Steps in motion to replace rotting canal lock gates

The first steps have been put in train to replace the rotting lock gates at Parkavara on the Eglinton Canal with the lodging of a planning application to carry out the works.

A planning application has been lodged with the City Council by the Lough Corrib Navigation Trustees to install the new lock gates, in order to minimise any future flood risk.

Earlier this Summer, mass concrete stop-logs were installed at the lock gates to act as a temporary dam in the event of a flooding risk to the area.

Last June, an internal City Council circular warned of potential flood dangers in the Parkavera area, unless remedial works were carried out.

This week, An Taisce Galway, welcomed the news of the planning application to replace what they described as ‘the seriously damaged teak gates’ at Parkavara.

According to An Taisce the estimated cost of replacing the gates will come in at around the €300,000 mark and they said that ongoing financial support was needed to maintain the city’s waterways.

“The complete replacement of the lock gates with a new set is beyond urgent and is obviously needed at this stage. Even when new gates are installed, their life span is just 25 to 30 short years,” said Derrick Hambleton, Chair of An Taisce, Galway.

A spokesman for the City Council said that the planning application for the replacement of the gates was a follow-on from the temporary remedial works that had taken place earlier this year.

“The need for the replacement of the gates is quite obvious. The lodging of the planning application is the first step that must be completed to progress this project,” said the City Council spokesman.

The planning application (15/183), outlines that the proposed works will include the dismantling of the existing lock gates, an assessment of the existing steel components and the restoration of the existing ground paddle valves.

In addition to that, the works will include the restoration of existing lock gate anchors, sill and supporting walls; the supply and installation of replacement lock gates and the removal of temporary concrete stop logs.

Last June, the Irish Sea Contractors company erected mass concrete stop-logs at the lock and also carried out a detailed survey in relation to the overall condition of the lock gates.

Prior to that, local city historian, Peadar O’Dowd, had warned that the Parkavara lock was on the point of disintegrating with potential flood consequences downstream in the Dominick Street area.