Date for resumption of K&A Canal as a through-route uncertain

There is no forecast of when the historic Victoria Bridge across the River Avon in Bath might be made safe. Until this work is done no boats can pass under it again — and now British Waterways has announced that no decision on when the central 11.5 mile stretch between Crofton Lock 60 and Copse Lock (80) will be re-opened will be made until some time in January.

Some movement might be possible within this central section of the canal in between planned stoppages for maintenance —  but... if you need to move a boat in this area of the canal it might be wise to phone BW on: 01380 722859 or you can try to decipher this stoppage notice from Waterscape.

NAVIGATION CLOSED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE  LOCK 61 TO LOCK 80

Thursday 17 November 2011 until further notice
UPDATE (20 December 2011): Stoppage Update, East of Crofton
(Crofton Locks, Beech Grove Lock, Hungerford Marsh Lock, Water Shortage) 

Stoppage Works on the Crofton flight will be completed by 23 December 2011.  However, due to an on-going water shortage the canal will remain closed until 4th January 2012 while empty pounds are filled. 

The Crofton flight will be fully opened on 4th January 2012.  Passage will not be possible prior to this date. 

In order to provide an opportunity for boats to travel east from the summit, stoppage works at Beech Grove (Lock 63) have been deferred by a week to start on 9 January 2012.  Beech Grove lock will be closed for one week. 

Note that stoppage work at Hungerford Marsh Lock will commence, as planned, on 9th January 2012. 

The on-going water related closure of the canal from Crofton to Copse Lock will be reviewed in January with a view to re-opening the canal in the sections between planned stoppages.
Thank you for your continued support of the Kennet and Avon Waterways.

Stoppage history:
The canal has been closed to navigation between Crofton Lock 61 and Copse Lock 80 due to lack of adequate water supplies to support boat movement. 

All of the locks within the closed section will be padlocked to prevent use.  We are allowing levels in individual canal pounds to recover slowly. Several sections are very low and will take some time to come back to normal level. This is a long term problem brought about by ground water level being extremely low, in fact it is at the lowest level for 90 years. 

The reservoir level is also very low and currently has little or no feed to recharge the system. The current stoppage is necessary to recover levels and help protect aquatic life in the canal. 

British Waterways is currently looking to support the closed section with additional water supply from other sources.
The current closure is being reviewed weekly, and with little or no significant rain forecast the current closure may remain in force for some weeks.

Craft that are trapped within the closed section are requested to remain where they are, but to adjust mooring ropes to accommodate changes in water levels.

Any request for craft movement will be dealt with on an individual basis and will be subject to available water supplies, canal water levels and individual circumstances.

British Waterways apologise for any inconvenience caused.
17 November 2011
Enquiries: Tel: 01380 722859 - 0900 Mon-1630 Fri, 1630 Fri to 0900 Mon 0800 4799947 (Option 2)

enquiries.kennetavon@britishwaterways.co.uk
More stoppages on this waterway: http://www.waterscape.com/canals-and-rivers/kennet-and-avon-canal/boating/stoppages
You can find all stoppages at the url below:
http://www.waterscape.com/things-to-do/boating/stoppages
Please do not reply to the email. It has been automatically generated.

Crofton locks on the K&A Canal now re-opened

Following investigation yesterday (Friday 24 June 2011) of Lock 59 at Crofton by British Waterways locks 55-60 have now been re-opened. Tweet

K&A Canal closed at Crofton

K&A Lock 59 — closed

Lock 59 on the Crofton Flight of Locks on the Kennet & Avon Canal is closed until further notice because of a problem with one of the lock gates.


More information to follow once the situation has been assessed.

BW to spend £750,000 on lock gates on K&A Canal next winter

One of Wootton Rivers Bottom Lock gates 

being removed last winter.  

Picture by Bob Naylor

More sets of lock gates were replaced on the Kennet & Avon Canal last winter than on any other BW waterway and the plan is to do the same next winter because, says Waterway Manager, Mark Stephens, "Many of the lock gates are not up to scratch at the moment . . . far from it — but I have said that if we are given the gates we will put them on — and we are being taken seriously.

"British Waterways Central like waterways that achieve what they've been given the resources to do. That's what we do on this waterway. We get the gates and we do the job and as a consequence we get extra ones."

The lock gates Mark and his team plan to replace next winter include Hanham Lock (1)

where the K&A navigation meets the tidal River Avon. Because of tidal variation they need to take heed of the tides  — and they can't leave it too late because of the risk of flood water later in the winter so they are planning to start that four week project in September.

Crofton Locks: 55, 58, 59 and 60

These gates leak badly — and some are on the verge of collapse. Very good reasons, says Mark, to replace them because the amount of money it costs to keep putting water back on the summit which then just comes back down through the flight is a major concern.  

And also because they are quite close together it is very economical to do them in a group. Mark said, "Arguably there are other locks elsewhere that are in worse condition but I can get more done for less money if I choose to do those four. They are all justifiable replacements and they are going to save me pumping costs as well."  

Those lock gate replacements are planned to be completed before Christmas — starting in late October.

In the new year, Hungerford Marsh (73) and Monkey Marsh (90) are planned for January.  Monkey Marsh was on the schedule for last winter but was carried-over because of other more pressing works. Wire Lock (76) is planned for February.

In all they plan to replace 12 sets of gates at a cost of £750,000.  

British Waterways will publish the winter stoppage programme for 2011/20012 on 9th May and comments will be welcomed until 3rd June.