KA Canal Boaters' update: Wednesday 2 February 2011

Navigation Notes

British Waterways report that the water levels on the River Avon, River Kennet and the River Thames have subsided and normal navigation is possible.

BW have lifted stoppage at County Lock (106) in Reading that was caused by a boat fire on January 4th has now been lifted. 

Oakhill Down Lock (68) Froxfield

Open — but by appointment only. 

BW staff will operate the lock at 9am and 2.30pm until 13 March (see below). Bookings must be made at least 24 hours in advance, call Alistair Ogden on 07711 403471. (Bookings for weekend passage should be made before 12 noon on Friday.)

Dunmill Lock (lock 75) Hungerford

Closed until Friday 11 March 2011

Hungerford for replacement of lock gates

Devizes Flight (22-50)

Closed until 11 March 2011

The Devizes Flight from Lower Foxhangers (22) to Kennet Lock (50) in Devizes will be closed — along with sections of the towpath — for fitting replacement lock gates on locks: 24, 25, 26, 27, 35, 39 & 43. During this time embankment repairs will also be done at Martinslade. 

Bradford on Avon Lock

Closed Monday 28 February 2011 - Friday 11 March 2011

Pump and lock repairs

Weston Lock to Kelston Lock

Saturday 5 March 2011 (9am and 4pm) 

Avon County Rowing Club Head of the River Race  

The navigation will remain open but boaters are asked to comply with the race marshalls requests so that racing crews can to pass through safely. 

Oakhill Down Lock (68)

Closed 14th March 2011 - Friday 25 March 2011

Lock will be closed while new top gates are installed 

Burghfield Lock (103) to Southcote Lock (104) 

Until Friday 11th February 2011 

The water level will be lowered by 250mm (approx 10 inches) so that fenders can be installed on piles set below normal water level. The work is on a river section so levels can be affected by changes in the river flow. 

Boating facilities

The water point at Crofton is out of use because of contamination — until further notice. 

The nearest water points are at Great Bedwyn Wharf or at Wootton Rivers.

• BW report that all of their pump-outs are working.
• There is no longer rubbish disposal at Hungerford — use Kintbury or Great Bedwyn.

Enquiries to BW Devizes Office:  01380 722859

The KAcanalTIMES website is online at: www.kacanaltimes.co.uk

To subscribe to the email posting service send an email with 'join' in the subject line to: news@kacanaltimes.co.uk   (to cancel send an email to the same address with 'cancel' in the subject line).

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.

KA Boaters' update: Friday December 24, 2010

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2010

The frozen state of the canal is likely to make this notice redundant — but when the canal thaws this is the way it should be on the K&A Canal

Caen Hill Christmas Opening Times

In mid-November Christmas opening times for Caen Hill were announced but it now looks increasingly unlikely that these will have any effect on boat movements.  

The original published times had the Caen Hill Flight closed on December 28th but Waterway Manager Mark Stephens agreed to the flight being open for anyone who wants to go up or down the flight on that day — the 200th anniversary of the day when the flight was opened completing the link from Bristol through to Reading. 

However, there was no ceremony when the flight opened 200 years ago — it is said that the shareholders just had a meeting and a drink in the Bear Hotel in Devizes Market Place and unless there is a dramatic change in the weather it is likely that members of Devizes Boat Club who had planned to take boats down the flight will probably do the same. 

Caen Hill Flight (Locks 28-44)

Saturday 25 December 2010 - Monday 3 January 2011

20th to 24th December - Open as normal (8am to 4pm)

25th to 28th December - Closed: Now open on the 28th by request

29th to 31st December - Open as normal (8am to 4pm)

1st January to 3rd January - Closed.

4th January to 9th January Open as normal (8am to 4pm)

Stoppages:

Wootton Rivers (Locks 51-54): Stoppage extended

closed until Friday 7 January 2011 

Because of sub-zero temperatures tents have been built over the locks so that they can be heated to help the lime morter to set.

Dunmill Lock (75): Delayed by one week 

Monday 17 January 2011 - Friday 11 March 2011

The start of this stoppage has been delayed a week to allow the completion of the dredging works and the transit of delayed craft from the Wootton Rivers stoppage.

Navigation Restrictions: 

Oakhill Down Lock (68) near Froxfield is now open — but by appointment only. BW staff will operate the lock at 9am and 2.30pm until futher notice. Bookings must be made at least 24 hours in advance, call Alistair Ogden on 07711 403471. (Bookings for weekend passage should be made before 12 noon on Friday.)

Between Burghfield Lock (103) and Southcote Lock (104) from Tuesday 30th November 2010 to Friday 11th February 2011 the water level will be lowered by 250mm (approx 10 inches) so that fenders can be installed on piles set below normal water level. The work is on a river section so levels be affected by changes in the river flow. Enquiries: 07920 824 310.

From the west of Hungerford at Cobblers Lock (72) to Wire Lock (76) on the eastern side of the town there could be delays of up to 30 minutes and occasional drops in the water lever for dredging and bank protection work.

Boating facilities

• BW report that all of their pump-outs are working.
• There is no longer rubbish disposal at Hungerford — use Kintbury or Great Bedwyn.

Enquiries to BW Devizes Office:  01380 722859

The KAcanalTIMES website is online at: www.kacanaltimes.co.uk

To subscribe to the email posting service send an email with 'join' in the subject line to: news@kacanaltimes.co.uk   (to cancel send an email to the same address with 'cancel' in the subject line).

Policemen honoured for K&A Canal rescue

The bravery of two Wiltshire Policemen who jumped into the cold dark waters of the Kennet & Avon Canal in Devizes to rescue a woman was recognised when they received commendations from the Chief Constable Brian Moore at a ceremony at police headquarters in Devizes on Tuesday night.

Chief Constable Brian Moore, centre, with PC Mark Green, left and PC Andrew List. 

Picture by Wiltshire Constabulary 

PCs Mark Green and Andrew List were called to the canal at Coate Road Bridge in Devizes shortly before midnight on Saturday July 17th and found a woman standing at the water's edge threatening to commit suicide by thowing herself into the canal.

They tried to dissuade her but the negotiations failed and she threw herself into the murky waters of the canal.

The area was extremely dark, lined with trees and with no artificial lighting. PCs List and Green had no idea how deep the water was but without hesitation they plunged into the canal to save the woman.  They ended up in chest high, water and although they could stand up, the bottom of the canal was covered in thick, soft mud which made it extremely difficult to find their footing and walk. 

They managed to pull the woman to the side of the canal and drag her out, a task made harder by the conditions at the scene and the build of the woman.

The woman suffered no ill effects from the incident and she was detained under the Mental Health Act.

Chief Constable Brian Moore praised them for their quick thinking and bravery and said, "It is clear that without the actions of the officers, the lady could have caused serious harm to herself."

The KAcanalTIMES website is online at: www.kacanaltimes.co.uk

To subscribe to the email posting service send an email with 'join' in the subject line to: news@kacanaltimes.co.uk   (to cancel send an email to the same address with 'cancel' in the subject line)

KA Boaters' update: Friday December 3, 2010

The frozen state of the canal makes this notice somewhat redundant — but when the canal thaws  — this is the way it is on the K&A Canal at the moment.

Stoppages:

Wootton Rivers (Locks 51-54):

closed until Friday 17th December for new lock gates to be fitted (scheduled winter stoppage).

Postponed until March: The Bath Flight: Widcombe Lock (7) to Bath Top Lock (13) 

Wednesday 8th and Thursday 9th December for scaffold installation and on Thursday 17th and Friday 18th February for scaffold removal.

Between these dates refurbishment work will be done on the iron tail bridges over the locks — the flight will stay open with a reduced headroom of 2.4m. 

Navigation Restrictions: 

Oakhill Down Lock (68) near Froxfield is now open — but by appointment only. BW staff will operate the lock at 9am and 2.30pm until futher notice. Bookings must be made at least 24 hours in advance, call Alistair Ogden on 07711 403471. (Bookings for weekend passage should be made before 12 noon on Friday.)

Between Burghfield Lock (103) and Southcote Lock (104) from Tuesday 30th November 2010 to Friday 11th February 2011 the water level will be lowered by 250mm (approx 10 inches) so that fenders can be installed on piles set below normal water level. The work is on a river section so levels be affected by changes in the river flow. Enquiries: 07920 824 310.

From the west of Hungerford at Cobblers Lock (72) to Wire Lock (76) on the eastern side of the town there could be delays of up to 30 minutes and occasional drops in the water lever for dredging and bank protection work.

Water levels:

Water levels are good throughout the canal — although there may be lower levels from time to time  between Cobblers Lock (72) to Wire Lock (76) for the work going on there.

Boating facilities

• BW report that all of their pump-outs are working.
• There is no longer rubbish disposal at Hungerford — use Kintbury or Great Bedwyn.

The KAcanalTIMES website is online at: www.kacanaltimes.co.uk

To subscribe to the email posting service send an email with 'join' in the subject line to: news@kacanaltimes.co.uk   (to cancel send an email to the same address with 'cancel' in the subject line).

New lock gates fitted at Wootton Rivers on the K&A

More on this story at:

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2010
BW's Winter work programme begins on the K&A Canal: Read>>

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2010
Million pound make-over for K&A Canal locks:  Read>>

The KAcanalTIMES website is online at: www.kacanaltimes.co.uk

To subscribe to the email posting service send an email with 'join' in the subject line to: news@kacanaltimes.co.uk   (to cancel send an email to the same address with 'cancel' in the subject line)

Dundas Canalside Carol Service cancelled

CANCELLED: Dundas Carol Service Saturday 4 December 2010


The carol service conducted by Rev Peter Atwill on Dundas Wharf at junction of the Somersetshire Coal Canal and the Kennet & Avon Canal has been cancelled because of the weather that would make access by land very difficult and because few if any boats could make it to the event.  


This is the first time in the 12 years the event has been run that it has had to be called off because of the weather. 

K&A Canal Aldermaston lift Bridge(28) work complete

The repair work to the main bridge bearings on Aldermaston Lift Bridge (28) is now completed —the bridge is now working normally for boat and road traffic. 

The KAcanalTIMES website is now online at: www.kacanaltimes.co.uk

To subscribe to the email news posting service send an email with 'join' in the subject line to: news@kacanaltimes.co.uk   (to cancel send an email to the same address with 'cancel' in the subject line)

KA Boaters' update: Friday 26 November 2010

Stoppages:

Aldermaston Lift Bridge:

Closed to road and boat traffice until 30 November for replacement of main bridge bearings.

Wootton Rivers (Locks 51-54):

closed until  Friday 17 December for new lock gates to be fitted (Scheduled winter stoppage).

The Bath Flight: Widcombe Lock(7) to Bath Top Lock(13) 

Wednesday 8th and Thursday 9th December for scaffold installation and on Thursday 17th and Friday 18th February for scaffold removal.

Between these dates refurbishment work will be done on the iron tail bridges over the locks — the flight will stay open with a reduced headroom of 2.4m. 

Navigation Restrictions: 

Oakhill Down Lock (68) near Froxfield is now open — but by appointment only. BW staff will operate the lock at 9am and 2.30pm until futher notice. Bookings must be made at least 24 hours in advance, call Alistair Ogden on 07711 403471 (Bookings for weekend passage should be made before 12 noon on Friday).

Between Burghfield Lock (103) and Southcote Lock (104) from Tuesday 30 November 2010 to Friday 11 February 2011 the water level will be lowered by 250mm (approx 10 inches) so that fenders can be installed on piles set below normal water level. The work is on a river section so levels be affected by changes in the river flow. Enquiries: 07920 824 310

From the west of Hungerford at Cobblers Lock (72) to Wire Lock (76) on the eastern side of the town there could be delays of up to 30 minutes and occasional drops in the water lever for dredging and bank protection work.

The Bath Flight — Widcombe Lock(7) to Bath Top Lock(13) Height restriction of 2.4m between 10 December and 19 February 2011

Water levels:

Water levels are good throughout the canal — although there may be lower levels from time to time  between Cobblers Lock (72) to Wire Lock (76) for the work going on there.

Boating facilities

• BW report that all of their pump-outs are working.
• There is no longer rubbish disposal at Hungerford — use Kintbury or Great Bedwyn.

NOTE: Bradford on Avon lock (14): As reported last week the stoppage planned for Monday 29 November 2010 to Wednesday 1 December 2010 for repairs to the lock structure and sluices has been cancelled. It will now take place next year - probably January or February.

The KAcanalTIMES website is online at: www.kacanaltimes.co.uk

To subscribe to the email posting service send an email with 'join' in the subject line to: news@kacanaltimes.co.uk   (to cancel send an email to the same address with 'canacel' in the subject line.)

Drowning swan in Newbury rescue

A drowning swan was rescued in the centre of Newbury early yesterday afternoon (Thursday) after it got its head stuck in an underwater hole.

A passer by pulled the  swan out and with the help of a police officer drained the water from the swans lungs and and they then gave  it mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.

The swan revived and was later taken to the Swan Lifeline Centre in Eton with only minor damage to its beak.

Contact The Swan Lifeline Centre on: 01753 859397

Their website is: http://www.swanlifeline.org.uk

New book celebrates K&A Canal's 200 years

Queen of Waters — a new book about the Kennet & Avon Canal is to be published on the 28th December — 200 years to the day after the opening of the canal that allowed boats to travel from Bristol to Reading.

The book abounds with many previously 

unpublished pictures of the K&A Canal

When the Kennet & Avon Canal opened on 28 December 1810 it really was 'the wonder of its age'. A broad waterway built across southern England as a trade route between the country’s two greatest ports — London and Bristol — and the countryside through which it passed would never be the same.

   Yet only 30 years after it was completed, Brunel’s Great Western Railway opened and robbed it of much of its traffic. Trade on the canal declined and after decades of neglect came ultimate dereliction for the canal.

   The K&A lay like a sleeping princess, weed-choked and silent, its locks and bridges crumbling – but there were people determined to keep it alive and thanks to their effort it became the Queen of Waters — the title of a new book to be published in December by Kirsten Elliott, subtitled "A journey in Time along the Kennet & Avon Canal".

   In the year celebrating the bicentenary of the first cargo travelling from Bristol to Reading — and twenty years on from the grand reopening by the Queen —  this new book pays tribute to the canal that refused to die.

A full review of the book will follow — but in the meantime you can pre-order the book from the KAcanalTIMES bookshop: Queen of Waters

The KAcanalTIMES website is now online at: www.kacanaltimes.co.uk

To subscribe to the individual email posting service for 'stop press news' send an email with 'join' in the subject line to: news@kacanaltimes.co.uk   (to cancel send an email to the same address with 'cancel' in the subject line)

K&A Canal indefinite stoppage

Seend Flight Lock 19: Picture by Bob Naylor

The K&A Canal is closed from Seend Bottom Lock (17) to Seend Top Lock (21) from today, Friday 15 October 2010 until further notice for repair work to the Seend Pumping Main. Locks must remain closed to prevent pounds from draining.

Further news should be available on Monday 18th October

Free 'Sunday Funday' at the Library on Newbury Wharf 

Newbury Library is celebrating 10 years on Newbury Wharf this weekend with a massive free family event.  This is the seventh time that they have held a 'Sunday Funday' — and last year they had almost 3000 visitors.

The event runs from 10am to 4pm on Sunday 17th October. There will be a huge variety of hands-on activities  — with something for everyone. On offer will be arts and crafts, cycling activities, photography, film making, flower arranging and even circus skills — or you can just sit on a big truck or digger! 

There will also be music, dance and sport demonstrations throughout the day and activities specially for children, including fun cake decorating, face painting and Bangers and the Mash Theatre Company will give two performances of Jack and the Beanstalk.

Many local community groups will be taking part as well as the South Central Ambulance Service, Thames Valley Police and Royal Berkshire Fire Brigade. 

Gordon Lundie, West Berkshire Executive Councillor for Culture and Leisure said: "Sunday Funday is a real highlight in the calendar of events in Newbury, and it is very popular too with almost three thousand visitors taking part last year. I am very pleased that we have again been able to offer such a varied and exciting programme of activities and performances at Newbury Library."

So rain or shine - don't miss it. 

For more information contact Newbury Library:  01635 519900 or email: newburylibrary@westberks.gov.uk

Devizes Boat Club AGM 

The Devizes Boat Club AGM will be held at the Canal Centre on Devizes Wharf on Saturday 16th October 2010— 7pm for 7.30pm.

After the AGM business is finished there will be a wine-tasting and talk on "Wine from a colder climate"  — followed by free cheese and wine.  

Send apologies to Elaine Kirby at:  secdbc@aol.com or EJESSIKI@aol.com

or Tel:  07770 551 242

Please note membership subscriptions of  £10.00 each are due on the night . New members are welcome.

Devizes Boat Club Website 

Devizes Lantern Parade

Devizes Lantern Parade 2009

The town's annual Lantern Parade will be coming to Devizes Wharf this year on Friday 26 November to celebrate the 200th Anniversary of the Kennet & Avon Canal 

A workshop to make lanterns for the parade and to decorate the Wharf will be held at the Canal Centre on Devizes Wharf on Tuesday 9 November from 7-9pm.

The workshop is free — but please ring Becky Wells on 01380 721279 or email her at: beckywells9@hotmail.com

If you want to get a flavour of the excitement of the parade you can see a movie of the 2009 parade at: Movie of Devizes lantern parade 2009

K&A Canal builder, John Rennie,  will also be in Devizes on that day— visit: Rennie Returns

New appointments at troubled Trust 

Neil Lethby the
K&A Canal Trust 
Treasurer and
Company Secretary
has now also become
Chairman of the 
Trust's Board of 
Trustees
Picture by Bob Naylor

by Bob Naylor


Three key vacant posts at the Kennet & Avon Canal Trust: Chairman,  Director of Boats and Managing Director of Kennet & Avon Canal (Enterprise) Ltd, have now been filled.

Neil Lethby has agreed to take on the role of Chairman of the Kennet & Avon Canal Trust until the end of the year. The post has been vacant since the departure of David Rees who held the post for 9 months — and before that the Trust did not have a chairman while it spent two years looking for a suitable person.

Neil will continue as Company Secretary and Treasurer although he reminded the K&A Canal Trust Council recently that he wants to relinquish the post of Treasurer that he has held for 3 years. 

Kennet & Avon Canal Trust (Enterprise) Ltd  have a new Managing Director.  Alan Whitewick will take on this role. Alan is also the Honorary Editor of the Trust's member's magazine, The Butty, and he heads up a recent fundraising campaign aimed at raising at least a £1000 a month to help cut the Trust's financial deficit following the failure of 'Membership Plus', which was launched last year with the aim of raising £100,000 in 12 months through increased membership and fundraising.

David Inight, the Chairman of the Bradford on Avon (formerly West Wilts) Branch of the K&A Canal Trust has been co-opted to Trust Council and appointed Director of Boats. Alan Whitewick and David Inight join Neil Lethby, Mike Rodd and Tim Jones as the Board of K&A Canal Trust (Enterprise) Ltd

Links to recent K&A Canal Trust stories:

Trust needs media manager

Trust seeks treasurer to see it through 'financially difficult times' 

Continuing cuts and departures at troubled K&A Canal Trust

K&A Canal Trust cash crisis

Resignation setback for BW's 'Third Way' plans

BW announce head of Waterways Partnership Board for the Kennet & Avon Canal

K&A Canal Trust needs media manager

by Bob Naylor


Do you want to "navigate the sometimes murky and turbulent waters of news and information management in a high profile and diverse organisation concerned with history, conservation, leisure activities"?

The K&A Canal Trust is looking for an unpaid volunteer Public Relations professional to manage publicity for both the Trust and the Canal.  

"Are you an information and news professional who has time on their (sic) hands or could devote some of their (sic) time to the KACT?" asks the K&A Canal Trust. They continue, " With respect we don’t want a well-minded amateur to take on this role, it needs someone with the professional and political savvy needed to navigate the sometimes murky and turbulent waters of news and information management in a high profile and diverse organisation concerned with history, conservation, leisure activities and many, many other facets of its work."

The Trust needs someone to satisfy the "internal communication needs of the KACT and its thousands of members and its different geographical branches have to be satisfied with timely and concise news, publicity and information services".

And with the job goes the promise of the possibility that in time you might be invited to become a Trustee of the K&A Canal Trust charity or a director of  its commercial arm — or both ...but they say, "you still won't get paid for these honours".

If you are interested in this opportunity contact the K&A Canal Trust with an up to date CV at: kagm@btconnect.com before 30th October 2010. 

For full information about the opportunity go to:  http://kennetavontrustnews.blogspot.com

Links to recent K&A Canal Trust Stories:

Trust seeks treasurer to see it through 'financially difficult times' 

Continuing cuts and departures at troubled K&A Canal Trust

K&A Canal Trust cash crisis

Resignation setback for BW's 'Third Way' plans

BW announce head of Waterways Partnership Board for the Kennet & Avon Canal