Can't understand it.

I JUST cannot understand the insistence of those Canal & River Trust people insisting it is leaving lock gates open that cause low water levels, writes Julian Warne.

I am referring to the Erewash Canal of course where time and time again we were told that leaving gates open caused the low water levels.

These people obviously have no knowledge of canal workings, as when in use a gate can be open quite a while when say two boats leave a lock and then others go into the lock with the gates open all the while, and sometimes a long while if the crews are new to the game and are tied-up, yet there is no lowering of the water in the pounds as of course the closed pair of gates (Erewash is a broad canal) hold back the water.

Told to leave open

On the Grand Union there are a couple of locks where boaters are told to leave a bottom gate open, as premises could flood, but there is no loss of water as the top gates hold it back.

I think Victor had the right idea when he wrote:

'I would suggest that whoever writes this drivel be taken by the hand and shown a lock and how leaving any set of gates—top or bottom—left open cannot possibly 'cause low water levels'.