K&A Canal navigation notes: Friday 8th April 2011

AP Hebert Lock (46), Devizes

Devizes Flight is partially closed until April 14th

BW have issued a notice saying that the Caen Hill Flight is open again. Well that is true - the Caen Hill flight of locks is open — but through navigation of the Devizes Flight is not possible because of the emergency stoppage to replace the failed wooden bottom gates on AP Herbert Lock (46) which is expected to be finished on 14th April.

Reading: County Lock (106)

The floating pontoon at the entrance to County Lock is in a very unsafe state — BW have taken steps to prevent its use. Do not attempt to use it.

Crofton Flight (lock 60)

One of the ground paddles is still out of action.

Great Bedwyn Church Lock (64)

One of the ground paddles is still out of action - as it has been for 3 years.

Crofton waterpoint

Still out of action because of contamination. The nearest water is at Great Bedwyn Wharf or below Wootton Rivers Lock (51)

Great Bedwyn Wharf

A contractor has left a wide beam dumb barge on the waterpoint/pump out at Great Bedwyn Wharf — BW are aware.

Pump outs

There are no reported problems with the BW pump outs on the canal.

A dumb barge moored on the water point/pump out by 

Great Bedwyn bridge 

Cards for BW pump-outs can be bought for £10 each from:

• Aldermaston Wharf Canal Centre

• Frouds Bridge Marina

• Bev & Geoff's Pitstop, Newbury

• The Dundas Arms Hotel, Kintbury

• Tutti Pole Tea Room, Hungerford 

• Great Bedwyn Post Office

• The Waterfront, Pewsey Wharf

• The Canal Centre, Devizes Wharf

• The Caen Hill Café, Devizes

• Foxhanger Canal Holidays, Devizes 

• The Boatyard, Trowbridge

• ABC Leisure Group, Trowbridge

• Sally Boats, Bradford On Avon

• The Bath and Dundas Canal Co., Somerset Coal Canal

• Bath Narrowboats

For contact details for these businesses go to:  www.kacanaltimes.co.uk where they are listed under canal services.

Night time rescue from K&A Canal in Reading

A woman was rescued by firefighters from the River Kennet at County Lock last night (Saturday).

County Lock Reading: Picture by Bob Naylor©

Firefighters from Reading Wokingham Road Fire Station and a water rescue unit from Caversham Road were called to County Lock in Reading shortly after 7pm where they found a woman in the water clinging on to a ladder.

They quickly pulled out the woman in her twenties who was very cold and shocked but otherwise unharmed.

Couple escape K&A canal boat blaze

A couple escaped from their blazing narrowboat near Temple Place on the Kennet & Avon Canal in Reading yesterday evening. 

Fire crews from Dee Road and Whitley Wood fire stations in Reading were called to the blaze along with the specialist water rescue team from Caversham Road at about 7pm. 

A couple in their 30s escaped unharmed from the boat that was extensively damaged in the blaze that is believed to have started in the engine room as they were mooring the boat.


The canal has remained closed in the area today while the cause of the fire is investigated.

Boat Fire closes K&A Canal at Reading

A boat fire on the K&A Canal in Reading this morning has closed the canal for investigations and pollution control.


County Lock is closed.


No further information is available at the moment.