Solar boost for Semington dry dock

Solar panels will provide the power for Semington dry dock on the Kennet & Avon Canal near Trowbridge where owners, Liz and Ian Williamson, are expanding the range of services.

Liz and Ian Williamson at Semington bottom lock: Picture by Bob Naylor©

Solar panels on the roof of the old dry dock

Liz and Ian bought the site at Semington Lock  a year ago after the death of Harry Bell. They have installed 15kw of solar panels on the roof of the existing 14ft wide by 70ft dry dock and they say the site is ideally situated on a south facing slope so they expect the panels to supply all the electical needs for the dock.

The work to build an additional covered dry dock alongside the existing dock, adding a wet dock with slipway, and building a workshop for the maintenance and repair of GRP trailer boats began two weeks ago with the stoppage on this section of the canal

Ian said: "We have been very pleased at the number of bookings in our first season since re-opening the business and feel there is ample scope for increasing the capacity of the facilities here. We aim to offer everything a boat owner needs – from simple dry dock space for DIY blacking, to a full painting and repair service.”

Work in progress on the new dry dock

For more information: Phone: 01380 870654 

email: info@semingtondock.co.uk

or go to: www.semingtondock.co.uk