New method of saving water

BRITISH Waterways have discovered a new method of saving water when locking. Double up—in narrow locks!

As unbelievable as it may seem the water saving method on the Oxford Canal, and Hillmorton Locks is particular is, and here we quote:

Tuesday 2 August 2011 until further notice
In order to conserve reservoir stocks along the Oxford Canal the offside tandem locks 3, 5 and 7 will be locked for the rest of the summer at this location.

Boaters are asked to double up when using the towpath side locks 2, 4 and 6.

Contacted

Many boaters, wondering how to get two boats side by side in a narrow lock have contacted narrowboatworld, but alas, we can be of little help.

Boater Kevin McNiff points out:

"Whether locks are closed and times restricted, the same number of boats will be in transit and the risk of lock stealing higher? Lock rage may ensue unless British Waterways enforce the restriction with staff. As for closing 50% of Hillmorton, you can't make it up really. Instead of using the term double up, the mantra should be one up one down. That saves water."

Once again it shows how British Waterways is so far removed from reality, for someone obviously received the information, someone wrote it and someone must have checked it, yet no one realised that the entire Oxford Canal is a narrow canal, and so doubling up is impossible.