Many boaters were upset and angry to find out just before Christmas that CRT is planning to close the Caen Hill flight from 9th to 15th January to carry out a “stilling test” that will result in water levels in the Long Pound dropping significantly, and that boats were being told to travel down Caen Hill to avoid being grounded.
The first notice implied that CRT required all boats currently in the Long Pound to leave. Given that Crofton is closed for 5 months between November and March, the only way off the Long Pound is west, down Caen Hill. So many boaters complained that CRT issued an update saying that although the Long Pound may become unnavigable, it would “endeavour to maintain adequate levels to support moored boats” and that boats were not being required to leave the Long Pound.
If you are still concerned that boats will be grounded, and/or that there will be unacceptable depletion of water levels by the intensive use of the Caen Hill flight immediately before the stoppage, or unacceptable pressure on mooring space west of Foxhangers, please make a complaint, or use the template complaint below as a guide to register your objections to CRT. Download it here Level 1 complaint – Caen Hill pumping station notice of navigation closure
Suggested recipients are julie.sharman@canalrivertrust.org.uk (Chief Operating Officer) and copied to mark.evans@canalrivertrust.org.uk (Regional Director, Wales and South West) and customer.feedback@canalrivertrust.org.uk (email address for complaints). You can also make complaints via CRT’s web form here
https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/contact-us/ways-to-contact-us
The purpose of the stoppage is to rebuild the pump plinths and much of the pipework as the pumps keep failing. There will be a second stoppage in February to complete the work, when the Crofton flight will still be closed. CRT has not provided any information about whether it expects water levels to drop in the Long Pound during the second stage of the works.
The stoppage notice is online here https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/notices/23948-caen-hill-pumping-station
Tags: Caen Hill, canal maintenance, continuous cruising, Foxhangers, Julie Sharman, liveaboards, Long Pound, Mark Evans, stoppage, unplanned stoppages
The author
I wonder if the author(s) of this notification are aware that the K&A Canal Long Pound is 15 miles long.
Closed at both ends, only a immersive loss of volume of water would reduce its depth enough to affect moored craft.
Also rainfall might supplement any leakage during the seven days work.
Note:
my Barge is and will be on the Long Pound during this work – No Worries.