Canal Cuttings
The big topic this summer has been the lack of water.
Our reservoirs were reasonably full after winter, but the year progressed with so little rain that they were quite rapidly drawn down.
Saddington, which supplies the lower Leics Line from Foxton to Leicester, was quite quickly depleted and water was regularly run down the Foxton flight to keep the levels up.
By June, the opening hours on the locks were reduced; and on Tuesday 29 July, the section was closed completely from Watford Gap to Leicester.
There was a last minute rush of boats trying to get to wherever they needed to be, and since then there have been no boat movements other than the day boats out of Market Harborough, and a few from the local marinas.
Levels are now so bad that the marinas are considering blocking up their entrances to ensure that the moorers remain floating. Cruising boats and those not in marinas may have difficulty accessing facilities such as drinking water, rubbish disposal, and toilet emptying. It is very bad news for a lot of people. The visitor numbers have dropped accordingly, as lots of people come to see the boats going through the locks, and let their kids and grand-kids push the gates etc.
Plus the word went round ‘Foxton locks are shut’, although Canal & River Trust and the businesses on site have done their best to publicise that the site is still open.
The local pubs and businesses all along the section will suffer; many of the boatyards have a full schedule of works and repairs to boats that can no longer access them. Hire fleets have had to re-locate elsewhere but canals all over the country are in a similar position, with more major closures implemented and warnings from CRT that the whole network may have to shut down.
With no boat movements, the water becomes very turgid and weed and plants are rapidly taking over. As the levels drop and more bank is exposed, animals burrow into it so that when the water returns, there are numerous leaks. Many fish and other creatures suffer and die.
The last time this scenario happened was in 1976, the famous ‘drought year’ when this canal was reduced to a trickle down the middle. Foxton Boat Services had to improvise, such as building a replica boat out of scrap wood to take to rallies and country fairs etc to sell canal ware and chandlery; that boat is now in the Foxton Canal Museum. The bottom lock cottage was advertised as a holiday let in The Times (at £15 a week) and was solidly booked all summer.
CRT are taking the opportunity to mend some paddles on the locks and a fabric dam has been put in below the bottom lock so that the water can be drained down completely. Contractors’ health and safety regulations meant the whole flight being fenced off while the locks were empty, making it look even more ‘shut’. However, visitors currently have the rare opportunity to see the bottom flight empty and maybe understand better why it is called a ‘staircase’.
Mary Matts
Wine Note
