Aegre November 2008

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AEGRE

November 2008 No.121

Great News for Woolsthorpe see inside

The journal of the East Midlands Region of

Aegre November 2008 Page 1

Aegre is published Š 2008 by the East Midlands Region Committee of the Inland Waterways Association. Chairman, WRG

John Baylis, 215 Clipstone Road West, Forest Town, Mansfield NG19 0HJ Tel: 01623 621208 Mobile 07889 444190

Vice-Chairman & Treasurer

Dave Carnell, Conifer Cottage, North End, Goxhill DN19 7JX Tel: 01469 530138

Leicestershire Branch Acting Chairman: John Evans. Tel: 01509 416647 Chairman Lincolnshire Branch Chairman

Dave Carnell. Contact address as above.

Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire Branch

Contact Mike Snaith; details below

South Yorkshire & Dukeries Branch Chairman

Mavis Paul, 116 Sandygate Road, Crosspool, Sheffield S10 5RZ Tel: 0114 268 3927

Secretary

Vacant

Region Planning Officer

Mike Snaith, Hawthorne Cottage, 70 Main Street, Gunthorpe, Nottingham NG14 7EU.

Members

Ian McDonald, c/o 68 Leicester Road, Thurcaston, Leicester LE7 7JG Tel: 07932 156539 E-mail:<home@hubberlugs.go-plus.net> Malcolm Fielding, 1 Vicarage Way, Arksey, Doncaster DN5 0TG Tel: 01302 873127

Editor for Aegre:

Peter Hill, 7 Lock Keeper’s Way, Louth, Lincolnshire LN11 0GQ Tel: 01507 602713. email: aegre@humbhony.demon.co.uk

Collation & despatch

Nancy & David Johnson

Printing

This is the web version

Picture credits:

See page 21. Cover picture Woolsthorpe Lock in splints (JB)

Inland Waterways Association: Registered Office; Island House, Moor Road, Chesham HP5 1WA. Registered as a Charity No: 212342. Tel: 01494 783453 Website: http://www.waterways.org.uk The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the Inland Waterways Association or of the East Midlands Region. They are published as being of interest to our members and other readers.

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AEGRE November 2008

No. 121 Contents

The Editor’s Bow Button............................................................4 The Region Chairman’s Notes....................................................5 National Awards by British Waterways......................................6 British Waterways Honours Volunteers.....................................7 News from Leicestershire Branch...............................................8 Canal Bridge Damaged..............................................................9 IWA Steps in to save Woolsthorpe Top Lock..........................10 BW User Group Meetings........................................................12 Adsetts Canal Project 21st Birthday.........................................13 Puzzle Pictures..........................................................................14 The National Festival & Boat Show.........................................15 Other Rallies Planned for 2009.................................................16 Journals Received.....................................................................18 Happy 20th Birthday ACS........................................................18 Flood barrier for the "Nieuwe Waterweg"................................19 Other Picture Credits.................................................................21 News from Lincolnshire Branch...............................................22 Foxton Festival..........................................................................24 Publications Received...............................................................25 Swimming in Canals.................................................................26 A Curious Boat Fire..................................................................28 Annual General Meetings.........................................................29 Regional Diary Dates 2008/9....................................................30 Canal Societies in the EM Region............................................32

Next issue probably to be published in March 2009. Contributions to the editor by the end of January 2009 please. The space on the right is for local contact information.

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The Editor’s Bow Button Normally my reaction to questions of organisational structure and terms of reference is a bit cynical; along the lines of “can we get on with some real work”. But the questionnaire recently circulated to all members could have important consequences for the voluntary work we have all been involved in, even if just by being members of the IWA. I do hope everyone sent in their response in time by the end of October, as there are real difficulties for our elected representatives and the paid staff in reconciling logical waterway regions with the Government regions (notice I didn’t repeat the word “logical” - there is still laughter in Lincolnshire if the County of Humberside is mentioned). It is also important that we all try to support, encourage, and if necessary direct those we choose to send to represent us in whatever structure emerges. You may have gathered that I have spent some time working outside the UK. Whilst there I got involved with another hobby (nothing to do with waterways) and on returning wanted to continue. There was a UK organisation already in existence, with a structure rather similar to the IWA, in that it had local groups, a national committee and a very small paid central staff. There were regular local meetings, usually based on a city or large town, and there were national events. These were well organised and attended, but the preparatory work for these was done by delegated teams, not by the national committee itself. In due course the time came for our local group to send a delegate to the national meeting. Nobody wanted to go, and eventually, somewhat out of curiosity, I said I would do it, as I had to go to beautiful down-town Walsall anyway. Some three quarters of the time of the full-day meeting was taken up by discussion of formal points of agenda, representation, applicability of the constitution and so on. Only for a short time at the end was anything constructive done in relation to the activity we all actually enjoyed doing locally. After that I was not surprised that nobody had wanted to go. Of course all this has nothing to do with the IWA, but we need to be careful, remain positive, and keep the democratic process alive. On page 29 your local branch meetings are announced! Do try to attend. Best wishes, Peter. Aegre November 2008 Page 4

The Region Chairman’s Notes In the last Aegre I started my notes by saying “The past few months have been very busy for me with work on Woolsthorpe Top Lock”. Unfortunately little has changed as British Waterways’ bureaucracy moves exceedingly slowly towards awarding the contract; you wouldn’t think that we were trying to give BW the best end of £200,000 and Morrison’s the contractors have been ready to go for the best part of a month. The Winter is now upon us and Morrison’s are concerned that they might not have time to do sufficient work before the Christmas break to leave the lock in a stable condition. The Editor is pushing me for the printing deadline and I hope that the order will be going off tomorrow; if not I shall have to do some explaining in the next issue. In the last Aegre I made a plea for additional money and you will see in the press release on page 10 that the East Midlands Development Association and Lincolnshire Waterways Partnership granted sufficient for BW to allow the work to go ahead. For this we are all extremely grateful and I hope that their confidence in our scheme for re-building is justified. My request for additional funds was also answered by some individuals and IWA Branches to whom I am similarly grateful; I have not yet had the need to call on their generosity and I shall be in contact with them all as soon as the contract is finally awarded. The opening meeting for the National Festival was well attended and I understand that a number of individuals and clubs have offered their help in putting on the show. As a “Three week worker” at the last six IWA National Festivals I am very grateful for their offers of help and I look forward to seeing a lot of familiar faces during the event. The Erewash Canal is very close to the site and I hope that many of the boats coming to the Festival will also find time to cruise to Langley Mill. Speaking of which I was very pleased when the Erewash Canal Preservation & Development Association was recognised by BW for the work it has done at Langley Mill over many years. On the Chesterfield Canal I was foolish enough to take up the Chesterfield Canal Trust’s offer of Chairman for the IWA Campaign Rally 2009 at Kiveton Park. We are getting our act together slowly by ordering things like toilets and tents, fixing the site and car parking, and BW are happy that there will be sufficient water for the number of boats coming to the Rally. There will be a strict limit on the moorings and the total number of boats allowed to attend the rally, so we may well have a waiting list when the quota is filled. A number of boats have already booked in from the IWA Festivals “Three week workers” Aegre November 2008 Page 5

who will be spending the Spring investigating the River Witham and its connections either before or after the Campaign Rally. I hope you will all have received, and replied to, the IWA questionnaire on the number of Regions that might be best for the organisation of the Association and possible changes to the election of Region Chairmen (Trustees). In several parts of the country some branches are failing through lack of support, but we do need activity at the branch level to represent the association with the navigation authorities, local government, the membership at large and the publication of local magazines. Regional reorganisation will be of little use if we don’t have active branches. Since the last Aegre I have had no offers of volunteers to help Mike Snaith and Brian Waters to run the Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Branch. I hope the Festival at Redhill might encourage some of the volunteers to come forward to keep the branch going. Another year has flown by, and although not all branches will be having a Christmas event this year and I will not be visiting all the branches, I wish you all a Merry Christmas, a Happy New Year and thank you all for your support of the Association. John Baylis

National Awards by British Waterways British Waterways national Excellence Award has been presented by Robin Evans, BW Chief Executive, to the BW staff from East Midlands who carried out “their skilful and sympathetic repairs to Drakeholes Tunnel on the Chesterfield Canal”. The team were chosen as the regional winners in August and this award is for the best out of all nine BW regions. The work was to renovate the tunnel whilst retaining the best heritage and ecological features to make it a valued asset for many years to come. Congratulations also to the runners-up in the East Midlands Navigations, who were the staff who worked on Rothley Brook Footbridge and for the work in removing floating pennywort from the navigable sections of the River Soar. In Yorkshire the regional award was for Standedge Tunnel, but staff on the Adsetts canal project and waste recycling initiative were runners-up, with staff who supported the National Federation of Anglers Division One match in third place. Both these are on the Sheffield & South Yorkshire Navigation. Aegre November 2008 Page 6

British Waterways Honours Volunteers This year British Waterways recognised the value of volunteers to the running of its waterway system by making awards to canal societies and other volunteers, the presentations being made by the regional general managers towards the end of October. Robin Evans, BW Chief Executive said “ I’d like to take the opportunity to thank all volunteers on our waterways. If we could, we’d like to thank them all individually, but I hope these awards can be seen as a start to greater recognition of volunteers’ efforts, and their importance to our canals and rivers.”

party volunteers and staff from BW who have worked with the volunteers.

On the Sheffield & South Yorkshire Navigation the Yorkshire Award was won by Adsetts Canal Project, based on the Sheffield to Tinsley section of the canal. The Adsetts Canal Project was originated in 1988 and organised by Malcolm Fielding of South Yorkshire & Dukeries branch whilst working for Sheffield City Council for sixteen years until his retirement in May 2004. The Project is now run by Branch Publicity Officer Dave Scott and is based at Tinsley Marina. Dave has been awarded self-supervision In the East Midlands the Erewash Ca- status by Yorkshire Waterways. The nal Preservation & Development As- Project has been running now for sociation won the award for the East twenty-one years (see page 13). Midlands Navigations “for on-going promotion and restoration work on Nationally, BW are granting more the Erewash Canal.” Mick Golds has volunteer organisations a “Self-Superbeen the Working Party Officer for 38 visory Certificate” and I am pleased years and the Rally at Langley Mill to note that, in the North West, Ian over Spring Bank Holiday this year Edgar MBE, as Chairman of the Inshowed the capabilities of the Canal. I land Waterways Protection Society at hope that the IWA National at Redhill Bugsworth Basin, has been so recogin August 2009 will encourage boat- nised. Ian has been a long term supers to use the Erewash Canal. At Lan- porter of restoration in the East gley Mill on October 21st, Caroline Midlands as well as on the Peak ForKilleavey thanked the Erewash volun- est Canal. The IWPS was started by teers for over thirty years of work the late Bessie Bunker, a member of helping BW maintain the canal and the old Sheffield Branch. Locally, we also for the Association’s efforts to hope that soon the ECP&DA will also improve and promote navigation on be awarded self-supervision status by the canal. This was followed by a East Midlands Waterways. carvery lunch with all the working John Baylis Aegre November 2008 Page 7

News from Leicestershire Branch Not much to report from here in the “Silly Season”. Well I think you’ll agree that it’s been silly trying to do anything outdoors this summer! Having said that, I can report that our trip to Autherley Junction with three or four other branch members’ boats from The Soar was enjoyed by all and wasn’t spoiled by permanent saturation as might be supposed by those who stayed at home or jetted off to foreign climes!

Leicester) have at last spent much time and money tackling the problem both mechanically and chemically but I suspect that the limited sunshine has also been a significant factor in limiting its growth rate. I have noticed that the weed is spreading inexorably along many of the backwaters and tributaries, so I fear that it’s not a problem that is going to disappear anytime soon.

The redevelopment of large parts of No doubt more will be written about Leicester continues and the signs are this year’s “National” elsewhere, and that the potential of its water frontage any difficulty that any of us have in is at last being recognised. We have visualising it all happening at Redhill notified the City Council that there next year will have been dispelled at are likely to be many boats passing the launch meeting. through en route to and from the National Festival next August and we Also no doubt covered elsewhere is will maintain pressure on them and the Foxton Festival, another event BW to get the navigation as clean and that I attended in Element. Suffice it as welcoming as possible and to deal to say that it was a very relaxed and with any problem areas, e.g. the perenjoyable weekend; a fitting culmina- manently silted pound below Limetion of all that has been achieved so kiln Lock. far. As I said before, if you’ve not been there in recent months, it’s Meanwhile, the city still suffers from worth a visit. an undeserved reputation as a ‘no go area’ among some waterway users The pennywort problem on the Soar and we are keen to dispel what we has been less noticeable this year. see as a myth. I have been made BW and EA (and the City Council in aware of one incident of “unwelcome Aegre November 2008 Page 8

attention” this summer, and whilst I accept that this is one too many, we don’t think it merits widespread boycotting of a largely beautiful navigation. If you can report first hand any unpleasant experiences whilst passing through the city this summer, we want to hear from you. If you don’t report a problem you will not even be a statistic, let alone a help in finding a solution . IF . . a problem exists. If you are a boat owner, don’t forget to top up your tank with ‘propulsion fuel’. That way you will minimise the amount of condensation forming in the tank over the winter and I suspect that you will have made a significant financial saving if you did it before the change in duty charges!

Canal Bridge Damaged On October 20th a large tractor towing a similarly large trailer demolished part of Bridge 20 on the Trent & Mersey Canal, with the trailer and its load finishing in the canal. Fortunately the tractor became detached from the trailer and remained upright on the land. The canal was closed for four days whilst the trailer, load and one side of the bridge were removed from the canal. Hicklin’s Bridge 20 is between Stenson Marina and the railway line bridge into Derby, and was on the BW Listed Buildings Register. Although it had had some repairs, it was one of the few largely original red brick arch bridges on the Derbyshire section of the canal. From the photographs it looks as though, as well as pushing one of the parapet walls into the canal, the arch barrel split, so repairs will need to be extensive and probably expensive.

As you will have seen (page 30) our social secretary Beryl has once again put together an interesting and varied programme for the coming months. I look forward to seeing you at some or all of the meetings. John Evans (Acting Chairman) Aegre November 2008 Page 9

IWA Steps in to save Woolsthorpe Top Lock The IWA has stepped in with a £175,000 funding plan to save Woolsthorpe Top Lock on the Grantham Canal from closure, following the partial collapse of the offside wall to the lock last year. British Waterways had decided that they could not afford to rebuild the wall and proposed that the lock should be filled in. John Baylis, East Midlands Region Chairman of the IWA, made the rescue proposal to British Waterways for IWA to fund the rebuilding of the damaged wall, using a legacy given to IWA from the estate of Mr. Fredrick Charles Woodman. IWA had to offer further guarantees that sufficient money was available to complete the rebuilding, which meant that an additional joint campaign between the Grantham Canal Society and IWA was necessary to raise additional funds. Additional grants were obtained from Lincolnshire County Council through the Lincolnshire Waterways Partnership and from the East Midlands Development Agency. IWA, through its Honorary Consultant Engineer Roy Sutton, also undertook to produce extensive drawings and calculations to demonstrate how the work could be done. Following further discussions and agreement with British Waterways, Morrison Construction’s proposals for the method of rebuilding have been accepted and Morrison Construction, part of the Galliford Try Group of Companies, has now been engaged to start work shortly. Speaking on behalf of IWA, John Baylis said: ‘I am very pleased that, after much work and negotiation, we have persuaded BW to allow us to fund the rebuilding of this Lock. I must thank Roy Sutton, IWA Honorary Consultant Engineer, together with John Brydon and Mike Stone of the Grantham Canal Trust, and John Moulsher, the local land owner, who is providing access, for their help in achieving what we hope will be a satisfactory solution to Woolsthorpe Top Lock’. Legacy and Grant Funding Partners IWA funding was provided from a legacy of £100,000 from the estate of Fredrick Charles Woodman, who was an engineer in Nottingham until his retirement and who boated extensively in the River Trent area for many years. Aegre November 2008 Page 10

Additional funds raised by IWA included a grant of ÂŁ40,000 from the Lincolnshire Waterways Partnership, which is a group of organisations promoting waterway improvement works in Lincolnshire. Grantham Canal Society additionally raised a further ÂŁ35,000 from the East Midlands Development Agency, which has previously funded extensive work on the Woolsthorpe to Grantham section of the canal. Woolsthorpe Top Lock The lock was built as part of the original canal which opened in 1797 but the offside wall was completely rebuilt, around 50 years after opening, due to pinching. The offside lock wall has now fractured longitudinally at invert level, as pictured in our last issue, possibly due to leakage above the lock percolating through the ground at the back of the brickwork. The proposed work entails demolition in sections of the offside wall to below invert level; sealing the points of leakage; replacing the damaged brickwork utilising concrete underwater and bricks backed with concrete to the top. The original copings will be re-used.

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BW User Group Meetings The autumn series of BW User Group meetings will be taking place after Aegre has gone to press so there can be no report on the meetings, however two topics are worth brief comment.

A bridge problem is looming over the River Trent in Nottingham where the suspension bridge between West Bridgford and the War Memorial Gardens has been closed by Severn Trent Water plc for several months. PhotoThe restrictions to travel on the tidal graphs on BBC Television showed River Trent whilst abnormal loads some of the suspension cables showwere taken up to Cottam Power Staing corrosion and loss of protective tion near Torksey have been complet- sheathing, so if the cables need reed, but I wonder why the material placement the repair may well be very destined for Staythorpe was unloaded expensive and take some time to carry at Cottam and then moved twenty-odd out. The bridge was built in 1906 to miles by road. I appreciate that the carry drinking water pipes from the railway bridge above Newark Nether Ruddington area to supply NottingLock restricts the size of boat to some ham Corporation; the original tunnel extent but I would have thought that proposal was thrown out on the at least some of the parts could have grounds of cost. The bridge might been moved all the way. well have been cheaper at the time, but over the past 100 years it has beThe IWA and others have been concome a very popular walking and cycerned at the apparent lack of effort to cling route away from the traffic over replace Long Horse Bridge across the Trent Bridge. River Trent, carrying the towing path from Sawley to Shardlow. The delay now runs into several years, and I have heard that Derbyshire County Council may be prepared to look at cheaper options to the proposal to move the bridge upstream from its old site. After many years of prompting by IWA and BW national officials, most of the bridges on the BW system have now been numbered. Whilst some have followed the size used by BW in the 1970s some have been replaced by smaller plaques; I should be interested to hear boaters’ views on NB Naburn those on the River Trent bridges. Aegre November 2008 Page 12

Adsetts Canal Project 21st Birthday In June 1987, just after Sheffield’s Day Services for Adults with Learning Disabilities had stopped the workshop style environment for their clients, Malcolm Fielding, along with a few staff and a group of clients started to visit the Sheffield and Tinsley Canal, at different points, starting from the Canal Basin (now renamed Victoria Quays). The group decided to adopt a length of canal to carry out simple environmental tasks. With this in mind, Malcolm, through discussions, got involved with the Government’s Community Programme, Sheffield's Planning Department and British Waterways. The Group was asked to bring up two boats from Wakefield to help with the Community Programme. After the Community Programme finished suddenly, British Waterways gave one of the boats (Naburn) on long term loan to what had become 'Adsetts Canal Project'. Over the years 'Adsetts Canal Project' has taken on tasks such as cutting back over-growing bushes and shrubs along the towpath; painting out graffiti on bridge holes and lock beams; constant litter picking along the towpath and from the canal, as well as occasional boat rides from Tinsley Marina to Victoria Quays and back. In the last 18 months the Project has had a slow time due to work stoppages by British Waterways nationally, until it was Health and Safety checked, but it has now become the

first volunteer group in the BW Yorkshire Business Unit to be allowed to start working fully and be added to their Achilles list. The Project has also helped British Waterways show Doncaster Council how volunteer groups can work along the Don gorge at Sprotborough, as well as becoming a model or blueprint for volunteer groups seeking British Waterways acceptance at national level. The Project has now taken on more environmental issues, habitat management, recycling and monitoring wildlife, along with the original tasks, and is looking to branch out into a New Project?? The Project still works closely and in partnership with British Waterways (whom we thank for their continuing support), as well as working alongside other boating organisations and clubs, and various wildlife and environmental organisations. Therefore in 2008 approaches I would like to say "HAPPY 21st BIRTHDAY" to Adsetts Canal Project, and a big THANK YOU to Malcolm and the Project of 1987, on behalf of the Project of 2008. On September 2nd 2008, the Project was awarded 2nd place in British Waterways (Yorkshire Region) Excellence awards. Dave Scott , Group coordinator NB Naburn pictured on left Aegre November 2008 Page 13

Puzzle Pictures Once again we have two puzzle pictures from Malcolm to exercise your imagination. Can you identify the canal sites shown. Answers on page 31.

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The National Festival & Boat Show Over 90 people, representing 27 organisations, attended the launch at Rushcliffe Civic Centre of the IWA’s National Festival & Boat Show to be held at Redhill Marina, Ratcliffe-on-Soar in Nottinghamshire, during the August Bank Holiday weekend, 29/31 August 2009. The Mayor of Rushcliffe, Councillor Barrie Cooper, formally welcomed the organising team to Rushcliffe and said that the Council was honoured to have been chosen to host the Festival and the launch. He was delighted with the numbers attending the opening event and felt it boded well for the year to come. The Mayor hoped that boating and waterways enthusiasts throughout the Midlands and from further afield would take the opportunity to explore the area and he assured organisers that the Council would do all it could to support them. He also felt sure it would be an extremely enjoyable event for all. During the meeting, the Mayor was presented with the IWA Festival Tiller Pin Trophy by Clive Henderson, IWA’s National Chairman elect. The Trophy is held by the local authority for the duration of their Festival year and the Mayor said that it would be displayed prominently in the Civic Centre. Presentations were given by the various national organisers of the festival on moorings, caravan and camp sites, entertainment at the show, trade stands, boat exhibits and commercial suppliers. Assistance is required from local boaters and others on useful contacts and the help of volunteers to set up, operate and dismantle the site is essential. Professional advice is being sought on moorings on this river site but it should be emphasised that recent river moorings on the Great Ouse, Thames and Severn did not give any insurmountable problems despite some rain. Work on the new East Midlands Parkway Station is progressing and we hope that both the station and its access roads will be completed by the spring of 2009. Concern was expressed at the meeting about the cost of drinks in the beer tent and the organisers are looking to source local supplies. Public Team meetings will be held every month (except December) to keep local people up to date on progress so far and everyone is welcome to attend – and hopefully volunteer to help of course. The Festival is unique because it is totally run by volunteers. All the surplus money that is raised goes towards waterway restoration projects so as well as being a great day out, visitors are also helping to support their local waterway network. Aegre November 2008 Page 15

The next Public Team Meeting will be held on Wednesday, 14th January, 2009 at West Park Leisure Centre, Wilsthorpe Road, Long Eaton, Derbyshire, NG10 4AA. . For further information visit the website: www.waterways.org.uk or telephone the hotline 0844 800 6583.

Building the new station in October 2008

Other Rallies Planned for 2009 In the last Aegre we mentioned the boat rallies that were proposed for 2009. The first of the “National Events� is the Campaign Rally at Kiveton Park on the Chesterfield Canal at Spring Bank Holiday, starting on May 23rd. Over the holiday period progress has been slow but now most of us are back home and a number of challenges are being addressed. The water supply and limited mooring area will mean a strict limit on the maximum number of boats attending, and already a number have entered from several parts of the country. Preparations are going ahead both for the site and for the trade stands and entertainments. A suitable car parking area remains a difficulty but no doubt we will sort that out before the day. British Waterways have now started to attend meetings, and we have asked them how many boats can use the lock each day with the present canal water supply and how much could this be increased for the busy periods of locking. The National Trailboat Festival takes place at Moira on the Ashby Canal at the same time as the Campaign Rally and I am sure that this will be popular with visitors by car from Leicestershire and surrounding areas.

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A number of boats from the Midlands and other areas will be coming down the River Trent around Easter time so that they can go on the River Witham, the Witham Navigable Drains and the South Forty Foot Drain, where the opening of the new lock is planned for March 2009. The Witham Navigable Drains have been popular for working boats for a number of years, but recent “safety guarding” on Cowbridge Guillotine (top) gate has meant that full length narrow boats can no longer get far enough into the lock to close the mitre tail gates behind them. We have taken this up with the Environment Agency with the hope that improvements might be made. There is also concern about boat numbers taking part in the opening of the new lock at Black Sluice. See the Lincolnshire report on page 22. Whilst talking about Boston it might also be worth progressing the fixing of mooring rings by the steps on Maud Foster Drain. EA might not be able to fund the work themselves but I am sure that we should be more than able to do the work ourselves. Once again we should make the trip up the River Slea to Cobblers Lock provided that the new gates are installed at South Kyme Lock. The announcement on the previous pages that the National Festival would be at Redhill, on the River Soar, met with some local surprise. Questions were asked like “where, and how, and what will you use for moorings?” However, visits to the site to measure the moorings have revealed how much land is available behind the moorings. The main site, camping and car parking should all be accommodated, and in addition the East Midlands Parkway railway station should be open, giving easy access to Loughborough, Leicester, Derby and Nottingham (and even St Pancras and Paris. Ed.). The last two nationals at St Ives and Wolverhampton were seriously hampered by heavy rain the week before the Festival. However at Wolverhampton lessons were learned from St Ives, and much more temporary aluminium road was laid. In fact “laid” is an understatement. Much of it was laid, used, rolled up, re-laid, used, rolled up etc. At the end of the day I dread to think how much Wolverhampton mud was exported to Worksop, but I understand that each roll is un-rolled through a machine that washes the road, defects are repaired and the road is then neatly re-rolled. It would be interesting to see this in action. The rain problems over the last two years take on greater significance with regard to a rally on the River Soar next year and IWA Festivals are looking at professional advice on risk assessments. J Baylis

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Happy 20th Birthday ACS ACS or the Australian Canal Society was twenty years old on the 9th May 2008. People may say, “why a canal society in Australia”? They could also say, “There are no canals in Australia”. There are a couple of canals in OZ, one in Tasmania and one near Sydney airport. Both lie derelict and unused. There are large rivers like the Murray/Darling, the Hunter and the Hawkesbury. The ACS motto is ‘Devoted to the world’s inland waterways’ and there lies its strength. Its members support canals worldwide. They have been very active in the Save Our Waterways campaign in this country and have supported many other campaigns including the SY&D Branch campaign to get the Sheffield and Tinsley Canal reclassified from Remainder to Cruiseway status. They are also affiliated to many canal societies in this country. Overseas gatherings (from Australia) take place in this country at the Blue Lias pub on the Grand Union Canal at Stockton with the next due on Sunday 12th July 2009. A celebratory fun weekend is planned in the wine growing region of the Hunter Valley and later a member’s dinner is to take place. On your behalf I would like to take this opportunity of wishing the Australian Canal Society a very happy 20th birthday. Malcolm Fielding, Secretary SY&D branch IWA

Journals Received. We have received copies of these journals from our colleagues in the various societies, partnerships, and trusts. Many thanks to all concerned. Anyone wishing to subscribe to any of these could contact the appropriate address, given on page 32. The LWP Newsletter is free, call 01522 550615. Navigation, from our neighbours in West Midlands Region. The Cuckoo and Upgate and Downgate, from Chesterfield Canal Trust. The Packet, from Derby & Sandiacre Canal Society. The Portal, from the Friends of the Cromford Canal. Grantham Canal News, from the Grantham Canal Partnership. LWP newsletter from Lincolnshire Waterways Partnership. The Wharfinger, from Louth Navigation Trust. Plane Informer, from the Foxton Inclined Plane Trust. Aegre November 2008 Page 18

Flood barrier for the "Nieuwe Waterweg" Anyone who has ever crossed to Holland by ferry from Hull or Harwich has entered the Nieuwe Waterweg - the channel which runs up towards Rotterdam from Hoek van Holland. But the ferry boats don't go very far up this channel, which is a major entry point for shipping to the port of Rotterdam. They moor a few cables in from the entrance, with the Hoek to the north and the Europoort to the south. A bit further inland is one of the major flood protection engineering features of Europe, but it is not one of the best known. Since we dealt with the proposed Boston flood barrier an issue or two ago in Aegre, and the Boston area is currently a major area of planning, it might be interesting to compare the two. Ever since the disasters of 1953 the Dutch have been improving their sea defences stage by stage. Much of this work has been by raising the height of the dykes around the coast by several metres. Some parts of the original dyke defences are more difficult to deal with because they form part of the ancient heart of towns such as Dordrecht. Any major works here would have meant destruction of treasured town centres. Much protest led to a search for an alternative solution to protect the area around Rotterdam and to the west. The problem was complicated by the need to maintain normal shipping access past some form of flood barrier, in similar circumstances to the Thames Barrier at Woolwich. A competition in the late 80s produced six proposals, and one was finally chosen; the "sector door barrier" proposed by the group Bouwcombinatie Maeslant Kering or BMK. The idea was for two movable doors to be put in place across the waterway in case of predicted very high water or storm surge. The scale of these doors, however, led to a remarkable new solution. Think of Aegre November 2008 Page 19

two sectors of bicycle wheel, each about 45 degrees or one eighth of a full circle. These are flat on the ground, and the bicycle tyre forms the door or gate. Normally the two sectors are kept out of the main channel, so that shipping can move to and fro. If a flood threatens they are floated out into the channel, pivoting on the wheel hub, and sunk to the bottom of the channel to block the incoming water. Just to give an idea of the size of the whole thing, each ball joint at the "wheel hub" is 10 metres in diameter, and the little white "dashes" to the right of our picture opposite are coaches bringing visitors to the site. A few figures to impress. Each door is 22 metres (72 feet) high and 210 metres long (about 700 feet) over the arc. The fabricated arms which transmit the water load from the closed doors to the ball joint are 238 metres long (780 feet) and each tube is 1.8 m diameter. The ball joint, similar in principle to your shoulder joint, weighs 680 tons (made by Skoda), and the triangular concrete support foundation - in effect the hinge piece - is reinforced concrete with a total mass of 52000 tons. The threshold in the river bed, on which the doors sit in the closed position, was made from 64 concrete blocks, each of 630 tons. The threshold level is 17 metres below their reference datum, known as NAP, and the design high tide level is 3.2 metres above NAP. How would it work in case of flood danger? Normally the two doors are kept in a dry dock specially built to fit them. This helps maintenance as they are fully accessible for painting and inspection. If a dangerous flood level is predicted, a set routine goes into action: Minus 8 hours. The operations team are called in. Minus 6 hours. Water is let into the dry dock. Harbour operations centre is advised. Minus 4 hours. All shipping warned. Minus 2 hours. Shipping traffic stopped. Door is floating in the dock, and dock gates open.

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Zero. Gates begin to swing in. Plus 30 minutes. Doors meet in centre of channel. Plus 1 hour. Buoyancy chambers in the doors are partially flooded so that they clear the threshold by one meter. Plus 1.5 hours. Water flow under the doors clears silt and grit from the threshold. Doors are fully lowered. After the danger is past, the ballast water is pumped out of the door chambers and the process is reversed, taking about 2.5 hours. They expect the maximum door closure duration to be 30 hours, and the original forecast was for them to be used once in ten years in anger, but for a regular test closure once a year. Since then the forecast frequency has increased. A test closure was made last September 20th. Just to emphasise the scale of the whole thing, last April we watched while a drilling platform, with its legs up of course, was towed through the open gate gap in the care of three big tugs. It looked just like a child's toy in a brook. We are very grateful to BMK and the Ministerie van Verkeer en Waterstaat for infomation and pictures.

Other Picture Credits We are most grateful to all of the following, who have contributed photographs or other illustrations to enhance Aegre: Paul King; Paul Birtles; Tony Pitman; John Lower; Peter Stone; Ian McDonald; Dave Carnell; Brian Dominic; Beryl McDowall; Nancy Johnson; Norman Osborne; David Pullen, Dave Scott, BBC Derby, Dan Minchin, Nancy Johnson. Aegre November 2008 Page 21

News from Lincolnshire Branch A major step forward on the Slea We are very pleased to report that the Bottom Lock at Kyme has now been replaced, after the carefully planned removal reported in the last issue of Aegre. Our picture shows the final stages of the work, with the safety ladders already in place. Potential traffic problems at Boston Although everyone is very pleased with the progress being made with the new lock at the entrance to the South Forty Foot, a potential problem has arisen around the planned opening on March 20th of next year, and for future usage of the Haven between Grand Sluice and the new lock. Of course tides and weather are two things that cannot be controlled by even EA and BW, and we cannot do better than quote EA’s current concerns: “March 20th 2009 is the day we have set for our official opening ceremony at Black Sluice Lock and the Lock Cottages. Right now we are working on the planning for this event to provide everyone with a memorable day to mark this important milestone in the creation of the Fens Waterways Link. We can plan nearly everything for the day but the one critical factor beyond our control is the good old British weather. As many of you will know March 20th is early in the boating calendar and we have picked this early season day to to get the lock ready for a full and busy summer season. We are however left with the uncertainty and difficulty that navigating at this time of year brings. For this reason we are going to focus the March 20th event on a very small number of ceremonial craft to mark the opening. We are therefore Aegre November 2008 Page 22

asking people not to plan a visit through the lock on this day as we are mindful that river conditions on both the Witham and South Forty Foot are very likely to be set at winter mode with low river levels and high flows. Traditionally on the Witham, April 1st sees us reach a position where we can raise levels safely and maintain the summer season boating conditions. There are a number of boating events planned for next year and we are looking to co-ordinate these events to involve a chance at passage through Black Sluice and into the South Forty Foot. We will soon be able to provide you with details on how navigation passage will be managed and how you can book a passage between Grand Sluice Lock on the Witham and our new Black Sluice Lock. Moving between these two locks requires boat traffic to pass through tidal waters managed by the Port of Boston. For safety reasons navigation in the tidal port waters has to be carefully managed to avoid any potential conflict with the larger commercial coasters. We have discussed a system that will achieve the level of communication we need to realise the level of safety needed and details will be available to you soon on how you can take advantage of this to use our new lock. We shall look forward to seeing you next season.” Watch this space of course, but to the writer the initial apprehension is for full VHF based traffic control in the Haven between the two locks. New Surfleet Slipway On one of the few days with decent weather in the last few “summer” months, quite a lot of people met in a rather remote field near Surfleet on the River Glen. The object was to celebrate the formal opening of a newly built slipway giving access for trailable boats to a very pleasant stretch of this river. Representatives of Environment Agency and Lincolnshire Waterways Partnership were there to cut a tape, and a lot of members of the Rutland Canoe Club were there to test the water conditions (and the water temperature by falling in - sorry, doing controlled capsizes). An excellent buffet lunch in a marquee sealed the pleasure of all who attended, and re-stoked the engines of the capsizees (is there such a word?). One of the Spalding electric water taxis offered trips up and down the river to visitors, and itself had tested the slipway to be there.

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For those who might like to visit, the new slip is a short distance NE of Surfleet village, on the right bank, and is accessible by road if you turn left (if travelling south) immediately after crossing Surfleet bridge on the old A16, now B1356, and turn down Park Lane. This is a fairly narrow lane, normally only in use by farm tractors and the like, and is a dead end with turning space at the new A16 route near Surfleet Seas End (but you can walk across the bridge to the pub). At the slip site itself there is limited parking space, picnic tables and a bike rack. Access to the slip for vehicles larger than a bike is through a lockable barrier. To arrange access call Andy Woods of EA on 07721 390128.

Foxton Festival Our last issue of Aegre just caught the Leicester Festival, but missed the Foxton Festival, held later in June. We are most grateful to David Hastie and David Stevenson for information allowing us to compile this short report. Leicester Branch were responsible for organising the boat gathering for this successful event, and some forty boats attended. The main objective was to celebrate the completion of the work to improve access and interpretation, partly described in previous issues of Aegre. All this was supported by a grant of £2.9 million from the Heritage Lottery Fund, and of course many hours of voluntary help. There was favourable weather, with many visitors enjoying the newly marked trails; visiting the “Coffee Stop” at the top lock or the cafe at the bottom lock; or even one of the pubs. I wonder how many lock flights enjoy the range and quantity of facilities Foxton now has. There are sculptures with scenes from the past on the canals, and a museum which has had national recognition for quality of displays and interpretation. British Waterways has produced an excellent leaflet called Foxton Locks - a great escape, and there is also a web site www.foxtonlocks.com to give all the information you could possibly want to find your way there and have a great visit. Aegre November 2008 Page 24

Publications Received The Wreake Valley Way, published by the Melton & Oakham Waterways Society. Free on receipt of a SAE sent to Mr E Hugh Butler, 10 Main Street, Frisby, Melton Mowbray LE14 2NJ (donations of course welcome), or a copy may be collected from the public library in Wilton Road in Melton. It is very good to hear from one of the most southerly societies in our region with “Leaflet One” of an intended series covering a footpath route following the general line of the navigation from Melton to the river Soar at Syston. The presentation is ingenious, and one I had not seen before. It is an A3 sheet first folded to A4, and then the so-called trifold to make a very convenient shape for the pocket of a waterproof jacket. The content of this first part of the walk is from Melton itself to Hoby, and it is divided into four shorter sections to suit those of us who tend to sit down for a rest quite often these days. The printing and layout are clear, with colour coding to refer from the text to points on the carefully drawn maps, for example. Added notes describe interesting spots along the route, giving historical or archaeological background. With a map there are also possibilities of combined walks using parts of the “Leicestershire Round” and the “Midshires Way”. Overall, a simple but effective way of promoting interest in the waterway and the area. PH.

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done to the Company’s property and to the boats, dredgers etc; and particularly on account of this damage I have Canals were not designed as swimgiven instructions to my people that in ming pools! Swimming in the canals the event of any persons being caught has always been a problem, but nowaprosecution must follow. I shall be days it is more tolerated, although it very pleased if you will give me all can be a very dangerous pastime espethe assistance you can to put a stop to cially near locks and moving boats. this trespass and damage, and I give The more lenient attitude taken these you my assurance that prosecution days was not always the norm. Files will follow in all cases reported to me. recovered from the Sheffield and Yours faithfully.” South Yorkshire Navigation head office in Sheffield show that the navigaYou can see that the company were tion company looked upon swimming not tolerant of any trespass or damin their canal as a serious business and age, however caused, to their properdid not hesitate to prosecute anyone ty. In another letter to the company’s caught doing so. Appearances in court solicitors the company states that were quite common and fines were though bathing itself may be harmmore than likely applied. We have less, from the point of view of the records from the years 1936 to 1939. Navigation Company it is always In the following accounts I have reaccompanied by damage. moved the names so that people, who may still be alive today, remain unAn instance is noted that eight boys identified. and in another three boys were prosecuted in June 1937 for bathing in In July 1936 it was reported that damWorsborough reservoir and causing age to boats and dredgers had ocdamage. Each was fined 5/- (25p) and curred in Rotherham and Barnsley, ordered to pay 4/- (20p) costs. wilful damage and trespass, bathing in the canal and damage to property in In 1938 13 boys between the ages of 9 Doncaster, and in Sheffield damage to and 18 were caught bathing near Kilproperty. In a general letter to the ners Wharf, Denaby. The offence: Chief Constables of the area and to “Unlawfully bathing in the S&SYN”. the West Riding Chief Constable, Mr The report reads: “I beg to report that W.H. Pryce the General Manager of at 5-15pm. Monday 25th July 1938 I the Canal Company wrote; “As you was on duty in company with ------know, we experience a great deal of near Kilners Wharf, Denaby on the trouble from bathers in the summer, S&SYN, where I saw a large number not only on account of the interferof youths and boys in a naked condience with traffic, but also of damage tion. On seeing us they all ran away

Swimming in Canals

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towards Cadeby colliery, while some swam across the canal and got onto the towing path. I knew these youths and boys and called out to them that they would be reported, but they all continued to run away with the exception of two. I spoke to them respecting the offence and the damage they were doing, also the danger, both of them replied, ‘We haven’t been here long’. When told they would be reported they made no reply. At the place where the youths were bathing the bank was broken away and very dangerous owing to the depth of the water. There were also several very small children in company with these youths. Later I visited the houses of the youths --- and verified their names and addresses”. In 1939 fines of 12/- (60p) being 8/(40p) costs and 4/- (20p) for damage were imposed at Rotherham West Riding court for bathing and damage at Swinton. At the same time seven boys were fined for damaging the towpath at Swinton; each boy was fined 7/6 (37.5p), 2/6 (12.5p) fine with 5/- (25p) costs. In another case, damage and interference with the locks on the Dearne & Dove Canal led to more prosecutions. Nine boys were involved and they were subsequently fined 12/- (60p) each; 4/- (20p) fine and 8/- (40p) costs. All were given time to pay. There were instances of people using rafts on the canal or using boats with-

out permission. It seems that the canal took a very serious view of people trespassing, bathing and damaging their property. This stance can be appreciated, as they would be called to task if anyone were drowned or seriously injured on their property and they were seen not to be taking any action to safeguard the general public. Not all the authorities took this view though. In a letter to the canal companies from the River Ouse Catchment Board they say, after being approached by the companies to take a similar stance on their waterways that: “After considering the matter in all its aspects the Committee felt that they would scarcely be justified in taking proceedings as the only ground upon which they could prosecute would be damage to the bank, and as this was so slight they felt any proceedings by them would be unlikely to be successful”. What has changed today; nothing? To put things in perspective, bathing and damage must have been a major problem to the canal company when the canal was extremely busy with commercial traffic. At Rotherham Magistrates’ Court Petty Sessions held in July 1939 there were 32 cases heard in one month, with charges from riding a bicycle to the common danger; discharging missiles from an air-gun; wilful damage to towing path and lock gates; bathing and wilful damage to growing grass. All were Aegre November 2008 Page 27

fined, with a total of £2/13/6 (£2.68) being paid to the canal company as compensation and £1/7/0 (£1.35) as costs. Fines of 12/- (60p) seem petty these days but were costly when less than £5 was the average weekly wage per family. It just goes to show how attitudes have totally changed with peo-

ple being welcomed onto the waterways without the fear of being prosecuted for damaging the grass. Although it could be said that a more severe stance should be re-introduced with persistent offenders such as those who damage lock gates and drain pounds. Malcolm Fielding

A Curious Boat Fire Last time we reported an unusual boat theft. This time our intrepid reporter Nancy Johnson caught a boat fire in full flame at Beeston. and was instrumental in helping to put it out and call the Fire Brigade. Nobody knows why it caught fire, as there was no engine or gas on board. Was it insured?

During

After

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Annual General Meetings Notice is hereby given that the Annual General Meetings of the East Midlands Region of the Inland Waterways Association and its constituent Branches will be held as follows: Lincolnshire Branch. At St. Mary-le-Wigford Church Hall, Lincoln, on Monday, February 16th 2009 at 7.45 pm. Leicestershire Branch. At the Oadby Tennis Club, Oadby, Leicester, on Thursday, February 19th 2009 at 7.30 pm. Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire Branch. As a result of the inactivity of the Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire Branch since the last AGM no meeting is planned. Any urgent matters will be covered at the Region AGM below. South Yorkshire & Dukeries Branch. At Strawberry Island Boat Club, Mile Thorn Lane, Doncaster on Wednesday, February 18th. 2009 at 8.00 pm. East Midlands Region. At the Oadby Tennis Club, Oadby, Leicester, on Thursday, February 19th. 2009 after 7.30 pm. following the conclusion of the Leicestershire Branch AGM. See also page 31. AGENDA 1. Apologies for absence 2. Minutes of the last Annual General Meeting 3. Matters arising. 4. Report of the Chairman. 5. Report of the Treasurer and presentation of accounts. 6. Statement of committee size 7. Election of Committee members. 8. Address by Member of Council. 9. Any other business. Nominations for election to the committees must be in writing, signed by the proposer and the seconder and containing the consent of the nominee. They should reach the relevant Branch Secretary or, in the case of East Midlands Region, the Region Chairman not less than 14 days before that meeting. John Baylis Aegre November 2008 Page 29

Regional Diary Dates 2008/9 All members of any branch, visitors, and non-members are all welcome to attend

Thursday, 11th December, 2008 Leicestershire Christmas Social this year will be a meal, where you will have ample opportunity to chat with friends. 7.15 for 7.30 p.m. Venue: The Slate Restaurant and Bar, 61 Leicester Road, Mountsorrel, LE12 7AJ. (Plenty of parking behind the restaurant. Access through the archway to the left, or down the drive to the right next to the Indian Take-away.) Prior booking essential. Contact Beryl at the phone number below. Tuesday, 13th January, 2009 Illustrated talk on the Loughborough Carillon by Caroline Sharpe, the resident Carilloneuse. 7.30 p.m. Venue: Syston British Legion (Call Beryl for venue details). Thursday, 19th February, 2009 Branch Annual General Meeting at 7.30 p.m., followed by an illustrated talk by Beryl McDowall on “The River Soar - The Last 30 Years.” Venue: Oadby Granville Tennis Club, Oadby, Leicester, on the A6. Coming on the A6 from Market Harborough, the entrance is immediately after the last set of traffic lights before the Racecourse Roundabout. From Leicester it is on the ‘wrong’ side of the dual carriageway, so go to the second set of traffic lights after the Racecourse Roundabout, turn left into Asda Car Park, turn round, then turn right, back down the A6. The Tennis Club is then after the last set of lights before the Racecourse Roundabout. Friday, March 20th Fenland Link opening at Black Sluice. See page 22.

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Wednesday, 25th March, 2009 Richard Thomas, a long-standing IWA member who has been very involved with the narrow boat “President”, will give an illustrated talk on “The Union Canal in Scotland”. 7.30 p.m. Venue: Coalville Bowls Club, Whitwick Road, Coalville (Enter via Council car park, turn left into Club car park). April 10th to 13th (Easter)

Witham Navigable Drains Cruise

Thursday, 23rd April, 2009 Skittles Night and supper. 7.30 p.m. Venue: The Royal Oak, 105 Main Street, Cossington, Leics., LE7 4UW. Booking forms available from Beryl at meetings or by emailing beryl@nbwasp.co.uk May 2nd to 4th (Early May Bank Holiday) Sleaford Navigation Trust Boat Gathering (Kyme Bottom Lock reopening) Saturday / Sunday, 6th and 7th June, 2009 Riverside Festival/Boat Rally on the Mile Straight, in Leicester. Further details nearer the time. For further details of Leicester meetings contact the Social Secretary, Beryl McDowall, on 07710 029247 or email beryl@nbwasp.co.uk. For Lincolnshire events contact Steve Hayes on 01522 689460 or email sleaford.navigation@ntlworld.com. For latest information on the Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire area, call Linda on 01949 860867. For the Annual General Meetings formal notices, see page 29. Answers to the puzzle pictures from this issue of Aegre TOP Dudley No 1 Tunnel entrance. Park Head end. BOTTOM Great Haywood Junction bridge. Aegre November 2008 Page 31

Canal Societies in the EM Region Barnsley, Dearne & Dove Canal Trust Chesterfield Canal Trust Ltd Derby & Sandiacre Canal Trust Derby & Sandiacre Canal Society Erewash Canal P & D Association Foxton Inclined Plane Trust Friends of the Cromford Canal Grantham Canal Society Louth Navigation Trust Melton & Oakham Waterways Society Old Union Canals Society Sleaford Navigation Trust Trent and Mersey Canal Society

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Judy Andrews, 39 Hill St., Elsecar, Barnsley S74 8EN Tel: 01226 743383. www.bddct.org.uk Keith Ayling, 16 Pinchfield Lane, Wickersley, Rotherham S66 1FD Tel: 01709 700223 www.chesterfield-canal-trust.org.uk C/o Jeffery Jones Partnership, 43 St Peter’s Churchyard, Derby DE1 1NN Tel: 01332 576037 Lesley Reaney, 318 Osmaston Park Road, Allenton, Derby DE24 8FB Tel: 01332 601699 www.derbycanal.org.uk Howard Smith, 1 Millfield, Kimberley, Nottingham NG16 2LJ Tel: 0115 9384129 Foxton Canal Museum, Middle Lock, Gumley Road, Market Harborough LE16 7RA Tel: 0116 2792657 www.fipt.org.uk Patrick Morriss, The Shieling, Dukes Road, Lower Hartshay, Ripley, Derby DE5 3RP Tel: 01773 742895 www.cromfordcanal.org.uk Mike Stone, 7, Crow Park Drive, Burton Joyce, Nottingham NG14 5AS; Tel: 0115 931 3375 www.granthamcanal.com John Stanbridge, Navigation Warehouse, Riverhead, Louth LN11 0DA Tel: 01507 610539 www.louthcanal.org.uk Richard Booth, Sysonby Knoll, Asfordby Road, Melton Mowbray LE13 0HP Tel: 01664 503330 www.waterways-society.co.uk 36 The Ridings, Desborough, Kettering NN14 2LP Tel: 07010 705103. www.fipt.org.uk/Local.htm Steve Hayes, 10 Chelmer Close, N Hykeham, Lincoln LN6 8TH Tel: 01522 689460 www.sleafordnavigation.co.uk 1 Pinfold Cottages, Back Lane, Little Haywood, Stafford ST 18 0UL. Tel: 01889 882770 www.trentandmersey.btinternet.co.uk

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