Visiting boats are rare on the Basingstoke Canal

Wednesday, 27 July 2011 18:30

But it is open further up beyond Deepcut Locks, you just can't get up there from the main system.

Moored below Brookwood Locks

John and Dom walked up to investigate the unnavigable section .......

..which begins just before Brookwood Lock 12, the bottom of three

Allegedly, the garage at the bridge has caused a problem by extending their forecourt and pouring fresh concrete into the canal, collapsing the by-wash. This was repaired but another void opened at the bottom of the lock.

Hole in lock side

It is all on hold as Surrey CC have to bring in contractors and they are prevaricating, so we are told.

This is what the canal looks like above Brookwood lock 12

It is not often I comment on boating politics (that is John's interest, as he is on the NABO Council), but I cannot let our experience on the Basingstoke Canal go without the following:

BW are hoping to get borough and county councils involved in supporting and helping to finance the "New Waterways Charity". I think that the Basingstoke Canal problems should be a salutory lesson as to what might happen. Councils are cutting their budgets and struggling to keep services going. Are they really going to be interested in the canals in their area, when tax payers already contribute? Have a read of this article on narrowboatworld.

This used to be the towpath, but a cycle way is now on the other bank

Now the other path is used most, but there is no way to the lock from it as yet, without crossing a major road. Boaters are very rare on the Basingstoke Canal at the moment, but .....

We have lost count of the number of comments we have had as we cruised the canal. "What a wonderful sight", "Oh look, a boat", "it is so good to see a boat using the canal", "we need more boats to use this canal and then maybe the councils will wake up to keeping it navigable".

Sadly the Basingstoke Canal will probably deteriorate and gradually become unnavigable. What a slap in the face of all those wonderful volunteers who worked so hard to restore it and the Rangers who do their best to maintain it. It is a very pretty canal and we are very glad we visited it.

The following photos speak for themselves.

Lock 13 tail from lock bridge

Lock 13

The canal above the Brookwood 3 Locks

Dom at Brookwood top lock 14

Deepcut Lock 15

This is what happens very quickly to a canal that is not navigated by boats

So boats give the locals something to look at, learn from and maybe even have a go themselves. Boats navigating keep weed down and make the canal look used, so there is less rubbish and fly tipping. Boats are even good for conservation of flora and fauna as they keep the water moving. We need to navigate the less well used ones otherwise the old adage stands true: use them or lose them.

Finally we must thank Chris, Pete and Sarah, the Rangers who helped us during our few days on the Basingstoke Canal. We have now returned to the Thames, but that is another story .....