Pete wrote: > I am not aware of this system - it is certainly not common round > here. > > Fixed on-land bollards and rings are the only common facilities > provided by BW that I have seen. > > Do you have any illustrations or photos of examples of this > provision? > > I am sure they would not just be there for decoration in answer to > your question.
I'm afraid I don't have any photos as I've never considered them remarkable enough to warrant a photo. I have seen them in various locations around the system though (more in the Midlands perhaps?). I wouldn't describe them as common but, nevertheless, they are clearly fitted by BW. They are a relatively small ring (in fact small enough to be easily missed). From memory I would think that they are about 4 ins in diameter (and about 8mm dia bar forms the ring) and attached loosely to the top of a U shaped bracket that fits (inverted) over the top edge of the pile sheet and under the linking, reinforcing- bar, moulding at the place where the bolts secure the two together. Thus they are bolted at the only point where there is an existing bolt to fix them. From memory I don't think that they are at places where the tie bar goes back into the towpath and on through the anchor pile. They clearly can only be fitted by BW as they are a unique design and appear at various locations around the system so cannot, in all honesty, be a local fix for a local problem or a private solution to a localised problem. Perhaps they are a cheap solution to a mooring problem for out in the sticks where the cost of a concreted-in bollard or ring cannot be justified. Anyone else able to shed any light or confirm my observations? Roger
