Working seven days a week to repair breach

Published: Friday, 05 November 2021

THE Canal & River Trust tells it is working seven days a week to repair the breach in the Kennet & Avon Canal.

BreachKAJustinSheldonEmptying the pound

The breach occurred between locks 102 and 103 at Reading on Saturday 30th October emptying the pound as Keith Gudgin reported.

The trust told it was mobilising craft and equipment in order to undertake a temporary repair and told  it had 'plans to bring a low draft [draught] barge with excavator to backfill the breach with clay'.

This was in order to restore water levels and open navigation, but the photograph by Justin Sheldon showed the pound empty of water, so how this was to be undertaken was not told.

Temporary or permanent?

We learn however that contractors are now on site attempting to repair the breach, but no mention of a boat being used or even if a temporary or permanent repair.