Crinan Canal Basin Winter Works 2025

Two projects will be running concurrently at Crinan Basin as part of our planned works on the Crinan Canal, with Mackenzie Construction, our principal contractors, returning to site from Monday 10th March 2025. 

Much of the activity will focus on reinstatement of areas around the basin impacted by the major engineering work which took place over the last two winters. The project will improve the landscape setting and accessibility at Crinan Basin, with the final design influenced by our community engagement sessions. 

Mackenzie Construction will also be carrying out remedial works at the Crinan dummy lock following the investigation of a leak during our 2023/24 winter works. 

The works won’t require a canal closure, but will extend into the start of the season with some towpath restrictions and diversions in place where required.

What will the landscaping works involve?

The landscaping and reinstatement work around the basin includes a Dummy Lock Walkway project, backed by funding from the Scottish Government and delivered through partnership between Scottish Canals and Sustrans. 

This project will install a new walkway over the concrete, hiding the sheet piling on the basin-side of the dummy lock. This walkway will look like our existing lock gate walkways and will provide access over to the lock 15 sea lock gate.

The wider project, funded through Scottish Canals’ Capital Investment Programme 2024/25, will also include improving the footpath alongside Seaview cottage towards the dummy lock and the new walkway by laying paving and widening the footpath. We will also refurbish the Crinan Basin car park and its access road.

You can find more details in the design plans on our Crinan Basin Landscape Engagement Strategy webpage.

Mackenzie Construction will set up their site compound at the top of the car park. This means they can use the existing electricity supply and won’t need to run generators therefore reducing noise impact. Siting the compound at the top of the car park will minimise its visual impact.

What will the dummy lock remedial works involve?

The remedial work will follow on from our 2023/24 winter works programme, which included reactive repairs of a leak here.

Our investigations last year revealed a void, which we initially believed had been created by the wash from water. Further examination has now revealed that the void was constructed from timber to allow access for inspecting the old sea lock gates. 

We will now refurbish the structural concrete cover slab and create an access hatch into the void, to allow us to monitor the structure as part of our regular asset inspections.

Planning and Scheduled Monument Consent

Scottish Canals can confirm that the works around Crinan Basin are permitted development under Class 35 and Class 36 of The Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (Scotland) Order 1992.

Scheduled Monument Consent is being sought for works that require permission from Historic Environment Scotland. It is anticipated that this will be granted in mid-April 2025; works requiring Scheduled Monument Consent will not be undertaken until consent has been granted. 

Local access and information for residents and visitors

We do not anticipate any road closures for the programme of works and road access will remain open to the Crinan Coffee Shop and the Crinan Hotel. The Crinan Hotel can also always be accessed via the western side of the loop road. 

There will be vehicle and plant movements between our localised work sites and the main compound in the car park. There will also be some small areas of towpath restrictions, and any required towpath diversions will be clearly signed on the ground.

Keep up to date

We are committed to keeping local residents, businesses and other stakeholders informed of the winter works programme, and will do so via:

Email updates

We will circulate email updates during the works programme; if you would like to receive these updates, please email CrinanWinterWorks@scottishcanals.co.uk. 

Your details will not be held for any other purpose and will not be passed on to any third parties. Anyone already signed up to receive Crinan winter works updates will continue to do so unless you advise us otherwise.

Community meetings

The next community meeting will be on Wednesday 26th March, in the Egg Shed, Ardrishaig at 17:30.

Online updates

We will share updates on this webpage, and we will share notice of the specific towpath restrictions and any necessary diversions on our Ongoing Works page. We will also share any important updates on the Crinan Canal Facebook page.

If you have any concerns during this programme of works, you can contact Donna Mallan, Customer Operations Manager (Scottish Canals), on 01546 603210 (09:00 – 17:00, Mon – Fri) or you can email CrinanWinterWorks@scottishcanals.co.uk. Alternatively, you can contact Mackenzie Construction on 0141 633 5555 (08:00 – 17:00, Mon - Fri). 

Should you need to contact the team urgently out with these hours, please call Scottish Canals’ emergency number, 0800 072 9900.