It is not only the lock failures that cause us boaters problems (Another lock failure) and CaRT's protracted delays in getting anything done, but floods too, writes Karen Childs.
I am stuck by the flooded Trent waiting to get through Sawley as the river is well in flood, and as it is still raining it looks as though I will be here for a while yet, so it looks like getting a taxi to a supermarket as provisions are somewhat low.
Residents have to leave
Yesterday I had a walk around Sawley Marina and was, amazed (is the only word I can use) at the notice stating that should the flood get over the jetties then the resident will have to leave. Photo attached.
I discovered that there are about 100 resident boats at the marina, and one of the residents I was talking to showed me the gate that had been put in on higher ground so that the residents can 'escape' as she put it in their vehicles when having to leave.
Allowed to remain
She told me she had heard that in the 2000 floods when the water went well over the jetties no one was allowed on a boat in the marina, but since then the water had gone just a little over the jetties from time to time but British Waterways had allowed the few there then to paddle to their boats, but the new Canal & River Trust had brought in stricter ruling.
I forgot to ask where the residents, then without homes, were supposed to live after having to leave their boats.