CRT closed the Caen Hill flight until further notice on 30th October after engineers reported that the condition of the towpath and embankment had deteriorated further after the towpath between locks 48 and 49 was washed away.
It is believed that the damage to the embankment was caused by deliberate vandalism by someone opening the paddles at Lock 50 overnight. Both lock 22 and lock 50 are now padlocked, with navigation suspended until at least the start of December. A number of boats are trapped both within the flight and waiting at Foxhangers and Devizes Wharf to travel up or down. The towpath is closed between Prison Bridge (142) and Lock 50.
See also http://kanda.boatingcommunity.org.uk/towpath-washed-away-at-caen-hill/
Tags: Caen Hill, canal maintenance, stoppage, vandalism