Drought causes restricted boating

BRITISH Waterways have today issued details of its restrictions on boating due to water shortages caused by the continuing lack of significant rainfall.

The problems of the continuing dry weather were outlined in the narrowboatworld article Water supply outlook bleak published yesterday 15th March, with the outlook bleak indeed.

Movements controlled

The new restrictions will come into effect on parts of the Grand Union and Oxford Canals at the end of March, and will see boat movements controlled in some key locations.

This will mean a restricted time that cruising is possible, with gates being locked at the end of each day to minimise wastage through vandalism or paddles being left open, and gates not opened again until later in the mornings.

Kennet & Avon Canal

Similar measures will be in place on the Kennet & Avon Canal as groundwater levels fall. These restrictions will be reviewed throughout the season and adjusted where appropriate and special openings will be considered at peak times such as Bank Holiday weekends.

Vince Moran, operations director explains:

"We don't want to restrict opening times, particularly so early in the season, but I'm sure most boaters would recognise that this is an unusual year. That's why we're investing a significant amount of money on a package of schemes which are focussed solely on maintaining navigation on the vast majority of the network throughout the main boating season.

"However it would be foolish of us to make this investment if we weren't then careful with the water that it yields and that's why we're implementing these restrictions at selected locations in order to ensure we use water sensibly and responsibly to see us through the summer."

Discussions

We are told that the restrictions have been planned following discussions with boating organisations, canal societies and waterway businesses. As a direct result of these discussions British Waterways have produced special maps showing the restrictions and the varying potential drought risk across the network as a tool to help boaters to plan their journeys.

Vince suggests that if boaters don't need to be cruising the affected areas, then 'what better to explore another hidden corner of the nationwide canal system?'