Boater’s life still in limbo after sluice gate failure
ABOATER has said he’s still trying to piece life back together almost a month after a sluice gate failure sank his home near Bath.
On September 15 a sluice gate broke in Twerton causing 49 boats to get into difficulty, with a handful sinking completely.
One boater whose houseboat was pulled under was James Stuart-Wigley, below, who only had time to fling his two dogs and laptop to safety as the boat went down.
Since the disaster, James has been inside his former home and filmed the ‘disaster movie’-like scene. He has been staying in a hotel houseboat for the past two weeks after the initial two weeks in another hotel.
He has said that he is still in ‘limbo’ trying to get another boat and fearful of the winter approaching with no home.
Mr Stuart-Wigley lost almost everything when his home was engulfed by water.
The yoga instructor spent the first couple of nights in a friend’s camper van parked near to his boat as it sat underwater waiting to be rescued.
After several days, River Canal Rescue pulled a huge 18-hour shift to refloat all of the boats, but several including James’s are severely damaged.
Mr Stuart-Wigley said: “I am now waiting to confirm with the Environment Agency the final figure of compensation.
“Obviously I need enough money to buy another boat which could be a problem as the current compensation is a low figure.
“I’m concerned I won’t be able to replace what I’ve lost with it.
“I am worried about winter coming in and perhaps a lockdown with no home. I’ve managed to set up a weekly yoga class in Twerton Village Hall at 12.30 but that’s been about it in terms of work.”
The Environment Agency is responsible for the sluice gate which broke causing the problem back in September.
The agency has been sorting accommodation for the boaters unable to live on their boats and compensation for all involved in the incident.
Mr Stuart-Wigley has also said he wants answers and reassurances that the sluice gate issue has been fixed for good.
He said: “I think the issue of the failure of the equipment has not been addressed. This happened in 2019 too so how can they reassure us it isn’t going to happen again?
“I’m concerned about the gates failing again as happened before as risk of life is always a possibility too.”
A spokesperson for the Environment Agency said: “The Environment Agency and its partners continue to work with and support every boat owner affected during this incident.
“Whilst it would not be appropriate to talk about an individual’s compensation claim, we can assure you that we are working with all those affected to ensure they are compensated for any losses and disruption.
“The Environment Agency has accepted responsibility for this incident and is undertaking a full review of what happened.”