BOATERS ARE STUCK at the closed Foxton Locks due to low water levels.
They tell the BBC, that is more and more publishing about the state of the waterways, that they fear it could be months before the site reopens, Janet Friend reports.
Also closed
There are those at the top of the locks wanting to get onto the Leicester Section of the Grand Union Canal, which is also closed into Leicester.
Then those at the bottom wanting to get onto the long summit pound either to get to the marinas there or at least have a short cruise.
One boater complained he and his partner were short of food and cans of beer but making the best of it.
At least they are stuck within a short taxi ride into Market Harborough that is a good shopping town with supermarkets, and not somewhere miles away in the sticks, as many other boaters are.
Few customers
The pub and café at the bottom of the locks is feeling the difference with now few customers, as is the Union Wharf at the bottom of the locks that hires out narrowboats, but has moved some boats to the top of the locks where they can cruise the top pound, but with Watford Flight also closed are unable to go further.
Not only are there no moving boats at the flight, but this is making the site less of an attraction to visitors, many knowing of the situation.
The trust states it is making the best of the situation to bring forward planned repairs at Foxton which will make the locks more resilient (preventing leaks) and minimise disruption to boaters later in the year.
Sileby Lock 49 on the Leicester Section had been repaired, the navigation now being reopened last Friday, the trust told, but boaters are unable to use it as the whole waterways is closed!