South Oxford closing soon

[cornishdave]

From CRT:

https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/notices/01977da6-c632-7891-8201-261377000edc

[Lily Rose]

Crikey!

 

We can now confirm that, from 4pm on Monday 21 July 2025, Claydon flight will be closed to navigation until there is enough rainfall to replenish our reservoirs.

 

[cornishdave]

Yeah, sorry was on my mobile so in a rush and didn't post the content, just a link. My bad.

Also of note from this notice (my bold):

 

"If it rains enough to allow safe navigation, restrictions will be lifted immediately: this is likely to require sufficient and prolonged rain over several weeks rather than a sudden very heavy downpour."

[Lily Rose]

Just now, cornishdave said:

Yeah, sorry was on my mobile so in a rush and didn't post the content, just a link. My bad.

 

No worries, I wasn't having a go.

 

I'd just seen it in an email and copied that key bit to the clipboard to post it. You just beat me to it.

 

[Wafi]

Closing the Claydon flight makes sense. The summit pound can be replenished by pumping from the Braunston pound; water that goes back down the Napton flight can be used again, but once it starts down Claydon there's no way of getting it back, it's doomed to end up in the Cherwell and/or Thames.

 

I wonder whether we'll see a mass exodus from Cropredy marina; if there's space, those boats can relocate to Wigrams/Ventnor for free.

[Lily Rose]

1 hour ago, Wafi said:

I wonder whether we'll see a mass exodus from Cropredy marina; if there's space, those boats can relocate to Wigrams/Ventnor for free.

 

Wouldn't surprise me.

 

I've also been wondering for a while if we're going to have a very busy summer in the Napton/Braunston pound with all the local hirers (and privateers) unable to go far. As long as the flights in and out stay as they are it may be ok but if it gets any worse...

 

[Cheese]

Privateers, eh!  If there is going to be some legalised piracy going on, it might be worth heading that way to watch.😄

[Lily Rose]

21 hours ago, Wafi said:

I wonder whether we'll see a mass exodus from Cropredy marina; if there's space, those boats can relocate to Wigrams/Ventnor for free.

 

Even more likely now given the latest CRT stoppage that says...

 

We can now confirm that, from 4pm on Monday 21 July 2025, the following locks will close to navigation until there is enough rainfall to replenish our reservoirs:

• Claydon Flight
• Elkington's Lock
• Varneys Lock
• Broadmoor
• Cropredy Lock

[Lily Rose]

 

Oxford Canal Napton and Marston Doles Navigation Closure

Type: Navigation Closure

Waterway(s): Oxford Canal

From: 21 July 2025, 4pm

To: On-going

Region: West Midlands

Reason: Low Water Levels

Subject to review on: 18 August 2025

 

There's going to be even more boats heading from Calcutt and Napton to Braunston this summer now that there will be no access to the south Oxford from that area. I'll be one of them, at least as long as Calcutt stays open!

Edited July 11, 2025 by Lily Rose

[Tonka]

Better get the pumps working at Calcutt then. 

[Steve Bassplayer]

I was wondering whether this is all to do with preserving levels in the big pound between Napton and Hillmorton. Lots of marinas and hire boat places in and around there who probably carry a lot more weight with C&RT. 

 

Maybe no accident the pump isn't fixed.

[MoominPapa]

8 minutes ago, Steve Bassplayer said:

I was wondering whether this is all to do with preserving levels in the big pound between Napton and Hillmorton. Lots of marinas and hire boat places in and around there who probably carry a lot more weight with C&RT. 

 

Maybe no accident the pump isn't fixed.

Surely the Calcutt pump discharges into that pound?

 

MP.

[Steve Bassplayer]

22 minutes ago, MoominPapa said:

Surely the Calcutt pump discharges into that pound?

 

MP.

Yes but they probably don't want that being wasted by being pumped up into the summit. I'm sure someone here knows how that all works.

[Lily Rose]

23 minutes ago, MoominPapa said:

Surely the Calcutt pump discharges into that pound?

 

MP.

 

Yes. 

 

I didn't know it was still out of action though.

 

[MtB]

22 minutes ago, Steve Bassplayer said:

Yes but they probably don't want that being wasted by being pumped up into the summit. I'm sure someone here knows how that all works.

 

Didn't someone earlier in th thread point out that water pumped up Napton into the Oxford summit gets 50% wasted/lost, as half goes back down Napton flight but the other half gets lost down Claydon where there are no back-pumps. So it eventually goes all the way down via the bywashes into the canalised section of the river Cherwell at Enslow, never to return. 

 

 

 

Edited July 11, 2025 by MtB

[Steve Bassplayer]

6 minutes ago, MtB said:

 

Didn't someone earlier in th thread point out that water pumped up Napton into the Oxford summit gets 50% wasted/lost, as half goes back down Napton flight but the other half gets lost down Claydon where there are no back-pumps. So it eventually goes all the way down via the bywashes into the canalised section of the river Cherwell at Enslow, never to return. 

 

 

 

Yes, Wafi did, but as to whether the pump is still U/S I don't know. Maybe it has been fixed but they don't want to use it. 

[Lily Rose]

11 minutes ago, MtB said:

 

Didn't someone earlier in th thread point out that water pumped up Napton into the Oxford summit gets 50% wasted/lost, as half goes back down Napton flight but the other half gets lost down Claydon where there are no back-pumps. So it eventually goes all the way down via the bywashes into the canalised section of the river Cherwell at Enslow, never to return. 

 

 

 

 

Presumably there will be much less need to pump water back up the Napton flight once the flights at either end of the summit are closed except, maybe, to replace water lost through leakage. Or perhaps they will use the summit  reservoirs for that.

 

Is there a reason why the Calcutt pump is still out action (if that is the case)?

 

When I came home from the boat last Sunday the level below Calcutt locks was good so if they are choosing not to pump it's not because of shortage of water at the lower level.

 

If the Claydon flight was closed but the Napton flight was kept open the summit as far as the winding hole at Fenny would still be accessible to the many boats, including hire boats, from the Napton & Braunston area. No water would be lost at Claydon and the losses at Napton could be pumped back up. Maybe the pump wouldn't be able to keep up though?

 

If Calcutt locks were to be shut then the Calcutt and Kate hire boats would be cut off. Not pumping back up Calcutt locks must make that more likely to happen.

Edited July 11, 2025 by Lily Rose

[Tonka]

12 hours ago, Lily Rose said:

 

Presumably there will be much less need to pump water back up the Napton flight once the flights at either end of the summit are closed except, maybe, to replace water lost through leakage. Or perhaps they will use the summit  reservoirs for that.

 

Is there a reason why the Calcutt pump is still out action (if that is the case)?

 

When I came home from the boat last Sunday the level below Calcutt locks was good so if they are choosing not to pump it's not because of shortage of water at the lower level.

 

If the Claydon flight was closed but the Napton flight was kept open the summit as far as the winding hole at Fenny would still be accessible to the many boats, including hire boats, from the Napton & Braunston area. No water would be lost at Claydon and the losses at Napton could be pumped back up. Maybe the pump wouldn't be able to keep up though?

 

If Calcutt locks were to be shut then the Calcutt and Kate hire boats would be cut off. Not pumping back up Calcutt locks must make that more likely to happen.

The level below Calcutt locks is fed direct from the reservoir there. It goes through the big wet dock. I only knew that Crt were working on the pump that back pumps the water up the 3 locks because Calcutt Boats put a thing about it on their Facebook page

[billS]

Calcut pump was running yesterday morning when I went past.

Edited July 13, 2025 by billS

[matty40s]

On wire at Lower Heyford, only the day boats moving.

 

[Wafi]

1 hour ago, matty40s said:

On wire at Lower Heyford, only the day boats moving.

If what I've seen walking along the canal near Kings Sutton, that could easily be the combined flow of the canal and the Cherwell.

[matty40s]

Oxfordshire Narrowboats are moving 7 of their boats up to Weedon (Grand Union Narrowboat Holidays) before Claydon shuts.

[IanM]

Yesterday at Napton there seemed to be more boats going up than down. Today I would say it’s 75% in the down direction. 

[Steve Bassplayer]

2 hours ago, matty40s said:

Oxfordshire Narrowboats are moving 7 of their boats up to Weedon (Grand Union Narrowboat Holidays) before Claydon shuts.

 

Good idea. Met Dave's son at Claydon heading up on one.

 

Had a really nice evening there but one too many (yes  I should know better by now!). Got disoriented in the dark, instead of heading towards the bush,  ended up in the cut. Now hobbling with a dodgy knee. 🙄

1 hour ago, IanM said:

Yesterday at Napton there seemed to be more boats going up than down. Today I would say it’s 75% in the down direction. 

Plenty of water on the Thames.

[matty40s]

3 hours ago, Steve Bassplayer said:

 

Good idea. Met Dave's son at Claydon heading up on one.

 

Had a really nice evening there but one too many (yes  I should know better by now!). Got disoriented in the dark, instead of heading towards the bush,  ended up in the cut. Now hobbling with a dodgy knee. 🙄

Plenty of water on the Thames.

Glad you are OK, does that mean you are going the long way round now, or just staying where there is water until it rains....