Winter stoppage extended

Published: Friday, 22 January 2010

OWING to the recent spell of cold weather, and subsequent interruption to the winter maintenance programme, British Waterways is advising that the period will most likely be extended.

It has been estimated that 90% of the waterways froze, stopping all maintenance, and Vince Moran, BW's Operations Director, comments: "Subject to the weather over the coming days and weeks, we will do what we can to recover as much ground as possible. It is highly likely that we will need to use the two weeks between the end of the published programme and Easter to complete many projects. If things get really tight, priority will be given to gate replacement.

"If it transpires that some stoppages are required to continue over and even beyond Easter, we will keep the disruption to an absolute minimum and try and ensure that alternative routes are available."