Month later but still no start on K&A breach

Published: Wednesday, 24 November 2021

It is four weeks since the breach on the Kennet & Avon at Reading, but a permanent repair has not even started.

The breach occurred between Garston Lock 102 and Burghfield Lock 103 at Reading closing the waterway, as Keith Gudgin reported.

BreachKAJustinSheldon'Seven days a week'

Notwithstanding Canal & River Trust telling it was 'continuing to work seven days a week in order to repair the breach at Burghfield Weir' in nine separate notices, it is still not repaired. Justin Sheldon's photograph shows the empty pound caused by the breach.

It is not even a permanent repair that is being undertaken but we are told a temporary one to enable trapped boats to move, but the only intimation when this will be completed is 'by Christmas'.

Information

The notices include such as:

*Our engineers have been mobilised to assess the situation and impact to navigation.
*Early indications are promising for a closure of the breach ahead of schedule. Within the first 10 days of December.
*Our engineers are currently assessing the viability of all options and designing a repair in order to get the navigation open as soon as possible.