Asset and Infrastructure Failures

Allan Richards made this Freedom of Information request to Canal & River Trust This request has been closed to new correspondence. Contact us if you think it should be reopened.

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The request was successful.

Dear Canal & River Trust,

For each of these eight closures please provide the following information -

1. The place.

2. A short description of the failure.

3. The number of days of navigational closure.

4. The number of days of any towpath closure.

5. The total cost of repair (including any ancillary costs such as craning boats around the stoppage).

6. Any report that contains data as to the cause of the failure.

7. The latest inspection report together with any ealier reports referred to by the latest.

Can you also provide similar information with regard to this financial year to date. In the case of works as yet uncompleted please provide estimates for 3,4 and 5.

Yours faithfully,

Allan Richards

Dear Mr Richards,

Thank you for your e-mail and request for information which we received on Wednesday 6th November.

We are reviewing our files to identify information relevant to your request and will respond to you as soon as possible or in any case within twenty working days of receipt of your request.

Kind regards,

Sarina Young
Customer Service Co-Ordinator
Canal & River Trust | The Kiln | Mather Road | Newark | NG24 1FB | Tel 01636 675 740 | [mobile number]
Follow my Blogs and the Canal & River Trust’s Customer Service team on Twitter
Please visit our website to find out more about the Canal & River Trust and download our ‘Shaping our Future’ document on the About Us page.

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Dear Mr Richards,

We have considered your two separate requests for the following information:

1. Grade D&E Assets

I note that the KPMG report dated 28th May 2012 (page 27) states -
British Waterways does not have a detailed asset register for non-principal assets, therefore the condition of these assets is not measured.
The condition grades of some principal assets have been reassessed by the Head of Asset Management over the past few years. This has partially contributed to the improving picture of the principal asset base.
Please provide the following information.
1. By kilometre, the length of CaRT assets that are principal assets and non-principal assets.
2. For each principal asset please state if a reassessment has been carried out.
2.a. For those assets for which a reassessment has been carried out, please provide any documentation supporting the reassessment.

2. Asset and Infrastructure Failures

I note from the publication data in your first annual report that in the first nine months of the Trust it suffered no less than eight asset/infrastructure failures leading to unscheduled closures of 375 days.
For each of these eight closures please provide the following information -
1. The place.
2. A short description of the failure.
3. The number of days of navigational closure.
4. The number of days of any towpath closure.
5. The total cost of repair (including any ancillary costs such as craning boats around the stoppage).
6. Any report that contains data as to the cause of the failure.
7. The latest inspection report together with any earlier reports referred to by the latest.
Can you also provide similar information with regard to this financial year to date. In the case of works as yet uncompleted please provide estimates for 3,4 and 5.

However, as currently framed, these requests are manifestly unreasonable and compliance will exceed the appropriate limit. However, if you would like to narrow your requests and be more specific, we are likely to be able to provide you with information in a more user friendly format.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Kind regards,

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Dear Canal & River Trust,

I am uncertain what you mean by 'manifestly unreasonable' and am unable to find where this is defined in FOIA, EIR or the guidance thereon.

What I would suggest is unreasonable is waiting over three weeks before informing me that the request will exceed the appropriate limit but not saying why.

However, to progress this request,I shall assume that it is the first half of my request that is the problem (Grade D&E Assets)and withdraw it.

I also assume the information requested under 'Asset & Infrastructure failure' is readily available and can be provided within the specified limit and within 20 man days.

If this is not the case, them please contact me immediately such that the request can be modified again.

Yours sincerely,

Allan Richards

Dear Canal & River Trust,

Whilst I take a rather dim view of CaRT bundling two requests together and then claiming that they exceed the limit, I trust that the action I have taken in withdrawing one of the requests ensures that the other is responded to fully within 20 days.

Yours sincerely,

Allan Richards

Dear Canal & River Trust,

Yours sincerely,

Allan Richards

Dear Canal & River Trust,

I refer to my request,full details of which can be found at -
https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/a...

By law you are required to respond promptly and in any case within 20 days.

Yours sincerely,

Allan Richards

Dear Mr Richards,

Firstly, I would like to apologise for the delay replying to your correspondence relating to your request for information about "Asset and Infrastructure Failures". It is entirely my fault, I had intended to send this e-mail to you before the Christmas break but failed to do this and subsequently forgot. I'm sorry.

Secondly, thank you for confirming that you have withdrawn your request for information relating to our Grade D&E assets.

When I wrote to you on 28th November and asked you to narrow the scope of your request that was not because we believed that the two requests combined (or 'aggregated') would exceed the prescribed time limit under the act, it was because we believed that each of your requests alone would exceed the prescribed time limit. You are aware that where the cost of locating, retrieving and extracting this information will far exceed the appropriate limit provided for under the Freedom of Information and Data Protection (Appropriate Limit and Fees) Regulations 2004 we are relieved of our obligation to comply with the request (s.12(1) Freedom of Information Act 2000).

However, as I outlined in my e-mail of 28th November, we do believe that we would be able to provide you with more useful information if you were to reduce the scope of this request. Potentially you could do this by reducing the number of closures about which you would like to receive the information requested in bullets 1-7, you could reduce the scope of information you would like to receive about these closures (i.e. remove some of the bullet pointed information requested), you could apply the suggestions above to the final part of your request for "similar information with regard to this financial year to date" or you could apply a combination of these suggestions.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Kind regards,

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Dear Canal and River Trust,

I refer you to my request dated 6 November 2013, full details of which can be found at -

https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/a...

Instead of providing the information requested within 20 working days, you combined this request with an unrelated one claiming some three weeks after the request was made that the combined request was 'manifestly unreasonable and compliance will exceed the appropriate limit'.

(I have subsequently found that the term 'manifestly unreasonable' relates to EIR. I have also found that EIR sets no limit regarding cost.)

In responding to you I offered to withdraw the unrelated request and wrote -

****************************
I also assume the information requested under 'Asset &
Infrastructure failure' is readily available and can be provided within the specified limit and within 20 man days.

If this is not the case, them please contact me immediately such that the request can be modified again.
****************************
You did not contact me!

I also contacted you on 6 December 2013 to remind you that you should have responded within 20 days of the request.

Again, you did not contact me!

Now, more than three months after my request was made and some two months after you should have provided the information you are asking me to reduce the scope of it.

As previously stated, I believe the information requested is readily available. As such it can be provided a minimal cost.

If this is not the case please provide me the information requested in chronological order (of failure) showing the costs involved in providing each of the seven 'bullet points'.

Please provide this information up to the amount you consider 'manifestly unreasonable'.

Yours sincerely,

Allan Richards

Dear Canal and River Trust,

I refer to my request for information concerning your asset and infrastructure failures, full details of which can be found at -

https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/a...

This request was made on 6 November 2013 but to date you have not provided any of the information requested.

Please provide the information within the next two working days.

Please also carry out a review to determine why it has taken more than 20 working days to provide the information requested.

Yours sincerely,

Allan Richards

Dear Mr Richards,

I'm writing to let you know that we are still reviewing your request for information under the Environmental Information Regulations. We hope to be in a position to respond to you properly within the next couple of days.

Kind regards,

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Dear Canal and River Trust,

Thank you for confirming on 5/3/2014 that you intend to respond to me properly within the next few days regarding an information request made some four months earlier on 6/11/2014.

Full details of this information request can be found at - https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/a...

I understand from your latest communication that you no longer consider the request manifestly unreasonable and will provide the information under EIR.

Regards

Allan Richards

Dear Canal and River Trust,

I refer to a request for information 'Asset and Infrastructure Failure'.

Full details of this can be found at - https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/a...

This request was made on 6 November 2013. Some four months later you have told me -

"We hope to be in a position to respond to you properly within the next couple of days".

A week after telling me this, you still have not provided the information requested.

Yours sincerely,

Allan Richards

Dear Canal and River Trust,

I refer to a request for information 'Asset and Infrastructure Failure'.

Full details of this can be found at -
https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/a...

This request was made on 6 November 2013. Some four months later you told me -

"We hope to be in a position to respond to you properly within the next couple of days".

Two weeks after telling me this, you still have not provided the information requested.

.... this despite a reminder that you had no responded a week ago.

Yours sincerely,

Allan Richards

Dear Canal and River Trust,

I refer to a request for information 'Asset and Infrastructure Failure'.

Full details of this can be found at -
https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/a...

This request was made on 6 November 2013. Some four months later you told me -

"We hope to be in a position to respond to you properly within the
next couple of days".

Three weeks after telling me this, you still have not provided the information requested.

.... this despite a reminder that you had not responded a week ago and a further reminder two weeks ago.

Yours sincerely,

Allan Richards

Dear Canal and River Trust,

I refer to a request for information 'Asset and Infrastructure Failure'.

Full details of this can be found at -
https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/a...

This request was made on 6 November 2013. Some four months later you told me -

"We hope to be in a position to respond to you properly within the next couple of days".

Four weeks after telling me this, you still have not provided the information requested.

.... this despite reminders one two and three weeks ago.

Yours sincerely,

Allan Richards

Towpath Closures 2 July to 31 March.pdf

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GA 005 001 Lock 12 PI Jan 07 249224.pdf

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5005 UA005938 UP31R 01 Aylesbury Lock 12 report.pdf

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TM 004 011 R Garden Wood Emb Report.pdf

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1 of 2

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Dear Canal and River Trust,

I refer to a request for information 'Asset and Infrastructure Failure'.

Full details of this can be found at -
https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/a...

This request was made on 6 November 2013, over five months ago. Some four months after making the request, you told me -

"We hope to be in a position to respond to you properly within the next couple of days".

Despite providing four documents on 9/4/2014 you have failed, as yet, to respond properly.

I also asked you to carry out a review on 25/2/2014 which you have failed to do.

Yours sincerely,

Allan Richards

Allan Richards left an annotation (28 April 2014)

It is now some five months since this request was made.

A complaint has been made to the Information Commissioner that CaRT has failed to respond promptly (i.e. within 20 days) and that they have also failed to carry out a review to determine the cause of failure to respond.

The Information Commissioner has given CaRT 10 working days to respond.

Dear Canal and River Trust,

I refer to my request made on 6th November 2013, full details of which can be found at -

https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/a...

This request was made some six months ago and is now the subject of a complaint made to the Information Commissioner

For the avoidance of doubt I reproduce the request -

*********************************************
Dear Canal & River Trust,

For each of these eight closures please provide the following information -

1. The place.

2. A short description of the failure.

3. The number of days of navigational closure.

4. The number of days of any towpath closure.

5. The total cost of repair (including any ancillary costs such as craning boats around the stoppage).

6. Any report that contains data as to the cause of the failure.

7. The latest inspection report together with any earlier reports referred to by the latest.

Can you also provide similar information with regard to this financial year to date. In the case of works as yet uncompleted please provide estimates for 3,4 and 5.

Yours faithfully,

Allan Richards
*****************************************************

You will note that, for each of the eight failures in 2012/13, I have asked for you to provide me with seven items of information. I also asked you to provide 'similar information with regard to this financial year to date'.

I confirm that I am happy for you to treat 'this financial year to date' as either the date the request was made (6th November 2013) or the complete financial year 2013/14 provided the information is made within the timescale set by ICO.

May I ask that rather than provide seemingly random items of information that you respond to the request in full and inthe manner and order that it was formulated.

That is for each failure -

Response to - 1. The place.

Response to - 2. A short description of the failure.

Response to - 3. The number of days of navigational closure.

Response to - 4. The number of days of any towpath closure.

Response to - 5. The total cost of repair (including any ancillary costs such as craning boats around the stoppage).

Response to - 6. Any report that contains data as to the cause of the failure (i.e. links to requested reports)

Response to - 7. The latest inspection report together with any earlier reports referred to by the latest (i.e. links to requested reports).

Regards

Allan Richards

Dear Canal and River Trust,

Further to my recent communication and for the avoidance of doubt, I refer you to -

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/sy...

You are required by July 1st each year to provide 'publication data'. Section 3 of Schedule 5 of the above document states -

3. Data relating to towpaths:
3.1 the number of towpath visitors (based on annual survey data);
3.2 the number and duration of unplanned closures; and
3.3 the actual outcome (expressed as a headline percentage figure) of the
applicable measurement for the Towpath Condition Relevant Standard.

I am requesting information additional to that which you have and will publish under 3.2.

Yours sincerely,

Allan Richards

Dear Canal and River Trust,

I am informed by the Information Commissioner that you have been given till today to respond to this request which has been outstanding for some six months.

The request was as follows:-

***************************************************

Dear Canal & River Trust,

For each of these eight closures please provide the following information -

1. The place.

2. A short description of the failure.

3. The number of days of navigational closure.

4. The number of days of any towpath closure.

5. The total cost of repair (including any ancillary costs such as craning boats around the stoppage).

6. Any report that contains data as to the cause of the failure.

7. The latest inspection report together with any earlier reports referred to by the latest.

Can you also provide similar information with regard to this financial year to date. In the case of works as yet uncompleted please provide estimates for 3,4 and 5.

Yours faithfully,

Allan Richards

************************************************

You have requested an extension of the Information Commissioners deadline and I am happy to agree to this this on the understanding that by the 23rd May you provide a full response to my request in the format it was made.

That is for each failure -

Response to - 1. The place.

Response to - 2. A short description of the failure.

Response to - 3. The number of days of navigational closure.

Response to - 4. The number of days of any towpath closure.

Response to - 5. The total cost of repair (including any ancillary costs such as craning boats around the stoppage).

Response to - 6. Any report that contains data as to the cause of the failure (i.e. links to requested reports)

Response to - 7. The latest inspection report together with any earlier reports referred to by the latest (i.e. links to requested reports).

Despite your assertion, I believe you have not fully responded on 1-7 regarding the eight failures the Trust suffered in its first nine months.

As such, my agreement to an extension (without a further complaint) is on the understanding that that you provide a response for all the information I have requested in the above format.

Yours sincerely,

Allan Richards

Thank you for your e-mail.

I am out of the office with limited access to my e-mails on Tuesday 13th,
Wednesday 14th and Thursday 15th May but will do my best to get back to
you promptly.

I am then on holiday from Monday 19th May, returning on Monday 2nd June.
I'll do my best to respond to you promptly after I return.

Alternatively, urgent enquiries can be made to our customer service team
at [email address] or by telephone to 0303 040 4040.

Any requests for information can be sent to [email address]

Kind regards,

Sarina Young

Customer Service Co-Ordinator
Canal & River Trust

══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════

The Canal & River Trust is a new charity entrusted with the care of 2,000
miles of waterways in England and Wales. Get involved, join us - Visit /
Donate / Volunteer at www.canalrivertrust.org.uk

Canal & River Trust is a charitable company limited by guarantee
registered in England & Wales with company number 7807276 and charity
number 1146792. Registered office address First Floor North, Station
House, 500 Elder Gate, Milton Keynes MK9 1BB.

Elusen newydd yw Glandŵr Cymru sy’n gofalu am 2,000 o filltiroedd o
ddyfrffyrdd yng Nghymru a Lloegr. Cymerwch ran, ymunwch â ni - Ewch i
Rhoddion a Gwirfoddoli yn www.glandwrcymru.org.uk

Mae Glandŵr Cymru yn gwmni cyfyngedig drwy warant a gofrestrwyd yng
Nghymru a Lloegr gyda rhif cwmni 7807276 a rhif elusen gofrestredig
1146792. Swyddfa gofrestredig: First Floor North, Station House, 500 Elder
Gate, Milton Keynes MK9 1BB.

Response to Mr Richards 15 May 14.pdf

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2013 09 28 to 2014 04 29.csv.txt

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(e-mail 1 of 9)

Dear Mr Richards,

Please find attached our response to your e-mails of 11th, 12th and 13th May. I also attach an updated version of the stoppage notice spreadsheet originally attached to my e-mail of 9th May referred to in paragraph 7.3 of the attached response.

The other attachments referred to within section five of the response. will be sent under separate cover, one e-mail for each of the eight sites.

Kindest regards,

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Ashted P I Report 18 October 2006.doc

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WZ 001 019 Ashted Tunnel PI Report 16 11 11.doc

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(e-mail 7 of 9)

Please find attached a copy of the two reports relating to Ashted Tunnel.

Sarina Young
Customer Service Co-Ordinator

Follow my [1]Blogs and the Canal & River Trust’s [2]Customer Service team
on Twitter

Please visit our [3]website to find out more about the Canal & River Trust
and download our ‘Shaping our Future’ document on the About Us page.

The Canal & River Trust is a new charity entrusted with the care of 2,000
miles of waterways in England and Wales. Get involved, join us - Visit /
Donate / Volunteer at www.canalrivertrust.org.uk

Elusen newydd yw Glandŵr Cymru sy’n gofalu am 2,000 o filltiroedd o
ddyfrffyrdd yng Nghymru a Lloegr. Cymerwch ran, ymunwch â ni - Ewch i
Rhoddion a Gwirfoddoli yn www.glandwrcymru.org.uk

References

Visible links
1. http://canalrivertrust.org.uk/news-and-v...
2. http://twitter.com/CRTContactUs
3. http://www.canalrivertrust.org.uk/

2011 Principal Inspection.docx

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GU Rowington Shrewley Cutting Cause Memo Mar 13.pdf

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2001 Principal Inspection.pdf

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(e-mail 8 of 9)

Please find attached copies of the three reports relating to Bridges 62
and 63.

Sarina Young
Customer Service Co-Ordinator

Follow my [1]Blogs and the Canal & River Trust’s [2]Customer Service team
on Twitter

Please visit our [3]website to find out more about the Canal & River Trust
and download our ‘Shaping our Future’ document on the About Us page.

The Canal & River Trust is a new charity entrusted with the care of 2,000
miles of waterways in England and Wales. Get involved, join us - Visit /
Donate / Volunteer at www.canalrivertrust.org.uk

Elusen newydd yw Glandŵr Cymru sy’n gofalu am 2,000 o filltiroedd o
ddyfrffyrdd yng Nghymru a Lloegr. Cymerwch ran, ymunwch â ni - Ewch i
Rhoddion a Gwirfoddoli yn www.glandwrcymru.org.uk

References

Visible links
1. http://canalrivertrust.org.uk/news-and-v...
2. http://twitter.com/CRTContactUs
3. http://www.canalrivertrust.org.uk/

RD 001 010 L Emb 2 Hollins Mill Lane.pdf

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RD 001 010 L.espi.01.pdf

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(e-mail 9 of 9)

Please find attached a copy of the report and drawing relating to the
canal between Tuel Lane Lock and Lock 5.

Sarina Young
Customer Service Co-Ordinator

Follow my [1]Blogs and the Canal & River Trust’s [2]Customer Service team
on Twitter

Please visit our [3]website to find out more about the Canal & River Trust
and download our ‘Shaping our Future’ document on the About Us page.

The Canal & River Trust is a new charity entrusted with the care of 2,000
miles of waterways in England and Wales. Get involved, join us - Visit /
Donate / Volunteer at www.canalrivertrust.org.uk

Elusen newydd yw Glandŵr Cymru sy’n gofalu am 2,000 o filltiroedd o
ddyfrffyrdd yng Nghymru a Lloegr. Cymerwch ran, ymunwch â ni - Ewch i
Rhoddion a Gwirfoddoli yn www.glandwrcymru.org.uk

References

Visible links
1. http://canalrivertrust.org.uk/news-and-v...
2. http://twitter.com/CRTContactUs
3. http://www.canalrivertrust.org.uk/

TM 004 011 R Garden Wood Emb Report.pdf

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0001 UA004512 21 UP32R 01 FA Factual FINAL.pdf

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Sarina Young
Customer Service Co-Ordinator

Follow my [1]Blogs and the Canal & River Trust’s [2]Customer Service team
on Twitter

Please visit our [3]website to find out more about the Canal & River Trust
and download our ‘Shaping our Future’ document on the About Us page.

(e-mail 2a of 9)

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5005 UA005938 UP31R 01 Aylesbury Lock 12 report.pdf

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PI GA 00416 JAN97 GA 005 001 249309.pdf

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(e-mail 4a of 9)

Sarina Young
Customer Service Co-Ordinator

Follow my [1]Blogs and the Canal & River Trust’s [2]Customer Service team
on Twitter

Please visit our [3]website to find out more about the Canal & River Trust
and download our ‘Shaping our Future’ document on the About Us page.

show quoted sections

GA 005 001 Lock 12 PI Jan 07.doc

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(e-mail 4b of 9) the final e-mail with reports relating to Aylesbury Arm
Lock 12.

Sarina Young
Customer Service Co-Ordinator

Follow my [1]Blogs and the Canal & River Trust’s [2]Customer Service team
on Twitter

Please visit our [3]website to find out more about the Canal & River Trust
and download our ‘Shaping our Future’ document on the About Us page.

show quoted sections

Dear Canal and River Trust,

I refer to -

https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/a...

Where it appears that you have posted information relevant to this request elsewhere.

Can you please confirm that you have now provided all the information requested?

Yours sincerely,

Allan Richards

Dear Mr Richards,

Yes that is all the information available as at today's date.

There will be more info re stoppages Oct 2013 to April 2014 which we'll send as soon as we've completed our analysis of stoppage notices, which will follow as soon as possible and in any case by 28 July, being 20 working days after the Publication Data must be published.

Yours sincerely

Kelly Radley
Internal Communications & Customer Services Manager
Direct line: 01908 351858 (internal DDI: 1058)
[mobile number]

Follow our customer services team on twitter, read the team’s blog and find out more about the Canal & River Trust on our website

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Allan Richards left an annotation (30 May 2014)

Following a complaint -

- Canal and River Trust (CaRT) has not provided provided the data requested (or a refusal notice) for five months despite repeated reminders.

- CaRT has failed to carry out a review, as requested, which would explain its failure.

The Information Commissioner will serve a decision notice in early June relating to this request.

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Asset and Infrastructure Failures

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Allan Richards left an annotation (28 April 2014)

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Allan Richards left an annotation (30 May 2014)

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