Took a month to remove sunken boat

THOUGH Canal & River Trust issued a notice that a sunken boat 'is due to be removed soon within the next few days', it took a month before it was lifted out.

The narrowboat that had been left unattended at the top of the Coventry Canal near Fradley Junction had been burgled then sank on the 28th of April, with CaRT then issuing a notice stating it would be removed 'within the next few days', Keith Gudgin tells us.

There for weeks

As our news item stated (Burgled narrowboat sinks) it had been already left there for weeks with no one aboard, when it sank, with CaRT placing warning tape around the boat and advising boaters to pass in the middle of the channel.

The boat was on the popular moorings between Fradley Junction and Bridge 91. with the owner claiming that the boat had been burgled whilst he was away.

Over a month later

It was removed yesterday, 30th May, just over a month later.

At one time CaRT had an agreement with River Canal Rescue, known for its quick response, that removed sunken boats sometimes within hours, but obviously the agreement no longer exists.