16th November 2007

Earlier this month several Green party members were phoned regarding fish dying through lack of oxygen and water at Ryeford.

John Marjoram who witnessed the fish dying contacted British Waterways and others concerned particularly by the fact that the sluice gate appeared not to have been maintained and that the problem could have been rectified much quicker.

British Waterways have responded saying: "This time of year is the busiest for British Waterways as we carry out the majority of our annual maintenance in the winter.  Because of that our response has not been as fast as I would have liked.  The operational canals must take priority nevertheless if at all possible we are hoping to bring the works at Ryeford forward. As you will no doubt know the sluices at Ryeford have finally succumbed to old age and neglect leading to a loss of the water supply to the Stroudwater Navigation. Having worked out how to access the sluices safely the necessary repairs to bring the sluices back into working order have been programmed to take place towards the end of November (provided river levels are sufficiently low). Work to clear weed on the canal was also programmed and all the necessary arrangements made for disposal but had to be put off once the water was lost."

"The loss of water in the pounds below Ryeford clearly demonstrates why it is so important to restore the canal.  Once a connection has been made back to Ebley there will be a reliable water supply and flow through the canal which will overcome the reliance on the Ryeford sluices and indeed the fluctuating levels in the Frome at that point.  A constant flow will also reduce or eliminate the current duck weed problem which itself is reducing oxygen levels. Loss of supply in the summer is a constant and regular problem which predates our taking on responsibility for the Navigation in April 2005."