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HERE in East Anglia the drought goes on, it being reported that the rivers, ground water and reservoirs in the area are at the lowest level since 1921, writes Kelvin Alexander-Duggan.
The Middle Level being the sump of the whole area, the water levels however are about normal for this time of year. Normally the Welney to Littleport road across Washes would be under 6ft of water, but the road is still open and people are still driving across.
On Candlemas day (2nd February) it was clear and bright, which according to folklore means the 'Winter is going to have another bite'. In this case I would say 'finally take a bite' as the temperature drops well below freezing, and it is expected that Cambridgeshire will get up to six inches of snow this weekend.
The water companies would prefer six inches of rain!
Nene News
At the mooring by Thrapston Bridge on the Nene, the water level is over 2ft lower than the normal summer levels, in effect making the mooring unusable.
This may have something to do with Anglian Water who have been pumping water out of the river up into the reservoir at Graffam to prevent it from drying up. If you are attempting to navigate along the Nene, take care; it is getting shallow in many places up stream.
Cam News
Yet another body has been pulled out of the Cam by the Fort St George pub in Cambridge at just before 8.00 am on Sunday 29th January. Police believed the body to have been in the water for several days. The post mortem had found the victim had died of drowning. The Police are not treating the death as suspicious.
The planned introduction of very pricey visitor licences has not gone down well with boat owners that are not based on the Cam, with many stating that they will cross Cambridge off the list of places to cruise to.
Many boaters who have cruised to Cambridge before, could not find anywhere to moor and had to turn back down-stream. This is annoying, more so from April, if you just paid a large sum to use the Cam in the first place.
Middle Level
Unlike British Waterways which is busy selling off all its tools and equipment at rock bottom prices in a fire sale before it becomes Canal & River Trust, and then relying on using hire tools, the Middle Level Commissioners prefer to own their tools and know that in an emergency the tools are to hand. Rather than need to have reliance on using tools from a hire shop.
For example after a windy night up on the canals, trees blow down, blocking the cut. The tools required are not available from the hire company as it's all out on hire. It could easily be a week before the tools are available.
Visitors to March, will be happy to know that a second laundry has opened in Station Road about a third of a mile North of the riverside moorings. (£3 wash £1 Dryer).
Meanwhile enquires at the Post Office inside Tesco's in the town square have confirmed that 'poste restante' service is no longer available at this branch.
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