Canal network reopens after summer drought closure

Marc Mewis said his marina business had been finally hurt by the canal closures

Canals which have been closed for several weeks due to low water levels have reopeoned.

Parts of the Grand Union Canal in Warwickshire, the North Oxford Canal, Coventry & Ashby canals and Napton/Marston Doles shut to boaters at the end of August with the Canal & River Trust saying it was needed to protect water resources and the canals infrastructure.

Marina workers and canal boat holiday firms were affected by the closures which came at one of the busiest times for the trades.

The trust said improving water levels and expected rainfall gave it confidence the current closures on the canals could be lifted.

Black Prince Holidays had been unable to let any of their holiday rental boats out since late August.

Marc Mewis, 39, manager at Wigrams Turn Marina at Napton on the Hill said: 'We got closed down on what would be our third biggest trading month of the season, financially we've been hurt."

He added he was looking forward to returning to normal and was hoping he would be able to honour his October bookings.

The trust said after the very dry period earlier this year it could now reopen sections of the canals that had been closed but it urged boaters to check its notice and stoppages pages on its website.