Anyone can now get a Watermate key

THE result of Canal & River Trust now locking Fradley Swing Bridge after Mick Fitzgibbons pointed out in narrowboatworld its danger to the children playing on it, it is now to be locked closed.

It will shortly be fitted with a lock that will be able to be opened by boaters or the people requiring access by a watermate key.

Anyone can get the key

However, the resulting knee-jerk reaction from the trust means that it is allowing anyone to be able to purchase such a key that is normally only carried by boaters or those having authorised access.

The notice not only shows where the key can be obtained but remarkably that it can be obtained by post.

Stopped Ebay advertising

Yet in the past when such keys were being advertised on Ebay, the then British Waterways took action to have the sales stopped, pointing out to Ebay that such keys were for the official use of boaters and authorised people only, and prevented vandals and such being able to operate its equipment.

It is not only that such vandals will now be able to obtain a key and unlock swing bridges, some of which control major road crossings, but they will also be able to unlock paddles, such as those on the Wolverhampton 21 and drain the flight.

Very clever! And as our Keith Gudgin remarks: Nice of them to tell everyone where they can get a key, no need to lock it now is there?