Kennet & Avon reopens today

THE breach on the Kennet & Avon Canal has been repaired with the navigation reopened at noon today, Monday.

Boat stuck on the weir

Justin Sheldon has sent more pictures, this time of the repairs to the weir that failed in November, he telling of the unfortunate Fairline boat stuck on the weir, that can just be seen behind the danger pile.

His friend lives in Burghfield Mill House and told it has been there for two years now after the owner woke up as he went over the weir as it wasn’t well roped off and slipped through.

Hopefully, he remarks, with all the heavy equipment on site they might remove the eyesore, which has been abandoned and no one has wanted to deal with it.

Of the problems repairing the breach, Justin explains:

Remote location

"I think the location in getting to the weir is the main reason for the time to repair. Its almost remote and backing onto nicely trimmed grass from the mill private land, means a difficult situation to repair, especially when there is no water to be able to move barges with shedding rams and cranes.

"It's all down to investing to keep the waterways secure long term. Was interesting the amount of crayfish burrows you could see when the water was gone, which is potential for banks failing.

"There was no real traffic waiting to move from upstream and I only went about 300 metres downstream to cross a bridge and head back upstream and nothing moored there, so suspect most will stay where they are for the winter."