Victor reckons the trust is being ripped-off

I HAVE lost count of how many times contractors have 'finished' a job only to have to return.

The reason obviously being that it was not undertaken properly so another attempt had to be made, surely ripping-off Canal & River Trust, as charging twice for the same job not done properly at the first attempt.

Then there are the Monday to Friday jobs 'filling' the week, that could be done in a couple of days—that brings me to the work of replacing a couple of gate strips that we encounted on the Leicester Section taking exactly those five days. Pictured.

Then there is the inordinate amount of time taken with some jobs, the latest being a breach next to the Hollowforth Aqueduct of the Lancaster Canal that occurred over a week ago on Friday 19th, and we are told the trust's engineers and specialist contractors have taken considerable effort to evaluate the extent of the damage.

After the week we were then told the damage is extensive and affects both the embankment and a section of the aqueduct's structure. The outcome, we were told yesterday is that the works will take several months to complete, and we understand that in the meantime, the loss of full use of the Lancaster Canal will impact many customers profoundly.

The reason the Lancaster breach by the aqueduct will take so long is the lack of money, we are told—is it any wonder?

Then there is the Ribble Link fiasco, where the contractors don't know what they are doing, with someone who does telling them!  But no, they persevere for weeks whilst the crossing remains closed.

But what about Marple Services that has been out of service since February, that J Hallam told about, he taking the photograph of it obviously not in use, with the IWA complaining too. And even our esteemed editor adding:

[The Marple Customer Services Facility was closed on Friday 18th February with since then 16 reasons/excuses having been given for the continuing delays—Editor.]

Little wonder money is so short....

Excuses

I just cannot understand how leaving a gate open can drain a canal, as it is impossible to open both gates, and obviously the paddles are down. But that's what we are told about the low pound on the Erewash

And it's being going on for three days up to Saturday, but we are now informed 'there are other complications' but not told what—but still remains closed.

We will see

Though told that a stoppage on the Middlewich Branch of the Shroppie will allow narrowboats but not broad beams at that time, I didn't realise the branch was now a broad canal, and all the locks obviously widened.

We are hoping to do the Four Counties come early September, so we will see.

Strange

There was a sunken  boat discovered in the Trent by Victoria Embankment on Friday, but when it was removed it was discovered to be only the part of a boat, as later, the other part was discovered and will be removed during the week.

Boaters are being warned to keep clear of the obstacle, but how it came to be in two parts is not known or told.

Worrying

The news that after the death of a child in the Regent's Canal people want the canal fenced-off is worrying.

We all know the waterways can be dangerous places as many have drowned, as this is not the first time a child has met its death this way, one in particular on the Sheffield & South Yorkshire who thought the uncut foliage by the canal was something to play in, not realising that there was the danger of the waterway inches away.

Yet even after the child's death, very little of the foliage bordering the water is cut down.

Then there was another death after a child fell in the Leeds & Liverpool, and the demand for a fence was met with a mile of fencing, pictured, that was ridiculous as any child could easily climb through, so would not stop any future incident.

Then there was the fencing to stop inebriated students from the university at Bath from taking the wrong turn and drowning in the Avon, then the call for fencing. 

Which was then constructed, and saved students falling into the river, but they sat on the fence instead and fell in, though no news of any drowning was given.

It would need something really robust and fairly 'close-knitted' to prevent future incidents in any of these circumstances. And then what of us boaters wanting to moor...

Victor Swift—telling tales for 24 years