Baits Bite Lock on the River Cam at Milton, north of Cambridge, is expected to reopen before Christmas after being closed since May 2024.
The closure followed a survey that revealed structural issues with the lock. A temporary repair, costing an estimated £1.3m to £1.5m, has been supported by an additional £500,000 secured by Conservative MP Paul Bristow, the mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough. The work is scheduled for completion by 19 December, according to the combined authority.
David Goode, chair of the Conservators of the River Cam, which manages the stretch, described the funding as “a lifeline for us, offsetting almost one third of the cost”. He added that all available funds had been used to stabilise Baits Bite Lock and reopen the navigation.
Both Baits Bite Lock and Jesus Green Lock in Cambridge city centre were closed after being judged unsafe and “in imminent danger of collapse”. Full replacement of the locks could cost around £25m.
The temporary work at Milton involved reinforcing the lock island by filling large voids, installing tie rods to stabilise bowing walls, and repairing major cracks and damaged brickwork. The authority confirmed that these essential measures will restore safe operation for navigation and protect the lock’s structural integrity.
