Canoeists take over Pontcysyllte Aqueduct

Just returned from a 12 days cruise to Llangollen, writes Brian.

We travelled over the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct early morning 8.00am, to avoid the canoes. However on our return journey, we were a little later, 9.30am. On arrival at the aqueduct there were canoes everywhere.

They travelled in convoy across the aqueduct, turning around at the other end and making the return journey. Some paddling the canoes had no idea, and were pulling themselves across using the towpath using their hands. Which you can imaging how long that took.

This was replaced by another canoe group doing the same. We had to wait over one hour. Someone walked across and stopped them, he told, but the canoeist took no notice. Chatting with another boater he said they had waited two hours to get across.

Who at CRT gave permission for this to happen is ridiculous. This is affecting both trip boats at Trevor and Llangollen, and must be playing havoc with their operating timetables.

We also met another canoe and hire boat that was traversing Chirk Tunnel with a head torch, again this should not be allowed, and is a accident waiting to happen. I contacted CRT about the canoes, and had a reply saying they would pass the email onto the relevant CRT region. I pay a lot of money to cruise the canals, how much do the canoeists pay?

On the day of our crossing there were CRT volunteers at either end of the aqueduct promoting CRT. I voiced my anger at one of them, who said they were aware of the problem, goodness knows what this will be like in the busy season, they said various solutions had been proposed, traffic lights at either end, but this was discounted by the aqueduct heritage, another more practical solution was to have volunteers at either end with radios. This needs sorting before it gets any worse.

Brian
Narrowboat Nomad