Oil in the Regent’s Canal

BOATS have come to a standstill along Regent’s Canal as huge stretches were closed this week after two major incidents.

City Road Lock has been out of action since Friday, when a wide-beam boat rammed into it.

The Tribune understands that the accident took place after a boater tried to force the lock open with their boat and got stuck.

Ian Shacklock, chair of the Friends of Regent’s Canal, said: “It’s pretty tragic that someone who has not been properly trained has managed to put the whole network out of action.”

He added: “Too many people think that it’s just a water feature, but the bottom line is that the canal is a major transport system.”

Meanwhile, an oil spill caused by a fire has closed a two-mile stretch between Camden Lock and Paddington.

A Canal & River Trust spokesperson said: “A boat struck City Road Lock last Friday causing damage which forced its closure. Colleagues were on site quickly to assess the damage and contractors are urgently fabricating metalwork for a repair scheduled for Tuesday May 6.

They added: “The stoppage is particularly challenging because of the number of vessels currently en route to IWA Canalway Cavalcade festival at Little Venice as well as at least 30 boats planning to move on Monday to join the Fund Britain’s Waterways cruise to Parliament.

“Our team has been able to arrange assisted passage through the damaged lock for a limited period each day until the repair is completed, with boats being manually pulled through by operatives and volunteers with engines off.”