Wed 10 Jan 1923
Special Meeting
Thursday 4 January, about 5.30-5.45pm, long (motor) boat “Alfreda”, owner R T Ward, Captain S Gardiner, loaded with small coal and towing long boat “Dorothy”, similarly loaded, collided with bottom gates at Bristol Road Lock. Total destruction of gates. Clerk gave rough estimate of damage. Canal to be closed for at least six weeks.
Letters re stoppage from Mr J H Smart and Messrs Hooper. Clerk authorised to press on with making and fixing of new gates without delay and to obtain services of Mr A J Bradley, Superintendant of Severn Commission to inspect lock and assess damage. Notice of stoppage to all using canal.
Letter to owners of “Alfreda”. Company would hold him responsible for all damage suffered.
Replies to Mr Smart and Messrs Hooper repudiating liability for loss occasioned by stoppage of canal.
Notice to Gloucester & Berkeley Canal Co that lowering of water in pound below Bristol Road Lock might affect water taken from brook by this canal into G&B Canal at Junction. Engineer of G&B Canal intimated that if they had to construct a dam, this canal must repay cost. Clerk to write denying liability.
[1923 Jany] Committee Meeting held at Wallbridge on Wednesday the 10^th January 1923 @ 3.30 o'clock pm
Presnt; Jack Margeston, F A Little, W R Bloxam, Gd Evans, R J C Little.
The Clerk reported that on Thursday the 4^th January about 5.30-5.45 p.m. the long (Motor) boat "Alfreda" owner R T Ward, Captain S Gardiner, loaded with small coal and towing the long boat "Dorothy" similarly loaded, had collided with the bottom gates at the Bristol Road Lock, causing the total destruction of the gates.
The Clerk gave a rough estimate of the expense of repairing the damage caused, and stated that the Canal would have to be closed for traffic for at least six weeks, of which he had given notice to the Board of Trade.
Letters were read from M^r J H Smart and Messrs Hooper as to the stoppage.
After discussion the Clerk was authorised to press on the making and fixing of the new gates without delay, and to try to obtain the services of M^r A J Bradley the Superintendent of the Severn Commissioners to attend and inspect the lock and assess the damage.
It was decided that notice of the stoppage should be given to all using the Canal, and that a letter should be written to the owner of the "Alfreda" informing him that the Company would hold him responsible for all damage suffered as a consequence of the accident, and that replies should be sent to M^r Smart and Messrs Hooper repudiating any liability for loss occasioned by the stoppage of the canal, and M^r Bloxam should settle the letter.
The Clerk reported that he had given notice to the Gloucester and Berkeley Canal as the lowering of the water in the pound below the Bristol Road Lock might affect the water now taken from the brook by means of this Canal into the Gloucester and Berkeley Canal at the Junction, and that the Engineer of the Gloucester & Berkeley Canal has intimated that if they had to construct a dam for this purpose they would look to this Canal to repay the cost. It was decided that the Clerk should write denying liability -- Mr Bloxam to settle the letter, and to advise the Clerk on any question arising.
