No one to clear debris

I must say, it was no surprise whatsoever that the Huddersfield Narrow Canal flooded through debris in a weir or whatever it was, writes Ian Gittins.

 

At this time of year after heavy winds, there are many branches and vegetation being washed into the canals and so into weirs and overflows and the like, and there is no one to clear them with the new policy of attending to problems after they happen, with no one patrolling the canals any more.

Towpath under water

I well remember articles about gulleys being blocked up by debris resulting in the water running away over the towpath and lengths of it underwater. There have been a couple of pictures too, with I believe Ralph Freeman writing about clearing them out to prevent flooding on the Trent & Mersey with no one interested in maintaining them as they did in the past.

It seems to me that everything is cock-eyed now, with the attention on all sorts of things but the actual welfare of the canals. The age old phrase 'too many chiefs and not enough Indians' springs to mind, if I am allowed to say that now. But it is true, for there seem to be no sensible people on the 'ground' now, only volunteers who can't clean out any debris, I understand not being allowed more than 100 yards away from a toilet.

Many more jammed

Before this coming winter is over there will be many more weirs and the like jammed up with debris, as it is only concerned boaters, like myself I may add, that keep their eyes on things and sorts them out when able. But I don't expect I should do that either in this age of ever increasing rules and regulations.