More woes for the Droitwich

FOLLOWING my recent piece on the Droitwich Canals, I find myself again writing on issues affecting this navigation, writes Gareth Haines.

At present, the side ponds that help to maintain water levels at the top three locks on the Droitwich Junction Canal, where it joins the Worcester & Birmingham, are out of action. This is apparently due to one of the ponds suffering a breach.

Fairly deep

For those who are unaware, these three locks are fairly deep and draw a lot of water from the 'five mile pound' on the Worcester & Birmingham (between Astwood Bottom Lock and Offerton Top Lock). Indeed, it is lucky that the mile pound is true to it's name or there wouldn't be any water left in it, such is the requirements of the 'Droitwich Three'.

When the side ponds were in operation, they worked well enough when a volunteer lock keeper was on hand to instruct the uninitiated in their correct use. Now that they are out of operation, with no date in sight for their repair as far as I'm aware, water levels in the above pound are generally low and fluctuate hourly. I just spent a fortnight moored in Hanbury and my boat was on the bottom and listing the entire time, this despite having the stern pushed out nearly six feet into the channel (fortunately wide enough at this point to allow).  The picture shows the side pond paddles fenced-off, so they cannot be operated.

Look lovely but don't work

What is ironic is that volunteers have painted the locks in the last week or so, so they look lovely but they just don't work as intended. That could be CaRT's strapline!

I have heard that when the Droitwich Canal was restored a pump was proposed/planned at these locks to bring water back up to the Worcester & Birmingham due to the heavy usage. Needless to say that this didn't happen and now any water taken from that canal finds it's way into the Salwarpe and is wasted.

I can only think that this situation will get worse when the volunteer lock keepers go home at the end of the month leaving boaters to try and sort out the water levels at the Droitwich Three on their own.