Can't stand the strain!

STOPPAGES and restrictions are coming fast and furious as the canal infrastructure is just not up to the strain now the boating season is getting underway.

With so much boating activity and much of the winter maintenance cancelled, the results are becoming plain as stoppages and restrictions pile-up, Keith Gudgin reports.

Eight problems in eight days

It is only the 8th day of the month yet eight problems have already been announced, so it looks like being set for a now 'normal' month of stoppages for boaters.

The Huddersfield Narrow comes in for it usual setbacks, with a leak between 20E and 21E, and then later a paddle stuck down at 29E followed by our being told 'A CCTV is currently being arranged to provide an overview of the extent of the fault' between 20E and 21E.

So much leakage

Worse on the Macclesfield and Peak Forest as we are informed that as from the 24th June all lock flights will be closed.  This is owing to the 'water position', caused of course by so much leakage. But how the 'water position' can be known for so late in the month is not told.  A bit of joy is that boaters can cruise between lock flights!

Other waterways having problems are Sheffield & South Yorkshire, Staffs & Worcs and the Rochdale, though some have been attended to.