Kennet & Avon to be closed for three months

A BREACH on the Kennet & Avon Canal will close the navigation for three months.

Significant leak

A  significant leak from the waterway has developed on the embankment at Limpley Stoke, with water draining into the Avon and causing damage to the embankment, Keith Gudgin reports.

This means the waterway has to be emptied as soon as possible to stop the leak and so prevent further damage to the embankment with it drained between Limpley Stoke Bridge (175) and Winsley Bridge (174)  a distance of one mile.

Canal & River Trust state a permanent repair needs to be implemented as soon as possible, given concerns for the stability of the embankment.

Start as soon as possible

Efforts are being made to commence the work as soon as possible, allowing for 'developing a solution and mobilising a contractor work [that] will commence toward the end of January'.

The work itself is not starting until Monday 22nd January with an estimate of it taking until Friday 15th March, resulting in the navigation  being closed for three months in total.