Hertford Union (aka Ducketts) stoppage

[debbifiggy]

Emergency stoppage in London. Bottom Lock (No 3) on the Hertford is out of action for up to 4 weeks after someone who should know better (boater not BW) did something very silly with the gate and caused sufficient damage for the lock to be inoperable. As there is also a stoppage on the Regents for the next 4 weeks in the vicinity of Actons Lock the only way off the River Lee Navigation is via the Thames at Limehouse. If you are over a certain length (i.e. not a little short boat) you will need VHF or go out in convoy with someone who has VHF on their boat.

 

If you are continously cruising in this area it is still possible to move either by going north up the Lee & Stort or by going down to Limehouse and up the Regents and winding wherever you can before going back to Limehouse and then back up the Lee.

 

Strong river flows on the Lee and Stort are now abating although it's worth taking note that last weeks floods have caused damage to lock landings and towpaths so be careful out there.

 

P.S. Don't forget that the water, refuse and elsan point at Feildes Weir (junction of Lee and Stort) is out of action for the foreseeable future so dump the elsan at Stonebridge or carry on to Stanstead Marina or go up the Stort to the Moorhen.

 

D

 

edited to remove unnecessary work and improve clarity.

Edited February 17, 2009 by debbifiggy

[Phoenix_V]

Emergency stoppage in London. Bottom Lock (No 3) on the Hertford is out of action for up to 4 weeks after someone who should know better (boater not BW) did something very silly with the gate and caused sufficient damage for the lock to be inoperable. As there is also a stoppage on the Regents for the next 4 weeks in the vicinity of Actons Lock the only way off the River Lee Navigation is via the Thames at Limehouse. If you are over a certain length (i.e. not a little short boat) you will need VHF or go out in convoy with someone who has VHF on their boat.

 

If you are continously cruising in this area it is still possible to move either by going north up the Lee & Stort or by going down to Limehouse and up the Regents and winding wherever you can before going back to Limehouse and then back up the Lee.

 

Strong river flows on the Lee and Stort are now abating although it's worth taking note that last weeks floods have caused damage to lock landings and towpaths so be careful out there.

 

P.S. Don't forget that the water, refuse and elsan point at Feildes Weir (junction of Lee and Stort) is out of action for the foreseeable future so dump the elsan at Stonebridge or carry on to Stanstead Marina or go up the Stort to the Moorhen.

 

D

 

edited to remove unnecessary work and improve clarity.

 

Just curious whats happened to the feildes weir facility

[Neil TNC]

Just curious whats happened to the feildes weir facility

 

It still blocked up since October?

No doubt Moorhen and Stansted Abbots charge?

The Hertford "hole" was a total disgrace last October (brick work crumbling and lock smashed off)

It would appear that BW is attemting to "dump" sanitary stations on boatyards as well as the inevitable charging for visitor moorings (LLangollen, rumoured at Sheffield Basin and attempted, but twarted at Huddersfield and Boston)

Will the Liverpool Link be chargeable?...BW still have not denied this. If not direct charge, they will inevitably charge for mooring in Albert Dock.

Is this the start of pay-per-boat, on top of the most expensive boat licencing system in Europe?

Welcome to rip-off and broke "UK".

[Toddlesocks]

This is so frustrating, we are continuously cruising' been on the Lee where our boat can get and have now got stuck at vicky park due to the closures .

 

 

 

If anyone is making the journey up the Thames with a radio we would be very grateful of a hookup if possible.

[Lady Muck]

It still blocked up since October?

No doubt Moorhen and Stansted Abbots charge?

 

No they are both free - but our sanitary station (Stonebridge) is blocked quite often, I find that 50% of the time I have to empty into the public loos - which isn't much fun for the public!

 

There's also services at Waltham Abbey, not mentioned in this thread.

[debbifiggy]

It still blocked up since October?

No doubt Moorhen and Stansted Abbots charge?

The Hertford "hole" was a total disgrace last October (brick work crumbling and lock smashed off)

It would appear that BW is attemting to "dump" sanitary stations on boatyards as well as the inevitable charging for visitor moorings (LLangollen, rumoured at Sheffield Basin and attempted, but twarted at Huddersfield and Boston)

Will the Liverpool Link be chargeable?...BW still have not denied this. If not direct charge, they will inevitably charge for mooring in Albert Dock.

Is this the start of pay-per-boat, on top of the most expensive boat licencing system in Europe?

Welcome to rip-off and broke "UK".

 

Feildes Weir was closed due to continual abuse which was causing a maintenance bill that could have run 12 other sanitary stations for a year. There are free alternatives within easy cruising.

 

Stonebridge and Old Ford are often blocked by self pumpouts leaving us Elsan users with no option but to find a public toilet and leave the public gagging

[Lady Muck]

I did actually mean to ring and ask - is self pump out actually allowed at Stonebridge? Because I did suspect it might be that but have never dared say anything to the boaters doing that incase I'm in the wrong.

[Ray]

Does anyone have an update on this / these stoppages? The relevant bit of the BW web site doesn't appear to have been updated for a while.

 

We're hoping to visit both Lee and Stort towards the end of the month from the Marsworth area. The GU itself seems clear as does the link to Little Venice.

 

Islington Tunnel is reportedly blocked from 08.00 to 11.00 Monday to Friday and shouldn't affect us.

 

Actons Lock should have re-opened by the time we get there.

 

The Hertford Union is blocked with no completion date - see OP.

 

The north end of the Stort is closed Sheering Mill Lock until early April - a week too late for us.

 

Have we missed anywhere that is likely to be closed on or after 20 March?

 

Thanks

[Lady Muck]

Does anyone have an update on this / these stoppages? The relevant bit of the BW web site doesn't appear to have been updated for a while.

 

We're hoping to visit both Lee and Stort towards the end of the month from the Marsworth area. The GU itself seems clear as does the link to Little Venice.

 

Islington Tunnel is reportedly blocked from 08.00 to 11.00 Monday to Friday and shouldn't affect us.

 

Actons Lock should have re-opened by the time we get there.

 

The Hertford Union is blocked with no completion date - see OP.

 

The north end of the Stort is closed Sheering Mill Lock until early April - a week too late for us.

 

Have we missed anywhere that is likely to be closed on or after 20 March?

 

Thanks

 

Once Whitmore road bridge reopens in mid march, you can still visit the Stort and Lee but you'll have to go the long way round via Limehouse

[Toddlesocks]

We decided to head back onto the Lee via Limehouse today, lots of boats moored up at the lee/hertford junction so still looks closed.

[Lady Muck]

We're cruising at the moment but no choice but to go North, currently at Carthagena locks - taking it veeery slow, might even make it to Hertford for Sunday lunch at this rate......

[MaryP]

There was water in the canal at Whitmore Road bridge on Wednesday, and someone was using the lock that had been closed nearer to Islington.

[debbifiggy]

There was water in the canal at Whitmore Road bridge on Wednesday, and someone was using the lock that had been closed nearer to Islington.

I believe the stoppage is still on and is likely to be for another couple of weeks until an essential part arrives and is fitted. Check waterscape stoppage info for updates.

D

[Tim Lewis]

I believe the stoppage is still on and is likely to be for another couple of weeks until an essential part arrives and is fitted. Check waterscape stoppage info for updates.

D

 

Just had a stoppage alert saying that the Hertford Union is now open.

 

Tim

[Lady Muck]

Ooooh it's going to be like musical boats up here when all the ccers hear about it then.

[bargeeboy]

I'm at Enfield at the moment and going to Cavalcade

I am sure it will open by then Surely !!

[Canalwatcher]

Waterscape email received today saying Ducketts open to navigation

 

Mick