Ribble Link still closed

THOUGH it is now over a month since the closure of the Rufford Branch of the Leeds & Liverpool Canal, cutting off access to the Lancaster Canal, it is still not re-opened.

Canal & River Trust has been giving out various updates, but as boater Roy Hinkling told us this morning:

Can prove damages

"We have no interest in being told of the supply of plant and equipment and other materials, we just want CaRT to get on with the job instead of just mucking about making excuses, as already a month has been wasted just to put in a plastic pipe, which is ridiculous.

"We have been stuck up here over a month now, and CaRT have no interest whatsoever, even telling us they will not recompense us as it is its bye-laws, but I am seeking advice as to whether that this is one of those rules that is unenforceable in law, as I can prove damages."

Collapsed culvert

It was in July that the Branch was closed after discovering a timber culvert had collapsed, which will be replaced with a plastic pipe.

But CaRT's Hydrology Team had to be brought in to do a ‘water catchment analysis' in order to calculate the size of the replacement pipe, and then the Environment Agency were also involved when a vole was discovered. Then we were told there was difficulty is getting materials across a level crossing, all holding up the repair whilst the poor boaters sweat it out stuck either on the Branch wanting to get back to the Lancaster Canal or stuck on the Lancaster waiting to get back to the system and their moorings.

Avoided?

The Trust told us that the timber culvert was in bad condition, so should an inspection had been made before it became in such a condition? Could all this have been avoided?

The 'wait until in breaks' regime is not working. It is certainly not working for boaters who are prevented from moving by the now many stoppages (eight in one week, including three in one day—remember?) and the cost of this particular avoidable stoppage must be running into hundreds of thousands of pounds...