Grand Union Canal floods

THE unprecedented amount of rain over the past days has put a great deal of the lower Grand Union Canal out of action, with much of the South East section now flooded.

The pounds from Rickmansworth to Leighton Buzzard have been especially affected by the recent prolonged rainfall, with Canal & River Trust doing its best to deal with this unprecedented amount of water which has fallen on already saturated ground.

Huge impact

There are a number of rivers and brooks that are managed by local authorities and local landowners, which run alongside or directly into the Grand Union. These are having a huge impact on the amount of water entering the canal. Maintenance teams from the Trust have been out all day yesterday (Friday) trying to move water along the canal, opening flood paddles and providing sandbags to local residents whose gardens have been affected by the flooding.

Over the weekend the canal will be closed between Marsworth and Leighton Buzzard, including the Aylesbury Arm, to allow water to flow to other parts of the canal away from the flood hit areas where it can safely disperse.

Reservoirs full

Jeff Whyatt, Waterway Manager for the Canal & River Trust, explained:

"This flooding is all down to the fact it's been raining for a long time and our reservoirs in the Tring area are full so can't take any extra water, the local farmers fields are sodden so water is running off those straight into the waterways and the local rivers and streams are also full. There simply isn't anywhere for the water to go."

Properties by the waterway are being affected, with Jeff responding:

"I would like to assure local residents that we are working flat out to move excess water further along the canal away from local properties to areas of the waterway that have extra capacity. As soon as we heard there were problems my team sprang into action and have been providing information and support to local people where we could.