Health & Safety gets worse

Published: Wednesday, 20 June 2018

 THE health and safety regulations are getting even more of a hindrance to boating.

For though in the past tree cutting has just caused the occasional delay whilst a tree was felled, contractors now need whole sections of canal completely closed whilst it is taking place, Keith Gudgin tells us.

Demanded a mile closed

No longer is tree cutting done by Canal & River Trust operatives as in the past, but by the contactors Fountain's that demanded that a mile of the Worcester & Birmingham Canal be closed between bridges 25 and 26 out of Worcester from Monday until further notice.

This time the work took a day to accomplish, with the waterway reopened yesterday, Tuesday, but if this is to be the norm, boaters will then risk losing a day's cruising, likely upsetting schedules and resulting in hire boats being returned late.