Locks 22 to 63 on Kennet & Avon Canal

Detail

From Date: 24/06/2019 16:30

To Date: 07/08/2019 12:00 inclusive

Type: Navigation Restriction

Reason: Water resources

Is the towpath closed? No

Location

Closest waterway: Kennet & Avon Canal

Starts at: Lock 22, Lower Foxhangers Lock

Ends at: Lock 63, Beech Grove Lock

Updates

24/07/2019 15:37

We’re pleased to say the refurbished pump (pump 1) installed last weekend is working well.

However, with the continuing dry weather, and the need not to overload pump 2, unfortunately we will not be able to open this weekend as expected.

Over forthcoming weeks we will continue to work on both pumps to clear the significant amount of silt that has built up.

This means that the current restrictions will remain in place until further notice:

Caen Hill (between Locks 22 & 44) will be available on a daily basis from 10:00am until 3.00pm, with last entry at 12:00 Noon.

The summit (Locks 51 – 63) will be open on Tuesday and Thursday, also from 10:00am until 3.00pm, with last entry at 12:00 Noon.

The long pound remains available for cruising at all times, but we continue to ask customers not to moor anywhere between Lock 52 and Lock 60 (Crofton flight) and to only to make essential, through journeys on the affected length of the navigation when it opens.

We will be reviewing the situation on a regular basis to provide updates and thank everyone for their continued support and patience.

19/07/2019 19:01

Further to todays review meeting, we are pleased to confirm that the refurbished pump has been delivered to Caen Hill and will be installed this weekend.

We plan to maintain restrictions exactly as they are for the coming week (see below), but expect to be able to open the lengths which have been restricted between 10:00 and 18:00 next weekend.

Maintaining this steady position for a further week will allow time to assess effectiveness of the refurbished pump and for the canal to recover.

We will make further announcements after next week's review, but anticipate that some further relaxation will be possible.

It will help the position greatly if customers would continue doing all they can to conserve water. Please avoid passing through locks only to wind and go back through, ensure that bottom end paddles are properly closed before filling the lock, and please do not moor between locks 52 and 60.

Thank you for your continued support.

12/07/2019 18:40

We have again reviewed the situation with regard to pumping and water resources this afternoon.

Progress with the pump repairs remains good and we expect to see the pump reinstalled with its original impellor next weekend, as planned. The new impellor is due by the 3rd week of August and will be fitted soon thereafter. 

Water resources continue to look tight unfortunately, so it is likely that prudent restrictions will remain in place after the pump has been reinstated. We will continue to review however and make further decisions once the pump is installed, when we'll be able to confirm flow rates achieved and re-evaluate available water.

In the meantime, we continue to appreciate everyone's support and restrictions will remain exactly as they have been this week, as described in last week's update, below.

Please do call the Trust using the contact details provided in the main notice, should there be any aspect you would like to discuss.

05/07/2019 18:30

Further to this afternoon's review meeting, we are pleased with the continued slow recovery in levels, and water usage during yesterday's opening of the summit proved sustainable.

We are therefore satisfied that the current restrictions remain appropriate, so these will continue unchanged, as below. We plan to review the situation again on Friday of next week, unless the situation changes in the meantime. To Summarise:

Caen Hill (between Locks 22 & 50) will be available on a daily basis from 10:00am until 3.00pm, with last entry at 12:00 Noon.

The summit (Locks 51 – 61) will be open on Tuesday and Thursday, also from 10:00am until 3.00pm, with last entry at 12:00 Noon.

Throughout these restrictions, the long pound remains available for cruising at all times, but we continue to ask customers not to moor anywhere between Lock 55 and Lock 60 (Crofton flight) and to only to make essential, through journeys on the affected length of the navigation when it opens.

Meanwhile, the parts for the pump which is currently off site have been ordered and are on their way from Sweden. Subject to timely arrival, we aim to reinstall the pump over the weekend of 20/21st of July.

We appreciate everyone's continued support.

02/07/2019 17:38

We reviewed the position yesterday afternoon and are pleased to advise that yesterday’s inspection of the remaining pump (no. 2) at Caen Hill went well, with the output increasing by some 36% after removing trapped debris from around the impeller. The improved flow rate, together with restrictions and ashing up to reduce losses, have meant that the Canal continues to hold its own. 

Based on yesterday’s discussion and having consulted with customers, Caen Hill (between Locks 22 & 50) will continue to be available on a daily basis, but for a slightly shorter day, from 10:00am until 3.00pm, with last entry at 12:00 Noon.

The summit (Locks 51 – 61) will be open on Thursday (4th July) this week at the times listed above, with the intention of also opening on Tuesday and Thursday next week (9th & 11th July).

As a further conservation measure, we ask customers not to moor anywhere between Lock 55 and Lock 60 (Crofton flight) and please only to make essential, through journeys on the affected length of the navigation.

Once again, we appreciate customers’ support and understanding and will further review the situation on Friday afternoon, after which we will provide another update.

Please contact us using the details in the main notice below, should any questions arise.

28/06/2019 19:43

Today’s opening of the summit went well, with the steps taken to conserve water over the last few days enabling a good recovery and levels have held up well throughout the day.

We have reviewed the current situation and confirm that Caen Hill (between Locks 22 & 50) will continue to be open daily on the same restricted hours (10:00 to 16:00, with last entry to the flight at 13:00).

The summit (between Locks 51 & 61) will remain closed over the weekend and on Monday.

We will again review the position late on Monday afternoon and confirm arrangements for Tuesday onwards soon afterwards.

Further updates will be provided as the situation develops, but in the meantime, please contact the Trust using the details provided in the main notice below, should you require further information.

27/06/2019 17:24

This is to further clarify arrangements for navigating Caen Hill Flight from Friday 28th June onwards and the summit on 28th June only.

Caen Hill will re-open from Friday, but with restricted hours daily between Lock 22 and Lock 50, with first passage at 10:00, last entry to the flight at 13:00, and all boats clear by 16:00.

The Summit will open for Friday 28th only, with first passage between Lock 51 and Lock 61 at 10:00 and last summit-bound entry to both Wootton Rivers and Crofton flights at 13:00. All locks between Wootton Rivers Lock 51 and Crossing Lock 61 will close to traffic at 16:00. 

The Summit will then remain closed after Friday at 16:00 until further notice, while the water situation is reviewed.

We will continue to provide further updates as the situation develops, but in the meantime, please contact the Trust using the details provided in the main notice below, should you require further information.

26/06/2019 16:31

To confirm arrangements for customers planning to navigate either the Caen Hill Flight or over the Summit between Locks 51 and 61 on Friday 28th June:

The Caen Hill Flight will only be open at 10:00am and will close to new entrants at 1.00 pm and boaters will be expected to be through the flight by 4.00pm latest.

The Summit between Locks 51 and 61 will close to new entrants at 4.00pm latest.

Both locations may close earlier depending upon the availability of water. 

25/06/2019 16:00

Update

Pump 1 has been successfully lifted from Caen Hill this morning and is now on its way to Flygt’s workshop at Axminster, as the hoped for on-site repair has not been possible. 

Our contractors will expedite the inspection and quotation for repairs asap and we will update this notice further as a clear programme becomes available. 

Our plan now is to lift pump 2 in the coming days, as a partial blockage likely to be affecting its performance, is suspected.

Thank you for your cooperation and understanding in this matter.

Should you require any further information about this or any other matter on the Wales and South West Region please see - https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/notices

Or you can e-mail - [email protected]

Or you can ring the Canal & River Trust on -

0303 0404040.

In the case of an emergency please ring Freephone Canals on 0800 4799947

Description

With reference to notices 15530 (21/06/2019) and 15545 (23/06/2019), the worsening shortage of water at the summit over the weekend, has meant that the canal has unfortunately had to remain closed between Wootton Rivers (Lock 51 ) and Crofton (Lock 61). Caen Hill flight will continue on restricted hours on Tuesday 25th (10:00 – 16:00 between Locks 22 & 50), but will then close on Wednesday and Thursday to allow the summit to recover, with the aim of opening both Caen Hill and the summit at 10:00 on Friday 28th, for a limited time and for essential traffic only. 

Trust staff continue to do all they can to preserve water, for example by sealing known losses, and ask boating customers to please pair up whenever possible when using locks, and be extra vigilant about closing paddles during this challenging time. 

The faulty pump has already undergone a preliminary inspection and will be lifted from its chamber and dismantled to confirm the diagnosis on Tuesday, 25th June. 

We will update this notice again when more information is known about repairs to the pump and the effect of these plans on water resources in the coming days.

Thank you for your cooperation and understanding in this matter.

Should you require any further information about this or any other matter on the Wales and South West Region please see - https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/notices

Or you can e-mail - [email protected]

Or you can ring the Canal & River Trust on -

0303 0404040.

In the case of an emergency please ring Freephone Canals on 0800 4799947