Demand for answers over Rufford closure

SUCH has been the demand for answers from boaters affected by the complete closure of the Rufford Branch of the Leeds & Liverpool Canal that Canal & River Trust is left with no option but to meet the boaters concerned.

The repairs at Lock 1 of the Branch not only stop the passage between the system and the Lancaster Canal, but lock in those boaters moored at the marinas and linear moorings along the Arm.

Completely stuck

Those moored at both Fettlers Wharf Marina and Scarisbrick Marina on the Arm are completely stuck with no access to the system whatsoever, and have been so since July, with no promise of a definite date when it will re-open.

It was a collapsed culvert under the waterway that caused the stoppage, with access to the site a problem and various dams having to be built and then the concern about possible water voles, all taking time, and even now no date is being offered when the Arm will re-open.

A team

It does not seem it will be opened in the near future as the Trust is sending a team to the two marinas to discuss the problems with the boaters. The meeting at Fettlers Wharf Marina is during the afternoon of Wednesday, today, 26th August between 1pm and 4pm, with the one at Scarisbrick Marina on Friday between 1pm and 4pm.

The Trust states that it will 'meet individually with boaters affected to answer enquiries directly'.