Tree down Lock 53 - Berko

[PaulJ]

Only found this by accident last night as I was checking another stoppage. Not sure if Im the only one who didnt get a notification for this or not.

Sure it will be shifted soon hopefully...

 

From Date: 03/01/2024 14:15

To Date: On-going

Type: Navigation Closure

Reason: Information

Is the towpath closed? No

Location

Closest waterway: Grand Union Canal

Starts at: Lock 53

Ends at: Lock 53

Description

Unfortunately a large tree has fallen over the lock which our team are unable to remove.

We've made the decision to close the navigation until our contractors have removed the offending tree.

We'll update this notice with more information when they've attended.

 

Edited January 4 by PaulJ

[Mike Tee]

C&RT have responsibility for many hundreds of miles of canals, and there are many trees alongside those canals. And they don't employ anyone capable of removing a large tree? Do they also hire contractors to wipe their arsxs?

[tree monkey]

5 minutes ago, Mike Tee said:

C&RT have responsibility for many hundreds of miles of canals, and there are many trees alongside those canals. And they don't employ anyone capable of removing a large tree? Do they also hire contractors to wipe their arsxs?

Each team qualified would require access to chippers, winches, ropes, chainsaws and other sundry items, plus of course personal PPE, there would be appropriate training and ongoing training costs (approximately every 3yrs), plus specific insurance etc, all for an occasional emergency response.

 

They could of course employ a specialist contractor who works at this full time and has an emergency team on call fully qualified and equipped 

[Mike Tee]

But there must be a massive amount of regular maintenance that would justify the sort of investment that you describe.

[tree monkey]

3 minutes ago, Mike Tee said:

But there must be a massive amount of regular maintenance that would justify the sort of investment that you describe.

I'm sure there is, if they did it.

 

Even so I would suggest that for specialist work like this it is more efficient to employ contractors, particularly as they would only be employed on tree works during the winter (emergency work aside), due to their environmental claims and bird nesting issues, thus leaving equipment under utilised 

[PaulJ]

No idea why its a problem- I  maybe able tell you when I get there shortly 😀

Just a heads up to anyone trying to beat the stoppages starting on the 8th..

[IanD]

21 minutes ago, tree monkey said:

I'm sure there is, if they did it.

 

Even so I would suggest that for specialist work like this it is more efficient to employ contractors, particularly as they would only be employed on tree works during the winter (emergency work aside), due to their environmental claims and bird nesting issues, thus leaving equipment under utilised 

 

I suspect there's also a difference between the equipment/expertise/manpower needed to do routine pruning/cutting back of branches (needed all the time) and occasional removal of a large mature tree that's fallen into the canal -- ask a tree surgeon, username might be a clue... 😉

Edited January 4 by IanD

[PaulJ]

Drama over. All open again

[tree monkey]

2 hours ago, PaulJ said:

Drama over. All open again

That's a tiddler 

[Hudds Lad]

3 hours ago, PaulJ said:

Drama over. All open again

Unusual stump, i'm sure there's a joke about square pegs and round holes or something in there somewhere  

[IanD]

31 minutes ago, tree monkey said:

That's a tiddler 

Indeed, I imagined something much bigger from the description...

[PaulJ]

3 hours ago, tree monkey said:

That's a tiddler 

 

2 hours ago, IanD said:

Indeed, I imagined something much bigger from the description...

Me too.

Definitley more drama than tree 😀

[Journeyman36]

10 hours ago, Mike Tee said:

C&RT have responsibility for many hundreds of miles of canals, and there are many trees alongside those canals. And they don't employ anyone capable of removing a large tree? Do they also hire contractors to wipe their arsxs?

Everything is contracted out now... perhaps even that wiping!

A few days ago I was unable to move forwards or backwards after running onto a fallen tree that had sunk, The Trust knew of it and had cut the canopy to clear the towpath days before, leaving the sunken trunk to fate. I was told it was being left to contractors - following my running aground they put in a stoppage until it was cleared.

[Stroudwater1]

10 hours ago, Journeyman36 said:

Everything is contracted out now... perhaps even that wiping!

A few days ago I was unable to move forwards or backwards after running onto a fallen tree that had sunk, The Trust knew of it and had cut the canopy to clear the towpath days before, leaving the sunken trunk to fate. I was told it was being left to contractors - following my running aground they put in a stoppage until it was cleared.

Oh dear. Was it a hard enough collision to bend a boat? Your insurance company could determine that? 😉

[alan_fincher]

17 hours ago, tree monkey said:

That's a tiddler 

 

At that location it may well be that the bulk of the tree has been piled up on the opposite (non towpath side) bank.  I think that's the side that most of the bigger trees are, and in some cases they are right up bank-side, such that if the bank gets further eroded thee is nothing much left to support uncovered roots.

 

The wind has been strong in Berkhamsted overnight - or at least that's why I assume the neighbors wheely bin is lying down in my front garden.