Unluckiest lock on the system?

IT'S OUR worst nightmare come true, trapped behind a stoppage and unable to get back to our home moorings, writes Stewart Downs.

The same lock was damaged in 2016 and stopped us from getting to Bristol, but fortunately on that occasion we had not gone down the flight.

Is this lock fated?

The same gate on lock 24 [on the Kennet & Avon] has been damaged three times—in 2010, 2016 and 2021. As you can see from the photograph the boater responsible has caused considerable damage.

Surely CaRT need to fully investigate the accident/incident and hold the boater to account. But more importantly look at ways to stop a repetition. Introducing mandatory boat handling training would help?

We have lost count of the number of inexperienced crews we have come across. Some have only watched a video!

PS narrowboatworld.com covered the 2016 lock 24 damage and the BBC and narrowboatworld covered the 2010.