SOME thoughts triggered by the notice [closure of Grand Union at Dudswell Lock] and your piece about Bulbourne, writes Roger Fox.
The top pound which you have pictured has been losing water for as long as I remember. The bottom gates of the lock shown in the picture are the problem and we find that we frequently have to seek help from passing dog walkers to get us through. (Photograph by Howard Clarke.)
Does CaRT know?
Has no one else noticed this? The situation might not be as bad as this pound has a direct feed from the Wendover Arm via a leat which I have not seen running in recent times. Maybe CaRT don’t know that it is there?
I wonder what is being blamed for the water shortage in the pound between Locks 48 and 49? It runs round the edge of the hill and is high above adjacent houses. The canal bed is built up against the piling allowing barely 18 inches of water.
Some years ago, in British Waterways days I remember two men down an excavation in the towpath with a pile of puddle clay dealing with what appeared to be a minor leakage. I wonder if there is a recurrence, or can it be blamed on vandalism?
Leave gate open
These locks were fitted with top paddle locks which were themselves vandalised years ago. This is all very curious as Lock 48 has been leaking badly but still carried instructions to leave a bottom paddle open.
Will we ever learn?
[Team of about eight Canal & River Trust have gathered there that could be a work party, Howard Clarke reports.].