Frustration as towpath turns ‘ugly’
A stretch of canal towpath in Bath is being blighted with items being left in the way, a bonfire and reports of people urinating nearby, according to a resident. The resident, who wished to remain anonymous, said fire crews had to be called to extinguish a bonfire in the area and litter was cleaned up by the trust this week. They also say two boats have been moored on the Kennet and Avon Canal at Top Lock in the city since early December – breaking the Canal & River Trust’s 48-hour maximum stay rule. One of the boats sunk and remains nearly fully submerged after more than a week. He said he has seen people drinking and burning items. He said: “They were drinking alcohol on the towpath, they put a big bonfire in the middle of the towpath, which meant people couldn’t walk past. “The fire brigade had to be called to put it out. “There were bits of broken glass from what they were burning so dogs potentially could cut their feet on it. “We’ve seen them urinating.” “The Canal & River Trust have said ‘we can deal with the boats but it’s going to take potentially up to six months before we can get them moved from the non-mooring zone.’ “The sunk boat is still in the canal. It’s been there for over a week now. “I think the police are thoroughly frustrated and [so is the] Canal & River Trust. “I think they’re doing their best ... but because of the location, it kind of feels between jurisdictions and no one can tackle it in the way it should be. “If it was a car parked illegally for two months on a main road, it would probably get towed away I would imagine, whereas a boat can take up to six months.” Top Lock is between Widcombe and Bathwick and can be reached via a path from Pulteney Road. It is near the historic lock keeper’s cottage. The resident added: “It’s pretty ugly. It’s health and safety. Kids ride bicycles. There’s been food left so it was attracting rats. “We’ve got lots of birds, swans and fish. It’s just not being handled at all well I don’t think. “It’s just not right. It’s an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and it’s on the Bath Skyline walk. “Visitors walking past, what image are they going to get of Bath?” The Canal & River Trust is a charity which promotes the 2,000 miles of waterways. A spokesman said: “The canal in Bath is a beautiful place and it’s sad that not everyone treats it with the respect it deserves. “We’ve cleared up the towpath and we’d encourage anyone witnessing any antisocial behaviour to report it to the police.”