Vandals are not to blame

OVER the years, time and time again I have seen your pictures of a gate falling over and stopping navigation. writes T Lang.

As in fact the one at Audlem at present, which is obviously caused by wear and tear over the years and the gate giving way and coming away from its fastening.  But now it is caused by vandals we are led to believe, but believe it I do not and don't think many other boaters will either, that vandals can pull away—how many tons does a gate weigh?

The boat is actually shown in the lock, but nothing from the boaters about vandals, just that it came away and prevented them getting out.

Boat stuck there

I remember one photograph in narrowboatworld of a lock gate coming away from its anchorage on the Staffs & Worcs Canal also whilst the boat was in the bottom of the lock and it stuck there, but as the boater told, the gate just broke off, and as that was published the vandal excuse could not be used.  Yet now it is!

[The top photograph shows a gate broken off on the Kennet & Avon and this the bottom was on the Trent & Mersey.]

Back to the present Audlem break, as the boat is obviously in the lock the gate must have come off at that time, so how can it have been vandals that broke it off?  A bit thick!

I cannot understand vandals being given the blame, as surely if CaRT told the truth that it is lack of maintenance causing the problems, surely those with the purse strings would realise that waterways are in a poor state, and give more cash.

But I don't expect that sort of thinking applies!