K&A Canal re-opened after fallen tree blocks navigation

Boats could not navigate through the Bath Valley on the Kennet & Avon Canal for much of today (Tuesday 24 May 2011) because of a tree that had fallen across the canal near Claverton. 
     British Waterways contactors were called in and they quickly dealt with the problem. The canal was re-opened by late afternoon. 
Pictures by Bob Naylor©

K&A Canal navigation notes: Friday 15th April 2011

AP Herbert Lock (46), Devizes: 
stoppage extended

AP Herbert Lock (46) Devizes 

The emergency stoppage for replacement of the wooden bottom gates has been extended. The lock is now due to re-open at 8am on Friday 22nd 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 out of action — as it has been for a considerable time.

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)

Rubbish disposal

There is no longer a waste disposal bin near the sanitary station at Hungerford  because of access problems for the Biffa 'one man' waste carts. The nearest rubbish disposal bins to Hungerford are at Kintbury and Great Bedwyn Wharf.

To report fly-tipping and any other problems with the waste disposal sites contact BW in Devizes: 01380 722859 or by email to: enquiries.kennetavon@britishwaterways.co.uk

Pump outs

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

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.


Gibson Boat Services:
Summer opening times

Water watch

February was the mildest since 2002 and rainfall was below normal in the south of England. The reservoir holdings for the Kennet & Avon Canal at the end of January 2011 were 69.2% of capacity and in February that dropped to 68.8% but that rose to 82.6% of total capacity in March — which is slightly above the lowest recorded holding for March in 2006 when it was at  82%.

Water levels throughout the canal are reported to be good.

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K&A Canal stoppage: Oakhill Down Lock (68)

Oakhill Down Lock. Picture by Bob Naylor

Oakhill Down Lock (68) is closed from today (14 March) the 25th Mar 2011 for new top gates to be fitted.

More information from: 01380 722859

Note:

The work at Bradford on Avon Lock is now complete and the lock is open again.

KA Boaters' update: Friday 19 November 2010

Stoppages:

• 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, by calling 01380 722859. (Bookings for weekend passage should be made before 12 noon on Friday).

Note: tomorrow (Sat 20th November) you can use the lock between 10 and 10.30 am without booking because the lock will be operated for boats already booked.

• 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): 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.


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KA Canal boater's bulletin Friday 5 December 2010

Stoppages:

Oakhill Down Lock (68) near Froxfield is closed until further notice because of a damaged lock gate. 

Wootton Rivers (Locks 51-54) closed until  Friday 17 December for new lock gates to be fitted. (Scheduled winter stoppage)

The George Inn at Bathampton closed until Monday 11 November 2010 for refurbishment

Navigation Restrictions: 

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.

Caen Hill Flight — boaters are asked to share locks where possible to save water.

Water levels:

BW have managed to raise the level on the Long Pound between Devizes and Wootton Rivers and boaters with linear moorings who have been stuck fast on the bottom in recent weeks should be able to move their boats now.

There are no reports of low water levels elsewhere although it taxed the ingenuity of BW staff to keep traffic moving on the Bath Flight last weekend. 

Boating facilities

BW report that all of their pump-outs are working (including Kintbury).

Notes

There is no longer rubbish disposal at Hungerford — use Kintbury or Great Bedwyn.

The Bath Flight is open — the stoppage start has been postponed until Monday 22 November 2010 but it is still expected to finish on Friday 10 December 2010.

K&A Canal: update for boaters
3.30pm: Friday 22 October 2010

Lock Restriction
The only lock restriction on the K&A Canal at the moment is Burnt Mill (65) closed overnight: 6pm - 9am until further notice.

Navigation warnings
Newbury between Town Bridge and Newbury Lock (85) — because of scaffolding on the offside of the canal — navigate with care.

From the west of Hungerford at Cobblers Lock(72) to Wire Lock(76) on the eastern side of the town: possible 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 now in working order (including Kintbury).
Note: 

There is no longer rubbish disposal at Hungerford — use Kintbury or Great Bedwyn.

K&A Canal restricted lock operations between Great Bedwyn and Little Bedwyn

Sunday 19 September 2010 — until further notice

Little Bedwyn Lock (67)

Because of very low water levels in the area locks 64 to 67 will only be open between 9am and 4.30pm. 

Please share locks to save water whenever possible.

The locks affected are Church Lock (64) at Great Bedwyn, Burnt Mill (65), Potters (66) and Little Bedwyn (67).

For more information call: 01380 722859