Victor hears that less boats are moving on the network

IT WAS AT THE Canal & River Trust Boaters Forum held at Mercia Marina that I reckon something was told that shouldn't have been.

When a member of the trust told there was an 'apparent trend that less boats are moving on the network, almost a change in use'.

Which contradicts the official line of 'more boats than ever using the waterways' constantly given.

So an actual true fact at last, though something that many boaters—us included—have noticed for quite a while.

And the reason being obvious—the never ending stoppages that prevents boaters (again us included) in their tracks,  Even to one long established hire company on the Leeds & Liverpool giving up weekly hire and changing to just day boats.

Plus the reason there were 298 stoppages last year, and that is only those published, though some are not.

So what's the point of boating—when you can't?

Stay out!

Stay out of the Wendover Arm is the message to boaters. It being another waterway now closed.

Our Keith reporting that the message from the trust is that the Wendover Arm on the Grand Union is closed for navigation and access to the winding hole is not possible.

And there is a new description regarding this closure—'This closure currently has no end date'! That a new one!

But not very enlightening!

A bit late

So there is to be a start on clearing the cyanide from the closed Walsall Canal, and we are informed that 'the dredging process is expected to take several weeks'.

And that just two weeks until the start of the 'season' at Easter.

Why on earth couldn't it have been done earlier and then possibly have the waterway open for the holidays?

And there is worse—as once completed, both the sediment and the water will undergo further testing. The results of these tests will guide any additional actions required and determine the timeline for the canal’s reopening.

So yet another on the 'long list'.

Closed again

I reckon that Amy Dickerson, who was baffled by so many contradicting notices concerning the closure of Bevere Lock 7 on the Severn, but who eventually made her way through, is pleased she did.

For once again, Keith tells me it is closed.  At that time it was a structural failure, but now it is a closed due to a mechanical fault.

The information is that the trust plan to repair the broken part and aim to reopen in time for Easter.

Here's hoping!

The long one

And so to the 'long one' this time, that I usually mention in my offerings, the one for this month is the poor Huddersfield Narrow that had Lock 11W conked-out last December.

we neing informed the lock had suffered some structural damage to the offside banking caused by severe weather.

This structural failure means the lock is inoperable and must be closed for the safety of the canal visitors and boaters. And our being told by the trust at that time that it is currently waiting for the damage to be assessed by the relevant departments.

Then later told it was the engineers and design team that are currently carrying out inspections to understand the extent of the damage and to prepare a suitable design for reinstatement works.

It was right up to March until we heard that the teams are now in the final design stages for the repair to the embankment and damaged lock, the next steps include reviewing survey data to allow the final designs to go into works on site.

At present, three and half months later, work has actually started, well, at least we are told the teams are progressing well into the access works that will help us get everything ready for the main repairs.

And so on and on it goes. But when will it be open? Only HE knows...

So sorry of so much negative this week—but simply telling it like it is....

Victor Swift—telling tales for 25 years