Basingstoke short lived

THOUGH many boats celebrated the re-opening of the Basingstoke, this has been short lived, as another land-slip has occurred.

About 30 yards of the canal bank has slipped at Dogmersfield, just after money was spent in re-opening the waterway after being closed for three years, Alan Tilbury tells us.

Would have been stuck

If the slippage had occurred whilst the boats had been at the 'wrong' side during the celebration cruise, they would have been stuck there until the earth in the waterway had been cleared.

This is not the first time a land-slip has happened in that vicinity, as it did so some 30 years ago, after which a retaining wall was built.

Another outcome of the stoppage is that the new trip boat will be unable to cruise to its base, but will have to be craned on to a lorry and transported.