When we (I) took the decision to move moorings one consideration was how much busier Fradley Junction had become.
It had become busier in two facets.
1. People (Gongoozlers)
2. Boats
The first I've explained by the growth in leisure facilities at the Junction The two cafe, the pub and no doubt the seemingly enlarging caravan site - who was planning to get tourers in I understand.
The second more about boats mooring opposite - 14 days. In the majority of time the boats opposite were an exception rather than the rule and mainly in school holidays. The last year or so they were there more and more and stayed for the full 14 days. Not a big issue as in the main they were respectful.
Now we have moved from one cruising ring (Leicester ring) to another (Four counties ring). So we can expect boats to be passing as they do the ring but only one way in the main depending if they are doing the ring clockwise or anticlockwise. It's the numbers I'm interested in to see if we have moved to a busier boat passing section of the canal or not.
Luckily C&RT produce annual statistics for lock use across the system. Some locks have recorders on them to sense filling and emptying locks. the nearest record on our 'old ring' is Wyncnor lock and on our new mooring Wheaton Aston lock.
The scores are in and in 2017
In 2017 there were the following lock movements
Lock 11, Wychnor 5950
Wheaton Aston Lock 5486
So thats nearly 8% less busy where we are now than before. however there is one big influence on these figures - the breach on the Middlewich branch that in effect closed the four counties cruising route - a very popular route for hirers and privateers. We have done this three times I think, but never in Percy (yet)
It is opening again later this month - well done C&RT so it will be interesting to see what the 2019 boat movements will be !!
In fact I have revisited the 2015 statistics - before the breach
Lock 11, Wychnor 6606
Wheaton Aston Lock 5950
That is nearly 10% less busy when both rings were operating.
So regardless it seems we have moved to a less busy canal and I would not have expected that !!
I am guessing the two large marinas at Baron Turns and Mercia pump out a lot of boats during the summer which accounts for these figures.
Intersting !
2 comments:
The feeling from people I have spoken to in Audlem is that it has been much quieter this year. However those that come have to pass up and down rather than the more general one way when the Middlewich is open.
I’m sure there must be a lot of people that didn’t come to the Llangollen due to the extra time required, who might be planning to come in 2019.
Hi Steve, thanks for the comment. i think I agree many will have gone elsewhere due to the breach and will now no doubt rediscover the ring and the Middlewich branch approach to the llangollen. It'll be interesting to see the figures when they are produced.
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