Oxford closed for a week

A FAILURE at Napton Flight on the Oxford Canal that cannot be complete at least until tomorrow (Friday) means the canal has been closed all week.

It was on Monday that the approach wall on Lock 10 on the Napton Flight collapsed, completely closing the flight, and together with problems with contractors sourcing materials it will have taken a week before it is re-opened, Keith Gudgin tells us.

40 boats stuck

We have been told there are now around 40 boats, many of them hire boats with exasperated crews, who are stuck at either end of the flight. Such have been the complaints from boat hire companies that when the repair is eventually completed CaRT staff have been told to give preference to the hire boats.

Like alas many other lock walls, there have been cracks in the one at Lock 10, as in fact are showing in another lock wall on the flight, but the drastic cut in maintenance meant there was not the cash to repair either, with many believing this year will see many failures around the system. The picture shows the condition of a lock on the flight.

Update

Canal & River Trust have confirmed that Napton Flight will reopen at 12 noon on Friday, but request that hire boats which urgently need to return to their base for turnaround  will be given priority when the flight opens.