AFTER SEVEN MONTHS CLOSURE the Aylesbury Arm of the Grand Union Canal reopens.
Entire arm closed
It was on Monday 16th of June last year—seven months ago—that the entire Aylesbury Arm was closed, Keith Gudgin reports.
This included the locks 1 to 16 and all navigation to or from the basin stopped.
The reason given by Canal & River Trust was that the arm 'will temporarily close to boat traffic. This is to preserve water levels on the arm whilst maintaining navigation on the main line of the Grand Union Canal'.
But temporary in this case was rather a long time, for of course during the summer of last year came the drought, and no rain to replenish the reservoirs, with the result that many navigations closed.
At last reopens
But today, Wednesday 28th January, the arm has at last reopened with all the boats either stuck in or out now able to reach their destinations, for their is definitely no lack of water now!
At least it gave the trust the opportunity to use that time, it tells, 'to carry out works that improve the Aylesbury Arm's resilience, including continuing to inspect our infrastructure and repair leaks.'