CRT has opened the Caen Hill flight for booked passage only until 31st May. Contact 07467 330114 to make a booking. From 1st June passage of the flight will be possible without booking provided boaters follow specific arrangements that CRT intends to announce after the late May bank holiday. CRT says that during busy periods on the towpath diversions may be in place to take visitors to the offside of the canal to give both staff and visitors more space. Boaters will be asked to observe the signage and temporary barriers when in place, as this is an important measure to help keep everyone safe.
Before 1st June, Caen Hill will be open in four time slots each day; at 08:00, 09:30, 11:00 and 13:00 with boats expected to clear the flight by 16.00. On a trial basis passage will be upstream and downstream on alternate days, with today the first day of upstream navigation. Upstream passage will then be on Monday 25th, Wednesday 27th, Friday 29th and Sunday 31st May. Downstream passage is planned for Sunday 24th, Tuesday 26th, Thursday 28th and Saturday 30th May.
CRT has stated that the first repair on the K&A after the lockdown will be the planned temporary repairs to the broken gate at Lock 52 at Wootton Rivers. This will not take place until early July, but CRT has said it anticipates the repair will only take a day to complete. However the plans for both Caen Hill and Lock 52 could be changed at any time due to unforeseen circumstances.
Tags: Caen Hill, canal maintenance, Coronavirus, social distancing, stoppages, Wootton Rivers