Mark Stephens, the Kennet and Avon Canal Manager, has responded to a complaint from a boater with the following news about the closure of the sanitary facilities at Dundas. He stated: “Thank you for your email and thank you for drawing this matter to my attention. I have raised this issue with my colleagues who are dealing with it.
I agree that the existing situation is not satisfactory. Furthermore, with respect to the re-build of Dundas, I can confirm that this work is unlikely to commence prior to August 2012, partly due to on-going investigative work (the building is subsiding) and partly due to the Planning process that will be followed. Clearly, interim measures are required, details of which I will share with you.
I will provide a full response to your query within the next seven days and as you propose, publish a programme for repair works that will lead to reopening the Dundas facilities.”
The K and A Manager was responding to this complaint from an inconvenienced boater:
“I am extremely concerned that the Elsan disposal and pump out at Dundas basin have been out of action since November 2011 without a temporary replacement being installed. This has caused me (and many others) a great deal of inconvenience. It is completely unacceptable that there are no BW sanitary facilities on the Kennet and Avon canal west of Bradford on Avon.
I therefore wish to make a formal complaint in accordance with the BW complaints procedure; please treat this letter as a Level 1 complaint. To resolve my complaint, please provide a temporary Elsan disposal point and pump-out at Dundas basin immediately, and please publish a timetable for the re-opening of the permanent facilities in the Dundas wharf building.”
The Elsan and pumpout were closed on 4 November 2011, inconveniencing many boaters including those pictured below who cruised to Dundas in December 2011 for the Boaters’ Christmas Carol Service held by Canal Ministries.
Tags: Dundas, facilities, liveaboards, Mark Stephens
I’m guessing you never got a reply in 7 days then…
Sounds like some direct action is called for. Could either be, leaving our poo in a big pile outside or simply removing the locks. I assume the dump through is still there.