Flood at Barton Turn

THE lack of regular maintenance struck again, this time at Barton Turn Lock, with only prompt action of locals averting the pub and houses being flooded when the canal overflowed.

Following the recent thaw it would appear the bywash at Barton Turn Lock on the Trent & Mersey Canal had not been cleared out, and so the water level built up in the bywash itself and the pound above the lock when the bywash grills became choked with debris, writes Ralph Freeman.

Canal overflowed

This resulted in excessively high water levels to the extent that the adjacent road was flooded when the canal overflowed. The low lying dwellings alongside the canal on Barton Turn Road were threatened too.

British Waterways were notified on Saturday at 3.30pm, but it was only at Sunday lunchtime that help arrived. By that time Simon, the owner of Simtechmarine and Lorraine, manager of the nearby Barton  Marina had taken control and paddles had been lifted and gates opened on the lock so that the excess water could be flushed through the lock.

Boat owners in the Barton Marina appeared to be happy just to slacken their ropes with the rising water and do little else. None, it would seem, could be bothered to go around to the lock and either loosen some of the debris with a boat hook or even lift a paddle or two.

Doesn't bode well

It doesn't bode well for the future of the system when BW is prepared to let a canal flood adjacent roads (and possibly properties) and perhaps even worse, and boat owners moored nearby can't be bothered to protect the canal from possible serious damage in an emergency.

The only people to come out of the incident well are Simon on the left in the photograph and Lorraine on the right. Thanks to both of you from a boater!