Another of the amazing people keeping me up to date on the breach in Little Bloxwich has messaged me with the news CRT have deployed a 6″ pump at the site to traverse water from West to East across the dry section. Bearing in mind the lack of flow from Chasewater at the moment this seems only sensible in an effort to refloat the stranded boaters on the Pelsall side where the level is still 4-6″ below what it should be.
As you can see from the images the west or south side depending how you measure it, of the dams heading towards Wolverhampton is about 2″ down at the dam site although a report from Smethwick locks has that at only about an inch down. Someone with a better understanding of hydrodynamics will be able to explain that Im sure.
A boat owner who had a walk up to CW this afternoon confirmed that there is still no flow at the moment coming out of Chasewater.
I have enquiries in with Staffs council and CRT at the moment to hear whats happening at Chasewater but bringing in the pumps would suggest its going to be a few days before Staffs are happy to release any decent amount of water back into the canal.
**Update**
From CRT I have heard there is a problem with the valve at Chasewater and the council are effecting repairs, according to CRT there is no timetable for the work to take place which is the reason for the pump being brought in to the breach site. CRT say that Staffs council will be calling in divers to check on the valve rods and decide if they need to be replaced with stronger versions. It is unclear at the moment if this is a new problem with the valve or the same one that caused a disagreement between CRT and Staffs council only a few months ago.
CRT also inform me that they became aware of the water loss as the level subsided following the recent heavy rain and then carried on past normal levels but as it was not a breach in the traditional sense the only way to find its location was by walking the lengths and physically checking every sluice, valve and manhole on the stretch which is why it took 2 days to discover the source.
Once discovered they quickly isolated the leaking section with the coffer dams as we have seen, the culvert is a Severn Trent asset and according to the latest stoppage notice from CRT, “Severn Trent have accepted ownership of the culvert and are undertaking repair works. Whilst the towpath remains open, banksman will manage users through the works as and when necessary.”
Teeces Bridge (Stoney Lane Little Bloxwich) Wyrley & Essington Canal
Further to the below notice, Severn Trent have accepted ownership of the culvert and are undertaking repair works.
Whilst the towpath remains open, banksman will manage users through the works as and when necessary.
A culvert that runs below the canal has collapsed and the level of the canal is continuing to drop so we need to isolate the section with the leak to protect the remainder of the canal.
Please note the Northern and Southern Sections of the canal are all open and can be accessed via the Tame Valley and Rushall Canals or either the Walsall canal or Wolverhampton Main line.
Location:
The Canalorak 