Or the hole in the cut, roving reporters inform me that the surveyors have been in to the breach site over the weekend to assess the damage and locate the site of the breach exactly, according to my on the spot witness the actual breach is alongside the piece of barrier seen in the images below.
As a consequence of the Chasewater feed being turned off due to damaged paddle gear CRT brought in a hydraulic pump, the 6″ pipe obviously wasn’t cutting the mustard so an extra line was brought in this time an 8″ one to really shift some water. They’ve certainly done that with the level on the Eastern/Northern side of the breach being within 30mm of the head of the dam wall, what this means with regards to normal water level I haven’t heard back from boating contacts yet but it seems obvious they cant add much more to the level without threatening the safety of the working area. Whether this is an error or miscalculation its not clear but if boaters are still reporting problems its going to be a bit of a problem until the works are completed.
No word still on timescales or even the extent of the works but this was never going to be a quick fix even though its a much smaller scale than other recent breaches, at best it will be some repointing but that is highly unlikely, far more likely is the replacement of the culvert with an RCP (Reinforced Concrete Pipe) which may mean complete excavation of the track and maybe the canal walls unless they can drive one through somehow.
**Monday update**
Springy has been in touch to let me know they are now floating at the Grove, this is great news for them and also for the Northern section as it is now once again receiving water from Chasewater, in fact the level is now at a point that they are pumping water the other way into the Walsall side of the breach. This will help keep the level below the top of the dam as I mentioned earlier, and relieve a little bit of pressure off the Bradley pumps. Springy sent in the following images
As you can see plenty of fresh running in from CW and the big pump is throwing it over to the Walsall side, hope they have some good screening on those pumps they’re drawing the rubbish towards them.
Springy also confirmed that work has started with the delivery of materials to the site, I dont think they are planning to repair it with that plastic sheet and 15 tonne of hardcore but if the Minworth flight is anything to go by we cant rule it out.
Seriously though the breach is to the side of the delivered materials so it is either the beginnings of a ramp to get plant onto the canal bed or to be spread out to give the plant and workers a more stable footing while the works are under way.
Huge thanks to everyone for the photos and information.
If you have any further information please feel free to comment or drop me a mail via the blog.
The Canalorak 
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