'Very real risk' canal closure could be extended

The canal is currently closed in Banbury

There is a "very real risk" that the ongoing closure of part of the canal network will continue, the Canal and River Trust has said.

The Oxford Canal between Claydon and Aynho is currently shut because dry weather has left the reservoirs that supply that stretch of canal in a "parlous state".

Alex Paterson, from the trust, said the closure would be reviewed on 30th September, but added: "That doesn't mean the canal will open."

It comes as businesses along the canal have raised concerns over the impact of the closure, including the Red Lion pub in Cropredy which said it had been forced to "make cut backs".

Denise Longmore, the pub's landlady, said the pub had been forced to stop serving food due to a lack of commerce.

"[In the past] We've had to turn away people because we haven't got the room, and we've gone from that to absolutely nothing," she said.

"We can no longer employ chefs, we're no longer employing waiting staff - this is unprecedented."

The Red Lion pub in Cropredy said it had been forced to "make cuts"

Explaining the ongoing closure, Alex Paterson, from the Canal and River Trust, said: "Closing a canal is really a last resort for us, so we have tried to put off the evil hour all through the summer in the hope that the rain would come, and it didn't."

"Unlike other canals in our network, which perhaps are fed by rivers, the Oxford Canal very much relies on the supply from its reservoirs."

He said the "key reservoir" serving the closed stretch of canal currently had a water level "less than 25% of its capacity", and that the "only way" to stop levels dropping further was to "prevent boat movement through locks".

Mr Paterson said there was a "very real risk" that the closure would continue past the end of September.

"In this particular situation, money isn't really the issue - we can't buy sustained rainfall, and that's what we need. Money cant buy what we need right now," he added.

Tooley's Boatyard said it had lost 80% of its business since the closure

Matt Armitage, who runs Tooley's Boatyard, has previously warned that the historic drydock in Banbury may be forced to shut after losing 80% of its business during the canal closure.

Mr Armitage is also director of the annual Banbury Canal Festival, which he warned would also be "impacted" by the closure.

He said he was "very concerned" the canal would not reopen in time for the festival.

The festival is due to take place on 4 and 5 October but Mr Armitage said: "With the canal closing, boats can't get to us so we're going to be quite reduced."

"We've previously had 18 trading boats and about 10 historical boats who would be coming, now we're hoping to get one or two trading boats if possible," he said.