Nobody is bringing their boat through Abingdon Lock today.
The River Thames has flooded, swamping the fields and meadows on the opposite bank from Abingdon.
Somebody I know got a call to suggest they move their car from Abingdon Marina. It was standing in a couple of inches of water.
I am not sure whether moving it, at such a late stage of the floods, was a good idea. The road to Abingdon Marina was a lot deeper.
Boat owners, anxious about the safety of their craft, take extra measures to keep them safe.
Otherwise it can be disastrous.
I see the resident narrowboat menace is still overstaying his welcome
At least Abingdon still has its flood plain. A lot of trouble with flooding is that the flood plains have been built on. We still have to see what effect the proposed flood chanel around Oxford has on Abingdon.
Menace?
It was always going to happen and it won’t be the last time. Building anything on natural flood plains is sheer folly.
Why can’t we dredge the river for a proper job now we are no longer a member of the EU ?
Definition of menace
1 : a show of intention to inflict harm : THREAT
exploding in menaces and threats of vengeance
2a : one that represents a threat : DANGER
the intoxicated motorist is a menace to life and limb
b : an annoying person
her friends were beginning to find her a menace
There was never a ban on dredging, but I guess facts are not that important anymore.
While the European Commission has said that dredging is not banned by EU legislation, in effect member states are prohibited from undertaking dredging if it disturbs certain habitats which can then lead to a breach of the EU Water Framework Directive.