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Canal & River Trust fixing 'beating hearts' of Kennet & Avon Canal


Ray T

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PRESS RELEASE

 

1 July 2019

 

CANAL & RIVER TRUST FIXING ‘BEATING HEARTS’ OF KENNET & AVON CANAL

Restrictions to navigation at Caen Hill Flight

 

The Canal & River Trust, the charity that cares for the Kennet & Avon Canal, has announced restrictions to navigation over the summit of the canal and at Caen Hill Flight as it works to repair a faulty pump.

 

The western Kennet & Avon is replenished by an automated pumping system which transfers water from the Bristol Avon to the summit pound.  When the pumps are out of action, it puts an additional strain on the water resources on the stretch, which the Trust is already managing carefully due to the recent dry weather.   

 

The faulty pump has been removed for urgent repairs.  The second pump cannot transfer enough water on its own to meet canal demands above the Caen Hill Flight and is being inspected on site.

 

The restricted opening hours, between the bottom of Caen Hill Flight and the bottom of Crofton Flight, are intended to enable boaters to pass through the Flight while conserving water to help keep the canal open for as long as possible. Regularly updated details of the restrictions are available on the Canal & River Trust website: canalrivertrust.org.uk/notices

 

The charity is asking boaters to help save water, and limit future restrictions, by not drawing water through any lock outside of the working hours and sharing locks where possible. Boaters can also help by minimising their use of water as much as possible at all times by, for example closing the paddles after use and not running the water outside of opening hours.

 

Rob Eaton, Canal & River Trust’s regional operations manager for Wales & South West, explains: “The pumps at Caen Hill are the beating hearts of the flight - continually moving water back up to the summit to keep the canal topped up.   We are doing everything we can to resolve the situation and get the pumps back to full health. The work could take up to a month and, depending on the recovery of natural water resources, some restrictions may be needed throughout the summer.

 

“As the situation continues to change we’ll be frequently reviewing the availability of water, and the work’s progress, and adjusting the restrictions. We urge people to register for our email stoppage notices which give regularly updated information. Thank you for your patience and support to help conserve our limited water supplies.”

 

If anyone has any concerns about the water levels or questions, during this period they should contact the Trust by emailing enquiries.walessouthwest@canalrivertrust.org.uk or calling them on 0303 0404040.

 

Registering for current information on the stoppages can be done via the Canal & River Trust website: canalrivertrust.org.uk/my-trust/register

 

 Ends

Fran Read

National press officer

I work Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays

M  07796 610 427

E  fran.read@canalrivertrust.org.uk

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1 hour ago, Alan de Enfield said:

Its a good job then that there are a lot of the boats that are non-moving - if they all started to want to lock up/down it might be a serious problem.

 

Do you think it could be sabotage? ?

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good excuse for CCers to become CMers without drawing attention to themselves.

 

if it's anything like the charging point at Benson Lock on the Thames, the pump could be out of order for 3 years.

 

'It's a lock-in !! ' complained hundreds of boaters trapped between Bath and Devizes.

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1 hour ago, Alan de Enfield said:

Its a good job then that there are a lot of the boats that are non-moving - if they all started to want to lock up/down it might be a serious problem.

 

And

 

11 minutes ago, Murflynn said:

 

good excuse for CCers to become CMers without drawing attention to themselves.

 

 

Give it a rest will you?

 

Have either of your two spent any significant time on the K&A recently to Know?

 

 

 

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2 hours ago, Mike the Boilerman said:

 

And

 

 

Give it a rest will you?

 

Have either of your two spent any significant time on the K&A recently to Know?

 

 

 

last time was 3 years ago, from Bath to Foxhangersand it was a horrible experience, never to be repeated. .........   grumpy constant moorers at regular intervals, many of them were bored stiff and obviously took a delight in grumping at passing boats just to relieve the monotony.  

 

can we commission nortycal to sweep through at 20 knots, just for fun?

Edited by Murflynn
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