Aylesbury Arm opening delayed

THE re-opening of the Aylesbury Arm will not be at the end of October as first promised by Canal & River Trust (CaRT) but the end of November.

The completion of the work on the lock, that failed in late March (Aylesbury Arm closed) is now scheduled for the 25th of November, Keith Gudgin tells us.

Work on other locks

However, whilst the waterway has been closed work has been continuing on other locks on the Arm that needed attention, and will be ready on this later date, or in CaRT speak: These will all be delivered within the window to 25th November such that no further navigational impact will be necessary thereafter.

The work was delayed for months, not commencing until four months after the closure, when contractors May Gurney started work, with many believing the waterway would have been opened much earlier if CaRT had had its own work force to undertake the work.

Caused hardships

The closure has caused hardships to many boaters who moor their boats on the Arm, being unable to move freely.  A crane was employed for around 20 of the 100 or so that moor on the Arm, who wanted to cruise in the early part of the year when the failure occurred, but then they were left stranded away from their moorings.