De-silting the Lock at Spike Island

De-silting the surviving lock at Spike Island, Widnes. Because the lock is tidal, it fills up with river water, which carries masses of silt in with it. Every now and again the silt needs to be flushed out, because it eventually prevents the gates from operating. In the view above a pump is being suspended in the lock chamber, just beyond the right-hand gate a jet of water can be seen discharging into the Mersey. In the view below another flow is discharged.

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