THE LATEST BOATERS' UPDATE tells that at present there are 50 closures and 59 restrictions affecting the trust's waterways.
Mostly through lack of water, Keith Gudgin reports.
Three-quarters in drought
The continuing lack of rain has gone on for months with the Environment Agency announcing that nearly three-quarters of England is now in drought, adding that this follows the the driest July since records began in 1836.
The trust tells its reservoirs and ground water resources are running low, with increasing restrictions on how much water it can take from canal-feeding rivers.
In view of this the trust's teams, we are told, together with volunteers, are working as hard as they can, seven days a week, to keep the canals in water and conserve what’s left for navigation.
Particularly hit
Hire boat operators are particularly hit, having to revise routes to allow their customers to be able to cruise, and safeguard people’s summer holidays, but those situated in a closed section are in an terrible position.
But with the 14 days rule of continuous cruisers having to move a certain distance being cancelled, as we had advised, this has saved a great deal of water.