Boats hit bottom as water drains out of the canal

9:18am Wednesday 21st May 2008

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NARROWBOATS were left stranded on a Worcestershire canal for the third day yesterday as contractors battled to fix a leak from which water has been emptying into a nearby brook.

The dropping water level, caused by a collapsed bed valve, in the Worcester to Birmingham canal was first noticed on Sunday afternoon by boat owners.

Alex Macwhinnie, who lives on his narrowboat, Me U and Blue, which is currently sitting on the bottom of the canal, near Dunhampstead, said: "It was about 4pm Sunday afternoon we noticed the water was going down.

"About 6pm a boat came past and said one of the banks was breached and by 10pm the boat was at an angle."

Mr Macwhinnie said yesterday the water level had risen by about two inches and he was now watching the situation carefully.

He said: "When the water level rises you've got to make sure the boat isn't stuck in the mud or it will sink the boat."

He said: "The funny thing is when we had the heavy rain last year it all flooded which is rare for a canal. That's the joys of boating."

Business was also affected at Brookline Narrow boats, in Dunhampstead. David Sumners, an engineer, said: "We've had to cancel one booking. We've got two boats abandoned.

"We are coming up to a big bank holiday. Every boat should be out then so we are hoping they've got it repaired and got some water in by then."

A mile down the canal, workers from Onsite contractors, working for British Waterways, had built a porta-dam to hold back the canal water while they assessed the problem.

Dave Wedgbury, operations manager, said: "It's a bed valve that's collapsed. They are normally made of elm. Because it's not used any more they will fill it with concrete and re-clay the bed of the canal."

The canal will be shut from Lake Bridge (29) and the Droitwich Canal Connection (Bridge 35) for emergency repairs until 2pm on Friday.