A watery report

Dave Martin's report

Determined not to be put off by the weather, your intrepid reporter "persuaded" the dog she really did want a walk in the rain. So we set off from The Fly carpark, paddled past the front door, swam past the lock cottage, and mud-plugged down to bottom of the locks, and onto the new (but no longer smooth) path. Surprisingly, we encountered few walkers, and on reaching Bridge 80 found the pop-up cafe had gone: what disappointment. And I'd remembered to put cash in my pocket, just in case.

As reported yesterday, the dams have been removed, so the canal is again gurgling like a plug-hole.

The canal collects huge amounts of run-off water on its way from Wolverhampton, and the recent rains meant the pumps were unable to pass enough water around the dams. The level was slowly rising so there too much water in the marina, and the risk that the towpath would be flooded. So the dams had to go.

But what a hive of industry! The field beside the canal has been turned in a site compound with heavy duty sheeting covering the grass to protect the land. A site hut has appeared (office/toilets/canteen?), and another pump had just arrived on a large wagon.

The existing stone steps down from Bridge 80 to the canal have obviously been declared a hazard, so a new set of very smart steps are nearly finished opposite the old ones: maybe to be left when the operation is complete?

Judging by the size of the compound, there'll be plenty of folks around, so might the pop-up cafe re-appear??

Suffering from rising damp, we squelched our way back to the village to marvel at the view of the Weaver Delta from the canal aqueduct. It can only get wider, and the level is still around 12 inches from its highest ever, but it is rising: https://flood-warning-information.service.gov.uk/station/5009

Dave Martin

Meanwhile – back at Lock 4

These pictures were taken by Michael Cookson