Alan de Enfield

And, in the press today : The dramatic collapse of a canal embankment in Shropshire has exposed the fragile condition of Britain’s ageing waterways. Engineers are now warning tiny, often invisible cracks are increasingly responsible for sudden and catastrophic failures across the network. The incident, which saw a section of the Shropshire Union Canal give way and drain into surrounding farmland, has been described by waterways specialists as a textbook example of how ageing infrastructure, compounded by extreme weather, can unravel with little warning. The dramatic collapse of a canal embankment in Shropshire has exposed the fragile condition of Britain’s ageing waterways. Engineers are now warning tiny, often invisible cracks are increasingly responsible for sudden and catastrophic failures across the network. The incident, which saw a section of the Shropshire Union Canal give way and drain into surrounding farmland, has been described by waterways specialists as a textbook example of how ageing infrastructure, compounded by extreme weather, can unravel with little warning. Several narrowboats were left stranded or damaged after the embankment failed, forcing emergency evacuations and the closure of a busy stretch of the canal. According to canal engineers, such collapses rarely begin with dramatic structural faults. Instead, they often start with hairline fractures in clay-lined embankments or masonry walls, weaknesses that can remain dormant for decades before being exploited by changing ground conditions. “Most canal failures don’t begin with a bang,” said one senior waterways engineer familiar with the Shropshire collapse. “They begin with minute cracks that allow water to seep through. Once that happens, erosion accelerates from the inside, and the structure can suddenly give way,” they explained. Britain’s canal system, much of which dates back more than 250 years, was constructed using materials and techniques that were robust for their time but are increasingly vulnerable to modern stresses. Prolonged droughts can cause clay embankments to shrink and crack, while subsequent heavy rainfall allows water to penetrate deep into the structure, washing away supporting material. The Shropshire sinkhole is believed to have formed when water escaping through a small fissure rapidly eroded the embankment beneath the towpath, creating a void that collapsed under its own weight. It meant that millions of gallons of water were released in a matter of hours. The Canal & River Trust, which manages around 2,000 miles of waterways in England and Wales, told The Sunday Times such incidents are becoming more likely as climate volatility increases. Alternating periods of extreme heat and intense rainfall place unprecedented strain on historic earthworks that were never designed to cope with such fluctuations. Engineers say the challenge is exacerbated by the sheer scale of the network. Thousands of embankments, locks and cuttings require constant inspection, yet many defects remain hidden until failure occurs. While modern monitoring techniques can identify surface movement, internal erosion is notoriously difficult to detect. Funding pressures have also sharpened concern. The Trust faces a long-term reduction in government support, raising fears that preventative maintenance will increasingly give way to costly emergency repairs. Experts argue that routine inspection and early intervention are far cheaper than rebuilding collapsed infrastructure but require sustained investment. For boaters and communities along the canals, the consequences are immediate. Closures can last months, disrupting tourism, trade and residential moorings, while repair costs can run into the millions. The Shropshire collapse has prompted renewed calls for a national reassessment of canal resilience, with engineers urging policymakers to treat waterways as critical infrastructure rather than heritage curiosities. “Canals are living systems,” an engineer revealed. “If you ignore the small cracks, they don’t stay small for long."

It is, but the discharge from the sewage works is not sewage, the treated water is called effluent. Important difference ! Sewage treatment plant effluent refers to the treated wastewater discharged from a sewage treatment system. This liquid is the end product of a multi-stage treatment process designed to remove contaminants and pollutants from raw sewage, making it safe for release into the environment. We have a sewage treatment plant on the caravan park as we are not connected to the main. It allegedly cleans the water suufficiently to be drunk but I have not tried it. The system being installed ........... (H&S guidelines were not used for the installation as the Lithuanian builders did not speak English)

To call yourself a therapist in the UK you apparently need a relevant undergraduate degree, complete accredited training, and gain practical experience through supervised practice. Educational Background Undergraduate Degree: While not always mandatory, having a degree in psychology, social work, or a related field can be beneficial. Some training programs may require a degree as a prerequisite. Foundation Course: Before entering a qualifying training program, it is often recommended to complete a foundation or introductory course in psychotherapy. This provides a comprehensive introduction to the field and may include practical exercises. Other countries ................... To become a psychotherapist, you typically need the following qualifications: Bachelor's Degree: Start with a bachelor's degree in a related field such as psychology, sociology, or health sciences. Advanced Degree: Earn a master's degree in psychology, counseling, or social work. Some may pursue a Ph.D. or Psy.D. for broader career options. Licence: Obtain the necessary licence to practice, which often requires passing an exam. Experience: Gain supervised clinical experience through internships or practicums. Continuing Education: Participate in ongoing education to maintain licensure and stay updated on best practices.

My insurance covers my boats for 'stranding' (being stuck on the hard) 1.5 You can also claim for: 1.5.1 Salvage, towage and assistance charges. Your Insurers will pay the cost of saving Your Craft from a loss which You would be insured for under Your Policy. 1.5.2 Sighting costs. Your Insurers will pay the cost of inspecting the underwater part of the hull of Your Craft after a stranding even if there is no damage, providing Your Insurers have agreed the costs in writing beforehand. Whilst looking up the above, I notice a new clause has been inserted this year .................... 4.7 Lithium Ion Batteries If Your Craft, tender or toys are fitted with Lithium Ion batteries they must be charged within daylight hours, must not be left unattended whilst being charged and they must be used in accordance with the manufacturers’ recommendations/instructions. So - no going off for a 'pub-lunch' and leaving your solar panels connected.

Local business owners have rallied to support families displaced by the Llangollen Canal disaster, offering their narrowboats as temporary homes. Linda Edwards, who operates Cheshire Cat Narrowboat Holidays near the affected area, received an urgent request on Monday afternoon to assist those evacuated from their vessels. "We had to drop everything and go and get boats ready to receive them," she told the BBC. "[We had to] put bedding on, make sure the heating was on, make sure everything was ready to welcome them... and we had the boats ready for half-past six." Ms Edwards's company, based at Overwater Marina in Audlem in nearby Cheshire, is now housing two couples who were forced to abandon their floating homes. She also confirmed the families could remain until Easter, as her holiday fleet is closed for the winter season. David Ray, who runs Norbury Wharf on the Shropshire Union Canal near Newport, has similarly stepped forward with accommodation for those affected. His fleet of six empty narrowboats is available to displaced residents during the festive period. "I felt that we could just offer those empty boats to the people that need accommodation especially over the Christmas period," Mr Ray added. The generosity has extended beyond practical assistance, with a crowdfunding campaign established to help families who lost their homes, clothing and personal possessions. Donations have now surpassed £57,000.

We all say that - I'm on my 18th boat. You'll find that as your experience grows the boat will become more of an irritant (for a variety of reasons) and you'll eventally have to scratch the itch.

It is things like this make boating less than pleasurable - things do break and need replacing but you can soon tell which boats are built by people with boat knowledge and those who are just 'fabricators'. Add this to you check list for when you buy your next boat.

Now the boat has been winched upt to the bridge you can see how close the breech is to the lift bridge - it is about 1.3 boat lengths. The 'arm' is just the other side of the bridge, off to the left.

But Delaney doesn't appear to be employed by C&RT

If this is the boat from where you intend to conduct your business (as per your other thread) then the licencing may not be as simple as the above answers suggest. On C&RT waters, for example, you will need commercial insurance, a commercial Safety certificate (as you have paying customers coming aboard) and a commercial boat licence. I do not know what requirements for 'commercial operations' licencing the other navigation authorities will have. If you are intending to operate the business from within a marina, you will need to check if they allow business to be run from the boat - many do not ! (car parking issues, 'strangers' wandering around the marina etc etc)

Which, if you read it more carefully you would have seen that it was for Scotland, and is enschrined in law. Failing to comply, and meet your legal obligations, would give the insurers the 'wriggle room' to (potentially) not pay out.

I'm pretty sure I quoted from the BSS web pages where they say that the MAIB have reported boater being affected by CO from adjacent boats.