DO THE TRUST TEAMS HAVE supernatural powers, I wonder?
For they tell that 'despite the considerable efforts of our operational teams, rainfall has remained significantly below the long-term average.'
So it is the operational teams that has the powers to control the rainfall!
Not making a very good job of it are they?
This relates to the stoppage at Tring Summit on the Grand Union Canal.
Hope they have learnt
Surely after the latest vehicle strike of the Wrenbury Lift Bridge on the Llangollen, that is so bad it needs the lift to be taken down and repaired, they will make the decision.
And regular readers will know what that is, for I have flogged it time and time again—get CCTV cameras on the bridge.
The vehicle strike this time was not on the barriers, that is happening all too often, but a much more serious vehicle strike which has caused damage to the timber support, and is so serous that the whole bridge has to be taken down, and it closed to navigation whilst it is.
Doesn't make sense
We are back with the excuses of blaming others again for breakages.
But the one on the Staffs & Worcs Canal is an excuse too far—as no way can a boat impact on the bottom gates of a lock cause the balance beam to be damaged.
And so damaged it needed braces, as the picture shows.
For the boat to so damage a lock balance beam it must have been on land to make contact!
Whatever next? I ask.
And again
This time it is 'due to ongoing vandalism at Ryders Green Lock Flight, which is causing significant water losses and impacting water levels across the Birmingham Level.' we are told.
So the flight was closed to navigation, and will be until further notice.
As no one has seen these vandals, or even any others that are blamed, how do they know it is vandals?
And simply not the current drought, that is more than likely.
Not to blame
Quite often, as Ralph Freeman so well tells, those who constructed the canals in the days gone by, certainly knew what they were doing.
And it takes some believing that there are those that believe they did not—especially after their constructions have lasted 200 years and will go on for a lot longer.
It is only the battering they are now getting with little maintenance that is causing the problems, and most certainly not the construction.
The picture well showing how those builders knew what they were doing.
Why not indeed
I was very taken by the letter by Paul Bennett, who told his boat Lark had been trapped on the Stort with nowhere to go since the lower part of the river had now been closed since 3rd August.
And hopes that he will be able to claim a refund on his licence as his boat is a prisoner in a short section of waterway with no way to join the network.
He has a valid point, as Canal & River Trust are charging for a service that he has not been able use for two whole months. Is that legal?
Not forgetting the upper part of the river is full with weirs running...
Victor Swift—telling tales for 26 years...