Shortwood Tunnel West Portal

The towpath at Shortwood Tunnel will remain closed until further notice as it is currently unsafe, due to a landslip, to use in its current state. Reinstating the path properly will require significant investment and works planning.

The Trust is currently in renewed negotiations, via Land Agents working on our behalf, to secure the necessary financial and legal agreements required to provide a diversion route for the public across neighbouring land. Progressing this route relies on securing mutually acceptable terms with the third-party landowner. While we had hoped to resolve these matters sooner, these formal negotiations require careful review and take time to complete.

As a registered charity, we have a strict duty to ensure that all public donations and funds are used responsibly and transparently, meaning any agreement must represent the best possible value for money and remain fair and proportionate.

We understand this closure is frustrating and inconvenient for the community. Please be assured we are doing everything we can to reach a resolution as quickly as possible. Thank you for your patience and continued support.

The towpath remains closed. No land agreement has been reached, and discussions with the relevant parties are still ongoing. We will continue to work toward a resolution and will share further information as soon as progress is made.

Thank you for your continued patience and understanding.

Please be advised the towpath remains closed, and there is still no confirmed date for its reopening. Discussions regarding a possible solution are ongoing, and we continue to explore viable options.

We appreciate your continued patience and will provide further updates as soon as more information becomes available.

Please be advised that the towpath remains closed at this location. At this time, there is no confirmed date for its reopening.

Since the closure, we have explored several potential diversion options. Unfortunately, due to the location of the slip and its proximity to the tunnel entrance, installing pontoons is not feasible. Additionally, the Trust does not own sufficient land to create a diversion behind the affected area.

We are continuing to investigate a potential solution involving the parcel of land running parallel to the existing towpath. Discussions are ongoing.

We appreciate your continued patience and understanding, and we will provide further updates as more information becomes available.

A landslide has caused trees and mud to fall into the canal at Shortwood Tunnel West Portal, on the Worcester & Birmingham Canal. As a result, we have had to close the navigation and towpath along this section. We currently do not have a confirmed timeline for the reopening of the towpath. Unfortunately, the landowner did not agree to the draft agreement that was proposed last year. Additionally, progress is further impacted by the start of bird nesting season, which is expected to cause delays over the summer months. We will provide a further update as soon as it becomes available.

This notice was originally posted on an old system which has now been upgraded, the original description and latest update have been transferred here. To view any historical updates related to this notice, please click here Here