Stroud Valleys Canal Company

The Stroud Valleys Canal Company is the registered charity set up to look after the western section of the Cotswold Canals. It controls most of the canal from a point about 1km east of Saul Junction through to and including Stroud Brewery (just past Bagpath Bridge).

Saul Junction

The Ocean

Ryeford Double Lock

A Royal visit to Wallbridge

Brimscombe

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SVCC will act as navigation authority for the canal and is responsible for issuing boat licenses and mooring permits and angling permits. Please follow the canal user links for more information.

Stoppages & Notices

Ryeford Lock will be closed for gate re-planking from 14 October to 11 November.

Dudbridge Lower Lock is currently closed to all boats pending the repair to defective chamber walls. Work commenced on 17th August 2019 and is progressing steadily. The full extent of the work can only be assessed stage by stage.

The canal is currently split into two: The western section from Ocean to Dudbridge Lower Lock and the Eastern section from Wallbridge Lower to Bowbridge Lock.

Work is still ongoing east of Stroud and at present Bowbridge, Griffins Mill and Ham Mill Locks are not available for boating use.

Ebley Flood Gates are managed during the week by SDC and are sometimes left open in the summer in dry weather periods. At weekends they are left closed with one paddle partly raised to prevent a water level difference from developing across them. Users should leave them as they find them during the week and close them when used at the weekend (after 4pm on Friday). One paddle needs to be left partially up. IF IN DOUBT ALWAYS CLOSE THE FLOOD GATES WITH ONE PADDLE DOWN AND THE OTHER PARTIALLY UP. Abide by any notices on the gates - there are times after wet weather when navigation is not allowed or even possible.

Please note that the canal is still undergoing restoration and some lengths are not available yet and those that are may not be fully completed and use may be restricted by ongoing work.

A new water supply is in the commissioning phase at Goughs Orchard to supply the western side of the T&S Canal. This and much other activity has been delayed by Covid 19 considerations.

A new water supply is in the commissioning phase at Goughs Orchard to supply the western side of the T&S Canal.

There are still a small number of shallow pipe crossings running across the canal, the worst being a main sewer about 100m below Wallbridge Lower Lock which limits the draught of boats to about 500mm - this is expected to be removed in 2020/2021. See the SVCC User Guide for more specific information.

News

FROM 1 JUNE THE CANAL IS OPEN AGAIN FOLLOWING CLOSURE DURING THE COVID 19 PANDEMIC. We follow C&RT recommendations and urge to do likewise. Please be sure to observe government guidelines regarding social distancing.

Please note that the canal is still undergoing restoration and some lengths are not available yet and those that are may not be fully completed and use may be restricted by ongoing work.

Wallbridge Sewer Lowering - confirmed as definitely happening. Work likely to start in 2020 and finish in 2021 but removal of the old sewer logically would be towards the end of the programme when the new one is ready for use. There are still quite a lot of options being considered, some (but not the preferred one) retaining a crossing across the canal (but lower).
Dudbridge Lower Lock has been closed for substantial rebuilding since 17 August. It is likely to be closed for several months until later in 2020, the duration being dependant on what is found as the work progresses and the level of volunteer input that can be applied.
Lodgemore Bridge is now operable, having been converted to electrical operation.

Wildlife

Work on the river section, dredging between Dudbridge Lower Lock and the new Ebley confluence weir will cease on the 30th September when the fish spawning season commences. This runs till the end of April 2020. Dredging on the canal section from Ebley to Ryeford will be unaffected.

INNS ( Invasive non-native species) this year have been tackled on a more holistic way but it has been a bad year for Giant Hogweed! There have been several locations to deal with but the enlarged spraying team have just about kept the GH under control. Thanks to all the volunteers who have been very busy this summer.

Watch out for otters around Wallbridge and running up to Ham Mill. There have been several sightings!