working on Lock 32 and have just completed Lock 34 so they’re making fantastic progress. They’ll next be moving on to Lock 1 in mid-January and Lock 40 where we’re also holding a special public open day, giving local people a unique behind-the-scenes look at the work.

“The old lock gates, which have served their 20 or so years, are being recycled by a local farmer for various uses around his land.

“We did similar last year with some planting beds in the picnic area at Standedge Tunnel so it’s fantastic that the gates can be utilised for other projects once they’ve served the canal.”

The public are being given the chance to catch a glimpse of the work on the canal network during the next month with a behind the scenes look at Standedge Tunnel.