15 weeks to remove sunken boat

BOATERS are asking why it took over 15 weeks to remove a sunken boat from a major canal route.

During the height of the boating season the boat pictured below has been impeding the navigation of the Trent & Mersey Canal at Kings Bromley between Fradley and Great Haywood junctions with our Keith Gudgin and other boaters asking why it took so long to remove it.

Sunk earlier

It was first reported sunk near Bridge 55 by Canal & River Trust on the 25th May, though it had obviously been sunk earlier, with Keith's photograph showing the date as 21st May!

In the report, Cart stated:

'Please be aware there is a sunken boat at this location, it will hopefully be removed/re-floated shortly'.

No longer restricted

But 'shortly' was over 15 weeks, with the next report not until the 5th September when it confirmed that the boat had now been re-floated and the navigation no longer restricted.

Why did it take over 15 weeks during the height of the summer season to clear this sunken boat from a major canal route?