Eek... There goes Ian! Disappearing through the hedge!!

Wasn't planned, Ian going head first into the hedge, but a problem that had been brewing at the lock cottage for quite a while came to the forefront over the weekend. Water had been heard running under the floor by the out buildings and was assumed to be a burst pipe. C&RT had been informed and instead of coming to sort it our themselves, asked if the society would dig up the concrete and find the leak. Dennis (ECP&DA member) being a retired builder said he would chisel out the concrete and see if the leak could be found. Sure enough, as soon as he lifted the first peice of concrete, water was present. The pipe, though, remained hidden and with water filling the hole, trying to find it was almost impossible. Margaret tried in vain to bale out the ever filling hole and the only alternative was to turn off the main stop cock. This we knew to be on the canal bridge and fed all the properties in our area. Not a popular move, to turn the water off to all our neighbours!

Margaret fighting a losing battle!

Then Ian had a brain wave. Somewhere from the depths he remembered there was a stop cock on our property. Whether it would turn the water off just for the bungalow we had no idea so only one thing for it, find the stop cock, turn it off and see what happened. He had an inkling it was under the thick Laural hedge surrounding the front of the property and that was the first place to try. Finding a bit that was less dense at the bottom he felt around under the hedge and with a stroke of luck he came across the steel plate straight away. It lifted easily so in went his hand to turn off the tap only to discover it was deeper then anticipated and even with his whole arm down the tube it was almost beyond reach. He did manage to touch it with one finger but the only way to get to turn the tap off was dive into the hedge right up to his waist.

Having succeeded and turned the water off to our bungalow we had a sudden shout from Dennis. Water had stopped flowing from under the concrete! So now at least we know its only the bungalow that would be without water. C&RT was informed and urgent was mentioned a few times. Fully expecting C&RT to make haste to assess the situation, not one body has appeared to date. As we couldn't leave our tenant without water the tap was turned on again, and with water gushing in once more from under the concrete, the hole was covered and all we can do is hope they arrive tomorrow.