Woman dies after falling in the K&A Canal in Reading

A woman died in hospital after being pulled from the River Kennet near to the junction with the River Thames this morning (Saturday).

Shortly after 10am police were called to the scene following reports of a woman in the water. With the help of fire officers from Reading the woman was recovered and taken to the Royal Berkshire Hospital where she later died.

Eye witnesses say that there was a mobility scooter near the scene that is believed to belong to the dead woman.

Police would like to hear from any witness to the incident who should call Thames Valley Police on 08458 505 505

K&A Canal Reading: navigate with care

Boaters should navigate the Oracle Shopping Centre in Reading on the Kennet & Avon Canal with care between 5.30am and 4pm from Monday 13 June until Monday 27 June 2011when cleaning work will be done on the riverside walkway and the bridges will be painted.

More information from: 07710 175496

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.

K&A Canal nature reserve delay

Plans for a nature reserve on land at Fobney Island  on the River Kennet on the K&A Canal on the outskirts of Reading will be delayed because of lack of funds.

Reading narrowboat fire story update and picture

A full story — and picture of the fire damaged and partially sunk narrowboat can be found on the 'Get Reading' website


at:  
http://tinyurl.com/38kwvdk

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.

Cow rescued from the Kennet & Avon Canal

Firefighters were called out to rescue a cow from the Kennet & Avon Canal near the Cunning Man pub at Burghfield near Reading yesterday (Sunday Sept 5th, 2010). 


The Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue specialist large animal rescue unit based at Caversham Road, Reading was called out shortly after 5pm and they arrived to find the animal firmly stuck in the canal.

In less than an hour they had the animal hauled out and released to rejoin the herd — none-the-worse for the adventure.

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

British Waterways has chosen David Rees, Chairman of the K&A Canal Trust, to head up its planned local Waterway Partnership Board to govern the 87-mile navigation that runs from Hanham on the River Avon near Bristol to Reading on the River Thames.

This pilot scheme is part of British Waterways plans to become a civil society organisation — in effect a 'National Trust'  for the waterways.

BW will work with the Kennet & Avon Canal Trust to pilot this Waterway Partnership Board to demonstrate that working in a local partnership can help to manage and maintain the canal corridor effectively. 

British Waterways’ Chief Executive, Robin Evans said, "We hope that a wide variety of interested parties reflecting the diversity of groups that use the canal will come forward to be part of the Local Waterway Partnership Board.

“Over 13 million people visit the waterways each year, and there are more than 34,000 licensed boats on the waterways we manage. The Kennet & Avon Canal is a popular and much-loved waterway with an established Canal Trust. We hope that this pilot will demonstrate that giving local communities a role in the management of their waterway — together with a real sense of ownership — will create improved and sustainable waterways for the future.”

David Rees, Chairman of the Kennet & Avon Canal Trust, who will chair the board, said, “This is a real opportunity for interested members of society along the length of the canal to participate in the shaping of this waterway that this year celebrates its 200^th anniversary.”

BW say that the Kennet & Avon Canal has been chosen to pilot the proposals because the K&A Canal Trust has, over the last 50 years, been largely responsible for the restoration of the canal which now stands as a testament to the work of those early volunteers.

BW and the K&A Canal Trust worked together succesfully in the past to get the £25m Heritage Lottery Grant in 1997,  enabling the canal to be restored to its present state.

The new board will focus on the promotion and maintenance of a sustainable future for the Kennet & Avon Canal and it is intended that the Board will influence the formulation of a waterway plan that will look at opererations, development and fundraising.

The Board will have up to 12 members who will reflect the full range of interests in the waterway. BW have been looking for expressions of interest from individuals with commitment and relevant experience, including people from the public and private sectors, local communities, interest groups and individuals who may have technical knowledge, such as engineers, ecologists and environmentalists as well as  people who have experience in with people from the local community, fundraising, marketing and communications as well as boaters, anglers, cyclists and walkers. 

The first meeting will be in September and the pilot board will be in place for up to 18 months, meeting every six to eight weeks  along the Kennet & Avon Canal.