Finding work for volunteers

Published: Friday, 29 June 2012

IT WOULD seem that volunteers are not wanted for work after all, but work is wanted for the volunteers, who seem totally redundant.

'Our man' at the Tring summit pound on the Grand Union Canal tells us the volunteers have little to do, waiting for what few boats there are, and in their turn, the boaters are surprised, he relating:

"Our regular volunteer locks man awaiting trade. Two of these chaps here every time I walk down, and  the boating fraternity seem rather bemused at the compulsory assistance!"

New feature

There's a new feature on the Marsworth Flight, with workmen fixing unpainted wooden horizontals on all the gates, with no one seeming to know what they are for.

Boaters seem to believe its yet another of British Waterways health and safety stunts, to stop boats' fender getting fast in the space, though of course fenders are installed on boats to move up as the boat goes down.

Weed problem

There is a thriving crop of Himalayan Balsam in the side ponds at Lock 44, that is growing rapidly, 'our man' tells us, and as it spreads quickly, smothering other vegetation as it goes, could cause a real problem on the waterway if untreated.

It has been growing there for weeks, and it spreading rapidly.