Towpath Talk October issue 2022

1 Issue 204, October 2022

www.towpathtalk.co.uk October 2022

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A moment in history Reflection…

The death of Queen Elizabeth II is marked by the flag of St Michael’s Church, Stone, Staffordshire, flying at half-mast. The picture was taken on September 12 and the foreground shows the historic town’s distinctive Grade II-listed Trent & Mersey Canal dry docks, home to Canal Cruising Company Limited – the UK’s oldest company to operate a holiday hire fleet, still family run with new boats in build. PHOTO: JULIE ARNOLD/WATERWAY IMAGES

FORMER FAMILY BOAT REVISITED

A Scottish canal and an English lock: Queen Elizabeth’s name will live on

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FESTIVAL BACK IN BURTON

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THE death of Her Majesty The Queen is not only the end of an era for the nation as a whole but also for the inland waterways to which she paid several official visits during her 70-year reign.

The Queen Elizabeth II Canal in Scotland and a lock on the Kennet & Avon Canal carry her name and are a lasting legacy of these connections.

She officially reopened the restored

Kennet & Avon Canal on July 8,1990, boarding the narrowboat Rose of Hungerford to break a ceremonial tape across the Caen Hill flight, where Lock 43 is named Queen Elizabeth Lock in her honour.

In Scotland she opened the Falkirk Wheel in 2002 and her most recent waterways visit was in 2017 when, accompanied by her husband Prince

Cornish lock row

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CANAL water was used to ‘flush’ out the historic sea lock gate at Bude to clear built-up sand. The work was carried out by Cornwall Council following the driest August in 40 years and caused some controversy among local residents who were concerned about the effect on fish and other wildlife and claimed the sand could have been cleared with diggers. However the council described the sluicing as ‘essential’ and said water levels recovered almost immediately.

Philip, she visited the Kelpies and opened the Queen Elizabeth II Canal.

Other visits included the National Waterways Museum at Ellesmere Port in 1979 and a boat trip on the Leeds & Liverpool Canal at Burnley as part of her Diamond Jubilee tour in 2012.

Paying tribute to the late monarch, the Canal & River Trust stated: “Over her lifetime, the United Kingdom’s

canals have seen great changes, from the gradual fading of their use as freight routes and subsequent decline, to their rebirth for leisure boating and as cherished wildlife and well-being spaces.”

Condolences were also expressed by Scottish Canals to King Charles III and members of the Royal Family.

Continued on page 2

Let’s Chat

NCA fact file

COLLATING a list of past meetings for its website, Northern Canals Association chairman Ivan Cane, helped by past chairmen Keith Gibson and Chris Hayes, has found some interesting facts and trends, particularly the way that many groups have changed from societies to trusts and how their names have evolved. The Huddersfield Narrow Canal has hosted most meetings with six between 1991 and 2013. NCA’s meeting on Sunday, October 9 at Chesterfield will be its 80th.

THE Canal & River Trust will be hosting a Let’s Chat event at Bradford-on-Avon near Bath on Monday, October 5. The team will be on the towpath of the Kennet & Avon Canal between 11am and 2pm and inviting anyone, whether an existing customer or new to the waterways, to call and find out more. No booking is required for this event, which is part of the free Let’s programme supported by the People’s Postcode Lottery.

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October 2022

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WELCOME I AM writing this month’s Welcome during the period of national mourning for HM The Queen with many of our normal activities having been affected during this period as we all join in offering our condolences to the Royal Family.

A large proportion of the UK’s population have never known life without Queen Elizabeth II at the helm and with a new monarch and prime minister the coming months will signal a period of great change.

In this edition we mark the end of summer with reports from events which have taken place during the glorious weather of the past few weeks. Phil Pickin reports from the rally hosted by the Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal Society at Bratch Locks to celebrate the canal’s 250th anniversary while Les Heath visited both the IWA Festival of Water at Burton upon Trent – see his report on page 20 – and the second Shardlow Inland Port Festival on page 22.

We also have reports from the Brownhills Canal Festival on page 21 and the Angel Canal Festival on page 23, both events making successful returns.

Tim Coghlan brings us the delightful story of Sylvia Mudiman, whose parents had worked Tyseley in the early 60s. She revisited the boat she had lived on as a child and which has been the travelling base of the Mikron Theatre Company for more than 40 years. See the feature on page 18.

I visited one of the monthly open days hosted by the Erewash Preservation & Development Association at the Sandiacre Lock Cottages at the junction of the Erewash and Derby & Sandiacre Canals where everyone was making the most of the summer sunshine. See page 15. And the Leicester or East Midlands Ring is the subject of this month’s Cool Canals journey on page 74.

As I write the sun is still shining, let’s make the most of it before winter sets in.

Sir William O’Brien, chairman of the Kennet & Avon Canal Trust, talks to the Queen at the ceremony on Caen Hill Flight in Devizes on August 8, 1990, to celebrate the reopening of the Kennet & Avon Canal after a 40-year campaign and restoration work by supporters of the canal. The reopening of the canal re-established the inland waterways link from Bristol to London. PHOTO: BOB NAYLOR/WATERMARX MEDIA

The Queen on board the Kennet & Avon Canal Trust boat, The Rose of Hungerford, reopens the Kennet & Avon Canal on August 8, 1990. PHOTO: BOB NAYLOR/WATERMARX MEDIA

Patron of the Canal & River Trust, HRH the Prince of Wales, had a trip on the Coventry Canal as part of a visit on May 25, 2021, showcasing preparations for the UK City of Culture celebrations. Hosted by CRT chairman Allan Leighton, pictured on his left, the Prince visited the former Daimler factory beside the canal and now home to the arts, before boarding the working heritage boat Scorpio for a boat ride to Coventry Canal Basin. PHOTO: CRT

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Editor Janet Richardson jrichardson@mortons.co.uk Publisher Tim Hartley Group advertising manager Sue Keily Advertising sales team leader Tania Shaw – 01507 529489 tshaw@mortons.co.uk Editorial design Chris Abrams Production editor Pauline Hawkins Publishing director Dan Savage Commercial director Nigel Hole Contact us Customer services 01507 529529 Telephone lines are open: MondayFriday 8.30am-5pm. help@classicmagazines.co.uk www.classicmagazines.co.uk News & editorial Tel: 01507 529466. Fax: 01507 529495 editorial@towpathtalk.co.uk Published by Mortons Media Group Ltd, Media Centre, Morton Way, Horncastle, Lincs, LN9 6JR Tel: 01507 523456. Fax: 01507 529301 Printed by Mortons Print Ltd. Tel. 01507 523456 Next issue – October 27, 2022

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Harry Arnold receiving the MBE for Services to Inland Waterways from the Queen at an investiture on October 9, 2012. An acclaimed waterways journalist, photographer and author, in his later years Harry was also a regular contributor to Towpath Talk until his death in November 2018.

Using a ceremonial brass windlass, HRH Prince Charles, the Prince of Wales, officially reopens Welshpool Lock during his first visit to the Montgomery Canal on May 23, 1974. PHOTO: HARRY ANOLD/

HRH Prince Charles, the Prince of Wales – then captain of the minesweeper Bronington – officially opens a restored length of the Montgomery Canal by demonstrating his skills in steering Heulwen Sunshine through the replacement Moors Lift Bridge on May 23, 1976. Funds for this specially designed boat to carry children with special needs were raised by IWA members.

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Continued from page 1

Trust’s royal connections

Following the formation of the Canal & River Trust as a charity in 2012, the then Prince of Wales became its patron and has supported the trust’s work as an advocate for British heritage, nature and communities.

According to CRT: “His Majesty King Charles III has maintained a long interest in waterways and even rolled

up his sleeves to work as a volunteer on the Montgomery Canal nearly 50 years ago. More recently he visited Coventry, taking a boat trip during preparations for the City of Culture celebrations in 2021.”

Previously he had met young volunteers carrying out conservation work on the canals in Stoke on Trent in 2014 and opened the first phase of the restored Cotswold Canals in 2018.

The Queen Elizabeth II Canal at The Helix, Falkirk. PHOTO: JANET RICHARDSON

NEWS 3

www.towpathtalk.co.uk October 2022

Remembering the ‘father of English canals’ SEPTEMBER 27, 2022, marked the 250th anniversary of the death of ‘the father of English canals’, engineer James Brindley. On that day, his last canal – the North Oxford – had reached just below Hillmorton Locks.

Local canal heritage group, the Old Mortonians, planned for years to mark the occasion but, according to chairman Ian Lauder, had various plans confounded by the Canal & River Trust.

He told us: “Last year we put forward a plan for a simple A2 size lectern style information board opposite the old arm that was where his canal had reached on the day he died. After making official application via the events officer early last year, attending site meetings and providing the local manager with every piece of information she requested, we paid for the lectern to be made.

“The information graphic was completed by Rugby Borough Council

marketing department and we paid for it to be printed on an aluminium sheet.

The mayor was booked to unveil it.”

But on September 12, the Old Mortonians received an email from

CRT stating that because they had not done an appraisal or obtained planning permission – which is not needed for a tiny A2 tourist information sign – they would not permit the society to

go ahead with the unveiling of its new information graphic.

We have reproduced it here on this page so, suggests Ian: “People can stand at the spot and hold it up to read.”

DLEY 1716 - 1772 The Father Of English Canals

ily, his working life started as an apprentice wheelwright which led re-designing waterwheel-driven mills. James became a renowned ngineer, favouring contour canals to avoid costly tunnels and locks. ame James was commissioned to construct a canal to link Coventry y, he was not to live to see it completed. Ironically, HILLMORTON LOCKSat this very spot, undations of lock chambers sinking in sandy soil, delayed progress.

JAMES 1716 - 1772 Englishthe Canals ad, you can seeBRINDLEY the now disused canal The armFather which of is where last Born into a on poor family, working started as an apprentice wheelwright which led to him had reached the hisday helife1716 died on 27thbecame September 1772. repairing and re-designing waterwheel-driven JamesThe a renowned inventor and JAMES BRINDLEY -mills.

1772 Father Of English Canals

Rugby Visitor Centre Little Elborow Street, Rugby CV21 3BZ E: visitor.centre@rugby.gov.uk T: 01788 533217

canal engineer, favouring contour canals to avoid costly tunnels and locks.

Born into aofpoor family, hiswas working life started as an apprentice wheelwright which led At the height his fame, James commissioned to construct a canal to link Coventry with Oxford, sadly, he and was not to live to see waterwheel-driven it completed. Ironically, at this very spot, problems to himbut repairing re-designing mills.

James became a renowned with the foundations of lock chambersfavouring sinking in sandy soil, delayed inventor and canal engineer, contour canals progress. to avoid costly tunnels and locks.

Looking canJames see the was now disused canal arm to which is where athe last ever At the straight heightahead, of his you fame commissioned construct canal to link Coventry Brindley Canal had reached on the day he died on 27th September 1772.

with Oxford, but sadly, he was not to live to see it completed. Ironically, at this very spot,

On display arewith a pair of the cast iron Lock as installed here in 1840. set refurbished by problems the foundations ofGates, lock chambers sinking in Asandy soil, delayed progress.

British Waterways at a cost of £40,000 is still in use today. Life expectancy of a modern gate is Looking straight ahead, you can see the now disused canal arm which is where the last just 25 years!

ever Brindley Canal had reached on the day he died on 27th September 1772.

of the cast iron Lock Gates, as installed here in 1840. A tish Waterways at a cost of £40,000 is still in use today. modern gate is just 25 years!

display are a pair of the cast~ iron Lock Gates, as installed here in heritage 1840. A ded byOnOLD MORTONIANS the Hillmorton Locks group Designed and Funded by OLD MORTONIANS ~ is thestill Hillmorton Locks heritage group set refurbished by British Waterways at a cost of £40,000 in use today. th to mark 250th of the death of James Brindley. k the 250 anniversary of thethe death of James Brindley Life expectancy of a modern gate is just 25anniversary years!

Designed and Funded by OLD MORTONIANS ~ the Hillmorton Locks heritage group @therugbytown to mark the 250th @therugbytown anniversary of the death of James Brindleywww.therugbytown.co.uk

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About the Hillmorton Locks Work began on the Oxford Canal in 1769 but engineer James Brindley died in 1772 before the locks could be completed in 1774, the canal eventually reaching Oxford in 1789.

It became one of the most important and profitable transport links in Britain with a principal traffic in coal from Coventry and surrounding mines to London. The completion of the Grand Junction Canal in 1805 providing a more direct route from the Midlands to London, reduced Oxford Canal traffic south of Napton. However, the short section between Braunston and Napton became the link between the Warwick and Napton Canal and the Grand Junction Canal, making it part of the busy direct route between Birmingham and London.

With the advent of the railways and the need to compete, the contourhugging section of the Oxford from Hawkesbury to Braunston was straightened in the 1820s, reducing the distance by nearly 15 miles. This immediately challenged the capacity of the flight of three locks at Hillmorton, the first on the canal after the stop lock at Hawkesbury Junction.

The solution to the congestion was to duplicate or twin the existing locks at Hillmorton, creating three pairs of two parallel narrow locks, which allowed for twice the traffic to pass the lock at any time. The work to double the locks was completed in August 1840.

The locks were designed to act as mutual side ponds, with a paddle between the locks enabling water to be transferred from one chamber to that adjacent, thereby saving water. Although no longer operational the winding gear can still be seen between the locks today.

The improvements allowed a large increase in traffic, with 20,859 vessels recorded passing through the Hillmorton Locks in 1842. Each lock was supplied with large, cast-iron gates, as opposed to the more usual timber gates. Lock 2 retains the now rare cast-iron gates which imbue it with special interest and is therefore designated as a Grade II Listed.

Today the Hillmorton Locks are the busiest on the network.

Information taken from Hillmorton Locks website.

the

4 NEWS

October 2022

www.towpathtalk.co.uk

Boaters lose homes in Thames weir incident

By Phil Pickin

A COUPLE have been left homeless after an incident on the River Thames in which a weir was emptied, causing their boat to sink.

Two other boats on residential moorings also sank after the weir gate was opened at the Sandford weir structure, causing the water level to plummet rapidly.

The incident happened near the hydro-electric plant at Sandford-uponThames in May. The hydro-electric site was first operational in 2017, built as a result of a community fundraising effort led by the Low Carbon Hub – “a social enterprise that’s out to prove we can meet our energy needs in a way that’s good for people and good for the planet”, according to its website. The facility was designed to power almost 500 homes in the area per year.

Tim Wiseman’s narrowboat Tallis was one of the trio that sank despite the efforts of Oxfordshire fire and rescue crews to try and save the craft from submerging. He and his wife Charlotte were not on board at the time.

He said: “One of the large weir structures at the site used to manage water levels on the river was opened, rapidly draining a channel of the river as millions of litres of water flooded over the open gates. It remains unclear why the gates were opened, but it is believed to have been a fault, not an act of vandalism.”

As a result of the water levels dropping so suddenly, three houseboats sank, causing thousands of pounds’ damage and leaving people homeless.

Mr Wiseman said he and his wife have lived on board Tallis for 14 years but due to the damage caused during the incident they remain without a home after they “lost everything due to the sinking”.

They have been left living with neighbours while they try to refit their boat, which was raised but had suffered serious water damage.

Since the incident, it is understood that the Environment Agency, which granted a licence to operate the power plant, has closed the site until the cause of the incident can be determined.

Mr Wiseman has been pressing Sandford Hydro Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Low Carbon Hub, and the Environment Agency for answers and for someone to take responsibility for the incident.

However, nearly three months on, there is still no information available, he said. Local MP Anneliese Dodds and

One of the other sunken narrowboats. PHOTOS: TIM WISEMAN

city councillors have also intervened to demand a quicker response.

Mr Wiseman commented: “Nearly three months have now passed and we are still without answers or anyone taking responsibility.

“We have lost our home, possessions and spent thousands on alternative accommodation.

“It is fortunate that no one was seriously hurt when the boats were sunk, which happened in the middle of the night. When will someone take responsibility?”

Not operational

Low Carbon Hub’s CEO, Dr Barbara Hammond, explained that the incident occurred at Sandford weir, not Sandford hydro-electric plant, which was not operational at the time due to the dry summer.

The weir is operated by the Environment Agency and is used to manage water levels on the Thames south of Oxford. The Sandford-onThames hydro-electric plant was built as an extension to the weir.

Dr Hammond added: “The incident is in the hands of insurers, as is normal

The Wisemans’ narrowboat Tallis which sank after river levels fell rapidly when a weir was opened. in these situations and so I am afraid all I can tell you is that investigations are not yet complete. With regard to compensation, my understanding is that boaters’ insurers will have paid out directly to them and will then reclaim those sums from the insurers of those whose liability is established.

“I therefore don’t have any details of any insurance claims paid out and am not aware that any other type of compensation has been paid.”

She went on to apologise that she was unable to give a more detailed response.

A River Canal Rescue team secure the stricken boat.

The Low Carbon Hub’s website states: “Following a fall in river levels in the Sandford reach on Sunday, May 29, 2022 we are working with Environment Agency staff and insurers to support the ongoing investigation as to the cause.

“Due to seasonal river conditions at the time, the hydro generators were switched off and not operational when the incident occurred.”

Towpath Talk also contacted the Environment Agency, which said it was unable to comment on this issue at the moment.

The sight facing the Wisemans following the sinking.

Planning inquiry ‘misled’ over assessment into boaters’ needs, claims NBTA ELMBRID GE Borough Council did not reveal that it had carried out a Boat Dweller Accommodation Needs Assessment almost six weeks before it reported to a planning inquiry on March 15, 2022 according to the National Bargee Travellers Association.

NBTA claims that the council stated that its study had just begun in order to boost its case for removing boat dwellers who are moored on unregistered land on the River Thames.

The council had served planning enforcement notices on the boat dwellers in August 2019 to try to get them removed, which prompted the boat dwellers to apply for planning consent for the moorings in 2020. When this was refused, the boaters appealed to the Planning Inspectorate.

If the Planning Inspector had known that the Boat Dweller Accommodation Needs Assessment had been completed on February 3, 2022 and that it concluded there was a need for at least 10 residential moorings in the borough, the boaters’ appeal may well have succeeded, according to NBTA. Local Planning Authorities are required under Paragraph 62 of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) to assess and reflect need in their planning policies via a strategy and action. As it was, the applications for planning consent were rejected, apart

from temporary permission of two years for a family with a child under the age of five.

The Planning Inspector’s decision stated in Paragraph 51 that: “I am told that the council is now currently undertaking a needs assessment.

However, this is not currently in the public domain and so there is no evidence before me on the level of demand for permanent residential moorings and whether this would be addressed or met through a future development plan examination process or by some other means, and the timescales for doing so.”

NBTA claims that the council also failed to use the Boat Dweller Accommodation Needs Assessment to inform and shape planning policy in its Draft Local Plan for 2022 to 2037, published on June 17, 2022. It was left up to boat dwellers to discover that the needs assessment had in fact been published and now formed part of the Local Plan Evidence Base.

The south bank of the River Thames forms the entirety of the eight-mile northern boundary of Elmbridge, yet the Draft Local Plan fails to address the needs of those known to be living on so-called ‘unauthorised moorings’ according to NBTA. Planning consultant Alison Heine represented some of the boat dwellers in the planning appeal. She said: “The approach taken

A typical Lower Thames mooring. PHOTO: NBTA

by Elmbridge Council lacks fairness, transparency and proper engagement with those most affected by this matter. It is hard to avoid the conclusion that the February 2022 Boat Dweller Accommodation Needs Assessment was deliberately withheld.

“In 2019 a report by Elmbridge Council stated that there were around 50 to 80 boats moored along the River Thames allegedly ‘without consent’ within the borough and there was a need to address this in the Local Plan. This has not happened.”

She added: “In addition, the public had just one opportunity, in the consultation on the Draft Local Plan which ended on July 29, to comment on the Boat Dweller Accommodation Needs Assessment. This will be the one and only chance to examine its methodology, assumptions and findings.”

Rex Walden, vice-chairman of the Residential Boat Owners Association (RBOA), said that the Boat Dweller Accommodation Needs Assessment was a very poor piece of work: “The survey was carried out in January – arguably trying to conduct a survey of this type in the winter is of questionable value. Many liveaboard boaters on rivers like the Thames find a ‘safe haven’ for the winter months so they are unlikely to be bankside unless they have found a very secure mooring.

“During the period of the survey, the river was moving on and off Yellow and Red Boards indicating strong stream conditions. From the map provided it appears that the researcher was on the opposite side of the river to Elmbridge most of the time and did not survey all of the river frontage in the borough.

The most worrying aspect

is that Elmbridge Council appear to have accepted this very flawed plan without demanding it is corrected.”

Steve Cross and Fatmir Kastrati, who have been moored at Molesey in Elmbridge for 16 and 13 years respectively, said: “After reviewing the Boat Dweller Accommodation Needs Assessment and Elmbridge Council’s comments on it, we are enraged at the injustice of it all. This report does not fulfil the boaters’ needs.”

Section 124 of the Housing and Planning Act 2016 brought boat dwellers into the ambit of local authority accommodation needs assessments in England for the first time. The National Bargee Travellers Association (NBTA) had been campaigning for this change in the law since 2009.

NBTA chairman Pamela Smith concluded: “So far the outcome has been very patchy. Not all Local Housing Authorities where there are navigable waterways even know they need to include boat dwellers in accommodation needs assessments. A few have researched the needs of boat dwellers in depth, but this has not yet led to adequate provision of either temporary or permanent moorings for boat dwellers in the locations where they are required. We recommend that local authorities follow our Best Practice Guide for Boat Dweller Accommodation Needs Assessments.”

www.towpathtalk.co.uk www.towpathtalk.co.uk October 2022

October 2022

NEWS 55

Music and ice creams beside the canal basin

AFTER a slow start, crowds flocked to Louth Navigation Trust’s Waterway Community Festival on September 10 and 11 to enjoy live music beside the warehouse at the Riverhead Basin.

Over the weekend visitors could also see paddleboards and kayaks in action and, on the Sunday afternoon, members of the Cleethorpes Model Boat Association staged mock water battles and sailed their craft on the canal.

Town and canal historian Stuart Sizer was joined by 22 people for a heritage walk which he guided along the towpath and there were displays and refreshments inside the Riverhead warehouse which is the trust’s headquarters. Bensley’s ice cream van was also in attendance.

Applause for the musicians playing on the deck. PHOTO: JANET RICHARDSON

The York String Quartet providing classic entertainment on the Sunday afternoon. PHOTO: JANET RICHARDSON

Bensley’s ice creams were very popular on a warm afternoon. PHOTO: JANET RICHARDSON

Gary Hammond, a percussionist who was with Beautiful South, and Luke Carver-Goss on accordion play their set. On the wall above, tribute is paid with a photo of the late Queen Elizabeth II. PHOTO: JANET RICHARDSON

Members of Cleethorpes Model Boat Association sail their craft watched by a paddleboarder and kayaker. PHOTO: JANET RICHARDSON

Stuart Sizer, right of centre, with some of the people who enjoyed his heritage walk along the canal. PHOTO: LNT

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6 NEWS

October October2022 2022

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Society celebrates canal’s 250th anniversary Report & photos: Phil Pickin

AUGUST bank holiday weekend saw a significant birthday being celebrated by the Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal Society – the 250th anniversary of the opening of the canal.

The waterway between the River Severn and Autherley opened in 1772 and to mark the event a rally, attracting more than two dozen boats, was held just below the unique Bratch Locks in Wombourne in the West Midlands.

Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal’s actual birthday was on May 28 when, in 1772, it officially opened, having cost around £100,000 to build. It remained open and, apparently, prosperous until 1948, when commercial traffic ended.

According to society committee member Tony Gregory, previous rallies have attracted more significant numbers of boats which, although it made for an impressive sight, caused problems when trying to accommodate them all. Numbers

at this event were described as being ‘more manageable’.

The setting was ideal, as was the weather and many visitors attended to look at both traditional and modern boats.

A number of trading boats also participated and it was good to see groups of visitors interested in hearing the history of some of the craft from their current owners.

The event also benefited from the impressive locks as a backdrop, with many visitors taking time to walk up to the toll

house and watch the volunteer lock keepers help boats through.

Thankfully there was enough traffic to demonstrate the work of the lock keepers to visitors.

Current restrictions, caused by the drought conditions, did cause the organisers some concern before the event.

Society vice-president Chris Dyche, along with the Canal & River Trust’s chief executive Richard Parry, officially opened the event. A number of local councillors attended, along with good numbers of local people.

A narrowboat navigates Bratch Locks before passing the moored boats at the festival.

Visitors to the Bratch Locks Festival and Rally.

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COLIN WAREING Lancashire in January 2019. PHOTO:

eams for 2019 are revealed k’s TTop TTeams T k’s Towpath Talk a s, we bid farewell awn AS A new decade dawn t th to 2019 with the results of our Towpath Top Team award which has been k Top Talk r r. running throughout the year.

With four teams shortlisted for the final with vote it was a veryy close-run contest t volunteers ty the Grantham Canal Society taking the title by a short head.

Such was the support also for from Crusader Community Boating first Blisworth that we are awarding our a rd – something Community Boat awa f the we had alreadyy been planning for r r. coming year. of Commended are the Friends the River Nene and the Waterways Chaplaincy’s Martin and Fiona Buck.

Award presentations to our finalists

probe Boats gunshot investigating damage to narrowboats

POLICE are Officers were after gunshots were fired in Cambridge. a December 5, at around 10.15pm, ay, called on Thursday, f m shots fro after nearbyy residents reported hearing near boats on the what was believed to be an air rifle the window of one River Cam. Photographs off holes in a since been published. One resident ave of the boats have Chesterton the from told reporters thatt shots, coming moored at Browns side of the river, were fired at boats five about for on Field, Fen Ditton, and this went no injuries were minutes. Cambridgeshire Police said reported and enquiries were continuing.

r The r. will take place in the new year. off a winning team receives the hire day boat carrying up to 10 people, generously sponsored by ABC Leisure Group Ltd. The runner-up will receive a £100 voucher to spend at Midland four Chandlers at Braunston and all donation finalists will receive a £100 towards their volunteering organisation the from Mortons Media Group Ltd,

Talk. tth Tal publisher of Towpath Our thanks go to the readers who rose of to the challenge of finding a group a gone that extra ave unsung heroes who have f their local stretch off towpath, mile for a association or ays canal or river, waterways a our judging ave community boat – and gave the panel a difficult job of shortlisting four finalists.

• Continued on page 2

found on a boat moored Ouse bodies t achievemen f nd 100-dayCommunity of two men were fou Action Network (UCAN) THE bodies were called UPPERMILL after starting achieved its 100-day volunteering milestone 2300 hours of out in 2015. This included more than who, according voluntary work achieved by local people to, crafting to UCAN, “care about, and are committed environment”. and maintaining our beautiful local and for the positive Thanks were given to all supporters, work parties will feedback from the community. The next 8 and 20. The usual be on January 4 and 23, and February on Moorgate meeting point is 10am at the canal bridge Killan on 01457 Street but this can change. Contact Peter 878361 or peterkillan@hotmail.com

Y k city centre. Emergency services in Yor at around 8pm to Lendal Bridge on the River Ouse said officers on December 4. North Yorkshire Police f two men for attended “after concerns were raised with their touch in their 60s who had been out of bodies. Fire .” Upon arrival officers found the family.”

The deaths and ambulance services both attended. although did were being treated as ‘unexplained’ a post-mortem not appear to be suspicious and The men had not examination was due to take place.

Talk went to press. tth Tal been identified when Towpath

11/12/2019 10:17:16

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NEWS 7

www.towpathtalk.co.uk October 2022

Rescue of boats stranded

by Anderton lift closure The boaters’ meeting at Anderton.

AN UNEXPECTED flotilla of narrowboats recently delighted visitors at the National Waterways Museum in Ellesmere Port, Cheshire as the vessels travelled on to the Shropshire Union Canal from the Manchester Ship Canal.

The Canal & River Trust helped more than 40 boats trapped on the River Weaver Navigation, after the Anderton Boat Lift unfortunately had to be closed in mid-August for safety reasons.

Normally they would return to the rest of the inland waterway network by taking a passage through the lift

The flotilla of narrowboats heading out into the Manchester Ship Canal.

PHOTOS: LYNN PEGLER/CRT

back up to the Trent & Mersey Canal.

The trust’s customer services team contacted all affected boaters individually to make arrangements for safe passage on to the Manchester Ship Canal along which they were guided by pilots. A special talk was held at Anderton Boat Lift to give advice from an independent surveyor, who also assessed each boat to ensure it was seaworthy.

Anderton Boat Lift is unfortunately closed for the rest of the boating season following a problem with a broken ‘shoot bolt bracket’ on one of the gates at the top of the boat lift.

This is an extra safety feature which would hold the gate up if the supporting cables were to fail.

Trust engineers have carried out extensive surveys of the faulty equipment and reluctantly decided that the lift will need to be out of action for the rest of the boating season. The repair needed will affect all the gates at the site, requiring the installation of new equipment in the gate lifting mechanisms.

The boat lift, the world’s first, is a unique structure so new components have to be designed, manufactured and tested, which is not a quick process.

In the meantime, Anderton Boat Lift visitor centre is very much open for business as usual and boat trips are available along the River Weaver Navigation to Northwich.

Five of the narrowboats being helped through Marsh Lock at the end of the River Weaver Navigation.

Weaver operations team leader Alan Wrench winding the lock.

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October October2022 2022

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Roar of approval for boating return

Clearing the way Part of the cleared channel. PHOTO SUPPLIED IN RECENT months, Bradley Canal Restoration Society volu nte ers have been clearing the overhanging boughs and trees from Moorcroft Junction up to the foot of Lock 9.

They have also cleared the undergrowth, making it once more look like a canal and recently have concentrated on

clearing the area around the infilled Locks 8 and 9, mainly uprooting the Himalayan balsam.

The remains of the channel were then evident and it was the society’s wish that some proper dredging could be undertaken.

Unbeknown to members of the society, contractors arrived on site and cleared the channel thanks to the

Canal & River Trust.

Work parties were due to restart in mid-September when it was planned to expose the wall edging under the Metro Tram bridge.

On the other side of the Great Bridge Road, a radar survey will be undertaken to ascertain the condition of the seven infilled locks up to the Wolverhampton level.

Book and music shop opens in Stonehouse

The new book and music shop in Stonehouse. PHOTO: CCT

TOWPATH

TALK

WHETHER it’s a classic vinyl album you’ve been searching for or that rare cookery book from another century you are sure to find it at one of the largest book and music shops in the area.

On the back of a very successful first year in Brimscombe, the Cotswold Canals Trust has just opened its second charity book shop in Stonehouse.

Located next to the library, just inside Queen Road, it promises to offer a vast selection of books, board games, DVDs and an eclectic selection of music from CD to vinyl.

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Volunteer-run, all proceeds go towards restoring the Stroudwater Canal & Thames & Severn Canals. Mike Richter, who runs both the charity’s bookshops, said: “This is a great milestone for the trust in what is our 50th anniversary year. We are proud to have achieved a fantastic year at Brimscombe and are now bringing a very large collection into town. If last year is anything to go by, we will continue to feature some diverse and interesting genres and we thank our customers for providing us with such a rich variety of books and music.”

Before the inauguration, Stonehouse Mayor Gary Powell said: “We are delighted to welcome new businesses into Stonehouse. Given the vital role the canal plays in the environmental and social welfare of our town, it’s wonderful to be supporting this new book and music shop that will serve our community.”

The books, in excellent or near new condition, range upwards from 50p.

There is also a cosy corner with seating for children to browse and read.

Cotswold Canals Trust is always on the lookout for volunteers in a wide range of roles. Anyone interested in supporting it can make contact through the website at https:// cotswoldcanals.org/volunteer/ volunteering-opportunities/

A RETURN of boat hire and cruises to Evesham has been greeted with a roar of approval.

The colourful green and red dragon pedalos have become particularly popular with DIY boating locals and tourists who have been queuing up to chill out on the beautiful River Avon.

Laid-back cruises on board Easy Tiger have also been a big hit thanks to Avon Navigation Trust (ANT) and Wychavon District Council working in partnership to bring back pleasure boating to the town’s crowd-pulling parks.

ANT has engaged delivery partners Bonkers Activities and Severn Leisure to operate from the Abbey Park and Workman Gardens’ moorings.

“The trust is very happy to support our river users and towns, which are promoting the river for the benefit of both communities and visitors,” said Clive Matthews, chief executive of ANT, which has launched the William James mobile River Avon Welcome Centre and has sited its youth and volunteering flagship Neptune in Evesham.

“We have had such a lot of positive feedback from people who are delighted to be able to enjoy being on the river as part of their day out.”

Evesham’s mayor and father of three, Coun Mark Goodge, said his family was among those loving being able to mess about on the river.

“As a riverside town, the Avon is a really important part of our leisure industry and economy and it’s great to see people enjoying the river again at weekends and in school holidays,” he commented.

Severn Leisure’s 12-seater Easy Tiger offers 45 to 60-minute trips on a first come first served basis from Hampton Ferry and Abbey Park.

Bonkers’ Evesham Dragon Watersports team is hiring

out pedalos, paddleboards and katakanus with more activities planned.

Wychavon District Council has also welcomed the success.

Coun Mark Ward, executive board member for economic growth and tourism for Wychavon District Council, said: “It’s great to see Evesham’s fabulous River Avon being used for leisure activities.

“This underpins the first strategic objective of the Evesham Town Centre Investment Prospectus which is to develop Evesham as a leisure destination, a great day out and making the most of its picturesque River Avon setting in the Vale of Evesham.”

Evesham Mayor Coun Mark Goodge is pictured on board one of the colourful dragons with his children Ellie, aged 15, Abigail, 12 and three-year-old Nathaniel. PHOTO: ANT

Towpath ‘ton-up boys’ and Crickheath South project starts THE second August work party was well attended by Shropshire Union Canal volunteers despite being in the middle of the holiday season. The weather again was very kind, which resulted in another very productive three days.

Its principal aim was to develop as much of the towpath reconstruction as possible. The complete 330m length has to have wooden shuttering on the inside and outside edges, and then the middle section has to be dressed with graded stone and dust.

A small team passed the 100m mark on the second day and by close of play on Sunday had a total of 125m chalked off. The two September work parties were attempting to complete the remaining metres.

Other work saw another 2000 concrete blocks being laid to advance the lined channel to within 15m of the winding hole at Crickheath near Llanymynech. The connection to the winding hole, which is in water retained behind a large clay dam, will be made at the start of October.

The existing clay dam will be replaced by a temporary fabric dam while the clay is removed. The channel will then be incrementally filled with this water to test it.

More riprap stone and soil have been added to exposed areas of the

metre section above the blocks. Riprap is designed to reduce the erosive effect of wash created by boat propellers.

Heritage Lottery funding that has financed the project will end in October, hence the need to complete all work by the end of the month. The pressure is on to meet this deadline, but each session now is significantly reducing the massive task.

The second big advance this month was the start of preliminary work for the next project, the channel beyond Crickheath Bridge to the new Schoolhouse Bridge. The fence posts were installed in the new compound area and the fence materials were due to follow later in the week.

Thanks go to Tudor Griffiths builder’s merchants who generously supplied the hard core for the new compound base and also continued thanks go to Lloyd’s Animal Feeds, for its very generous provision of the group’s current compound site.

Anyone interested in becoming a volunteer should access the website https://shropshireunion. org.uk/work-party-schedule for details of dates and contacts, also https://shropshireunion. org.uk/restoration for news and information.

Flattening the towpath.

Lining and blocking in progress.

The first fence post on the new Project 2023 compound. PHOTOS: SU PUBLICITY

More contractors appointed by CRT THE Canal & River Trust has appointed seven further contractors to work alongside JN Bentley and Kier to carry out construction and engineering projects over the next decade.

The seven new contracts have a potential worth of about £300 million, bringing the trust’s civil engineering contracts total to around £800 million,

and are part of its largest award of waterway engineering contracts. Amco, Breheny, CPC Civils, Forkers, Jacksons, Land & Water and Onsite have been appointed to deliver less complex projects on a regional basis, including those funded by third parties such as towpath and access improvements.

These contractors

will play an important role in supporting the trust and working alongside JN Bentley and Kier, who cover the north and south of the network respectively and will carry out the largest restoration and repair projects, including responding to dynamic situations, such as flooding or canal breaches.

JN Bentley and Kier will also undertake

non-complex works alongside the seven new contractors.

Malcolm Horne, chief infrastructure and programmes officer at CRT, said: “I am delighted to welcome our new contractors who will be working with us.

They will be carrying out a suite of projects that will improve the experience for local communities, boaters and visitors,

enabling more people to experience the benefits of spending time by the water.”

The new contracts are awarded for a period of up to 10 years from August 2022, with an initial term of four years, followed by extension options of a further six years.

A rigorous six-stage tender process was carried out over a 20-month period.

CHARACTER/PETS 9

www.towpathtalk.co.uk October 2022

Pets afloat For the love of dogs – and cats

By Alison Wilkerson

Writer and poet Nancy Campbell.

Nancy’s caravan home beside the Oxford Canal.

Characters of the Cut Nancy Campbell, writer

By Alice Griffin

DESPITE growing up in the Scottish Borders and Northumberland – a part of the UK sparse on canals – writer Nancy Campbell has developed a deep love for our inland waters.

Moving south to university she encountered her first human-made waterway, the South Oxford Canal, and it soon became her peaceful place. “My towpath walks took me out of the city to find new perspectives on the dreaming spires; a haven of nature which was a relief in this unfamiliar, densely populated landscape.

The peaceful environment offered time and space to develop my ideas and relax away from the pressure of studies.”

Since that time Nancy has been appointed Canal Laureate by the Poetry Society and Canal & River Trust and, during her two-year tenure (201819), kayaked a significant amount of the 2000 miles of waterways, meeting those who lived and worked on them while gathering material for poems.

For the past two years she has lived alongside moorings just outside Oxford in her caravan, sited on a strip of neglected woodland between water and rail track. “I appreciate the comradeship I have found on the canal, especially after emerging from a difficult and lonely lockdown. My encounters with boaters have been warm and I am grateful for their willingness to share knowledge.”

It is this experience, of living alongside the canal, that she so beautifully details in her latest book, Thunderstone. This intimate and honest memoir feels somewhat like the journals of Henry Thoreau during his experiment in deliberate living at Walden and Nancy cites writers such as Thoreau as inspirations.

“I have always admired and been inspired by writers who have a working engagement with the environment and the cycle of the seasons.”

However, a book was not at the forefront of her mind when she first moved into her caravan: “Of course I keep a diary, but my move into the woods by the canal was purely a practical arrangement and had not been intended as ‘research’ for a literary project.” She soon realised, though, that the diary she was keeping about life in the caravan might have the makings of a book.

For more than a decade Nancy has dedicated her time to witnessing and writing on environmental change so while Thunderstone is an exploration of living alternatively, it is also very much about humans’ relationship to the land.

As she shares: “I appreciate being immersed in nature with wrens and robins as my neighbours and even the occasional heron but I am also very aware that the green space I live in is a human construct. Of course that could apply to much of the ‘natural’ landscape of the UK, but the canals are somewhere one is especially aware of it.”

We discuss how only 200 years ago canals were once seen as industrial futures but now, as the country is increasingly crossed by roads and railways and contrails, “these vestiges of a former transport network ironically offer green corridors for nature, leisure and relaxation.”

Throughout her book we are treated to poetic details on the impact of human activity on our nature

spaces and how it is possible to live alongside peacefully. “As I’m falling asleep, I listen to the trains pass, making a banshee scream or a sound like a bullet that pierces the van. Sometimes in the hush that follows I catch another sound, a faint electronic sigh, as the points change. The trains make the wildness. Without the occasional scream and the shaking, I would not appreciate the silence and stillness.”

Living a transient lifestyle has provided opportunity for immersion in the various locations featured in Nancy’s writing but while this has been in part spurred on by the desire to observe environmental change, it has also been due to financial insecurity and housing precarity growing up. “I hadn’t known stability and so I didn’t put any value on it.” Now however, she acknowledges her work with the waterways as the beginning of trying to live a more local, low-carbon lifestyle, positively supporting rather than merely witnessing biodiversity.

“I suppose one of the changes that takes place in the course of the action of Thunderstone is understanding the need to exchange my nomadic, wandering existence for something that has a deeper, more permanent engagement with locality.” It seems her home on the fringes is the perfect place to gently put down these roots and slowly learn to live with a little more commitment among like-minded folk. “Like writers, many people on the waterways are outsiders by nature, a bit unconventional – we get along well as a result.”

Living the low-carbon lifestyle. PHOTOS SUPPLIED Thunderstone: A true story of losing one home and discovering another, by Nancy Campbell (Elliott & Thompson) is available in hardback online and at all good bookshops.

Website: www.nancycampbell.co.uk Twitter & Instagram: @nancycampbelle Alice Griffin is a wandering writer living and working aboard her narrowboat, Melody.

She leads nature-inspired e-courses that bring us back to the earth, and ourselves.

Her course — Ageless Autumn — began recently! www.alicegriffin.co.uk/ecourses

I LOVE craft fayres and markets, especially floating ones, where you discover a plethora of goods created on boats by their artistic, and sometimes famous, owners.

At one such floating market which I had seen advertised by the Roving Canal Traders Association (RCTA) www.rcta. org.uk, on the Grand Union Canal in Milton Keynes, I stumbled across a fabulously decorated bunting-clad widebeam called C’est la vie. It is owned by Lorraine and Phil who make and sell amazing home accessories (see Inspired Home Crafts – www.facebook. com/ihcrafts) and gifts including bunting of course, in various designs and lengths.

Bowler hat-wearing Lorraine advised that they had taken early retirement five years ago and had purchased their Vetus VH4.65 (65hp engine) boat, their first, from Nottingham Boat Company from new, having seen it at the Crick Boat Show; which is always worth attending.

It was actually the show boat and their main requirement was that it was bright inside with no carpets as they had four cats and one dog at the time of purchase.

Paddy and Millie sitting together in the stern.

PHOTO: ALISON WILKERSON

They then moved from a house to live aboard their new floating home. After a year of cruising and sewing, they decided to start selling the creations at shows and fayres on land but then attended and started selling at floating markets from their lovely boat.

Sitting on the canopy-covered stern with Lorraine was sweet 14-year-old shih tzu dog Millie, who turned out to be famous having been on Paul O’Grady’s TV programme For the Love of Dogs. Millie, who was seven at the time, had been featured (as had Lorraine and Phil) and was indeed officially a #pogdog, who had also been on a Pets at Home advert ...yes I did ask for her pawtograph!

Upon adoption she had to be socialised and taught how to play, plus unfortunately she had cancer but recovered. She has had cancer twice since and now has sight and possible hearing issues but Phil has made

alterations on the boat to assist her. Luckily, she is good with cats and dogs; her favourite toy is Spiky the hedgehog and her favourite food is cooked chicken which is much easier to eat as most of her teeth have been removed.

Also with Millie was a rather pretty Birman cat called Paddy whom they purchased from a breeder as a kitten, along with his brother who has since died.

They also had a 7/8 year-old moggie cat called Digby who was nowhere to be seen as he was probably in the bushes, which is where he spends most of his time when moored up. He is rather independent and had been feral prior to them adopting him, as his previous owners had left him behind when they moved.

Luckily he always gets back on the boat and even when they had to move their boat in the past, he actually waited in the same vicinity for them to return.

BoatTrips.ie go the extra mile to ensure K9 boat trippers are safe Barge Beagle – sniffing out good finds for crews with canines

By Alison Alderton

MANY boat trip providers now permit dogs but, when boarding, how often have you been offered a lifejacket or Personal Flotation Device (PFD) for your four-legged companion? Not many would be my reply.

Cliff Reid of B o at T r i p s. i e is leading the way in not only permitting dogs on his open boat river trips but also in helping them stay safe on the water and has also discovered more unexpected benefits.

Barge Beagle recently caught up with Cliff to find out more: “Operating from Carlow Town and Kilkenny City, we at BoatTrips.ie offer customers both public and private cruises on the rivers Nore and Barrow. As dog owners ourselves, we love to see dogs out and about on the water and enjoying the boating life. Therefore, we offer customers the opportunity to bring their K9 friends aboard for private

boat tours. Over the past four years, and particularly through Covid, this has proven most popular.

“As part of the package, we offer and encourage customers to fit their furry friends with lifejackets that we provide. And, so far to date, all have taken us up on the offer.

Generally, people see the benefits of the lifejackets, after all, most see their four-legged buddies as being part of the family. So, wouldn’t you want to do what’s in the best interest of your family member?

“Dogs can often get very excited when aboard, particularly if it’s their first time out on the water. There are lots of different sights, sounds and smells around, most of which they have not experienced before. Likewise, they can also be nervous or, at times, overly confident around the gunnels. In a nutshell, they often act much like us humans when spending time on the water. Therefore, it’s

Charlie and his humans enjoy time on the water with BoatTrips.ie just as important for them to wear a PFD or lifejacket.

“We all know the benefits lifejackets give, such as providing buoyancy, preventing drowning and giving protection from cold water shock. But over the past year or two, we’ve witnessed some other benefits of our family pets donning a PFD. For example, we regularly see parents struggling to coax their little ones or toddlers into life vests. However, when Oscar, their best buddy (and our boatrips.ie resident dog), is styling a vibrant orange jacket, suddenly there is no longer an issue and all is at peace in the world.

“A cute little doggie in his boating gear will always guarantee

big smiles. So aside from all the benefits of saving your family pet or best friend, having your dog wear a life vest can often go a long way to encouraging the other precious members of your family to don a lifesaving PFD. “For us at BoatTrips. ie, as well as wanting to keep everybody safe, we want them to have a great experience on the water. The last thing any family wants is to lose their beloved pet to drowning so we would encourage all boaters, whether occasional or regular, to dress their furry friend in a PFD while out enjoying our fantastic waterways.”

Discover more at: www.boattrips.ie

10 NEWS

October 2022 October 2022

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Aqueduct Marina’s pride in games involvement

THE recent Commonwealth Games in Birmingham generated a considerable amount of pride in the athletic achievements of the competitors. The international contest was also a proud moment for Cheshire-based Aqueduct Marina, which supplied two boats to the Canal & River Trust just as the event began.

Aquarius II, a new electricpowered 35ft boat replacing the original craft Aquarius, was used to collect debris from the waterways in and around the Birmingham area during and after the games.

Mick Carrington, plant and equipment manager at the trust, said: “Aquarius II is going to be another essential workboat for our fleet. It will be a vast improvement on the old craft, providing improved performance from its battery-powered electric propulsion drive. The welfare provisions have been updated to provide 240-volt electrics and toilet facilities.

“The timely arrival of the new craft ensured, with the help of the trust’s dedicated volunteers, that Birmingham’s canals looked their best when the city welcomed thousands of visitors

for the Commonwealth Games.

In addition to Aquarius II, a fully refurbished Pennine Princess also took pride of place in Birmingham. Previously stationed at the Standedge Tunnel, the 50ft unpowered boat was fully refitted to provide a floating exhibition and media interview location close to the indoor arena in the city.

As a result, Pennine Princess was fitted with solar panels, a 240v system and new workstations.

The seating arrangement was

also changed, after which it was repainted and blacked.

Robert Parton, managing director of Aqueduct Marina, said: “We are proud to be supporting the Canal & River Trust to bring its workboat fleet up to modern standards and Aquarius II was made more interesting by its connection to the Commonwealth Games.

“It was also great to see Pennine Princess moored in such a prominent position during the games.”

Pennine Princess being used as a floating exhibition and interview location in Birmingham city centre during the games.

Canals can help alleviate water shortages

Aquarius II ready to join the Canal & River Trust’s workboat fleet. PHOTOS SUPPLIED

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THE Canal & River Trust has highlighted the role that its network can play in providing a more resilient UK water supply, including proposals to transfer water for millions more people who have been experiencing drought.

Already the nation’s canals transfer more than 300 million litres of water each day to supply millions of homes and businesses in Bristol, the South West and Cheshire. And the trust is working with the water industry to progress the use of the Grand Union Canal in the Midlands which, in the years ahead, will provide a daily transfer of up to a further 115 million litres of water from Severn Trent’s catchment in the Midlands to Affinity Water customers in Bedfordshire.

Chief executive Richard Parry said: “Because canals span river catchments, they are readymade to move water between water companies and to be a growing solution as the nation faces up to longer, drier summers. The pace with which these options are being considered must be accelerated if water supply is going to be treated as an urgent problem.”

The trust is also championing more than a dozen further schemes across the country using, for example, the Oxford Canal, and the Regent's

River Thames winter stoppages THE Environment Agency is investing £9 million as part of its annual programme of essential works along the non-tidal River Thames.

It is needed to replace or keep maintained 45 locks, their associated structures and towpath bridges, in reliable condition for the continued safe enjoyment of boaters and all visitors.

The following locks will be closed from the first date listed and will reopen on the day after the final date: October 31-December 23, 2022

Rushey Lock: Installation of lock chamber access steps.

October 31, 2022-January 27, 2023

Barby Lane, Barby, Rugby. CV23 8UJ Tel: 01788 890486 Mob: 07899 651306 Email: info@barbymoorings.co.uk Web: www.barbymoorings.co.uk

Canal in London, to transfer water for domestic supply. The schemes would utilise spare capacity in the canal network or use canals to move supply between water companies.

In addition to the canal network’s role in supplying and moving resource between water companies, the trust supplies canal water to industry to cool offices and data centres as an alternative to the use of drinking water supplies – sparing the use of costly treated drinking water where canals are a local alternative. Existing schemes are in London Docklands, West London and the Midlands.

Richard added: “Unlike constructing new pipelines or reservoirs, our 2000-mile Georgian network already exists, linking water company zones in a much more efficient way. The network is here to make the UK’s water supply more resilient and as affordable as possible for businesses and consumers.

“While this requires continued investment to maintain the network, our 250-year-old canals are already a key part of UK infrastructure and this offers a solution that is cheaper and more beneficial to wildlife, the environment, businesses and consumers.”

Romney L ock : L ock refurbishment, lock side resurfacing, wall work and additional safety fencing.

October 31, 2022-March 17, 2023

Culham Lock: Replacement of hydraulic hoses, inspection and maintenance of chamber,

installation of fenders on lock cut bridge.

Goring Lock: Lock chamber walkway resurfacing and concreting on lock edge.

Installation of safety fencing on the lock island.

Caversham Lock : Replacement of existing timbers on head landings on both banks in the lock cut.

Hambleden Lock: Repair of lock gate sluices.

Marlow Lock: Replacement of lock chamber timbers.

of a new downstream canoe portage.

Blakes Lock: Installation of two canoe portages in lock cut and weir stream.

Cookham Lock: Installation of safety fencing and improving access steps to water point.

Bray Lock: Installation of safety fencing.

Bray Mill: Weir and eel pass refurbishment.

Walton Bridge: Refurbishment of decking.

Other major works:

Shifford Lock: Welfare hut roofing and tree management along access track.

Eynsham: Naturalised fish pass channel refurbishment and bridge replacement.

Godstow weir: Replacement of weir structure and fish pass.

Sandford Lock : Tree management over boat storage and picnic areas and welfare hut roofing.

Abingdon Lock: Installation

Culham Lock will be closed from the end of October until mid-March.

PHOTO: JANET RICHARDSON

www.towpathtalk.co.uk www.towpathtalk.co.uk October 2022

October 2022

HERITAGE 11

PART OF MIDDLEWICH CANAL CENTRE

LD

B

O TS A O

This railway carriage print of the Norfolk Broads came in its original frame.

PHOTO: GW RAILWAYANA

Heritage under the hammer Geoff Courtney reports on the latest canalia auction scene that includes a piece of canal and railway history that went under the hammer for £1000.

The Paisley Canal totem sign sold for £1000. PHOTO: GREAT CENTRAL RAILWAYANA A RAILWAY totem sign from Paisley Canal station Another piece of inland waterways history that sold for £1000 in a live online auction held by went under the hammer was a Norfolk Broads Great Central Railwayana on September 3. railway carriage print that sold for £180 (+ buyer’s Two reasons for the high price are that totem premium of 18% inc VAT) in a live online GW signs, which were a familiar sight on stations Railwayana auction on July 8. It was from the throughout the BR network in the 1950s and 60s, LNER post-war series issued in 1947 and came are currently riding the crest of a wave, while in its original frame. this particular example is believed to be the The artist was Hartlepool-born Frank Mason only station to ever include ‘canal’ in its name. (1875-1965), whose work included maritime and The station was opened by the Glasgow & South shipping paintings. He was educated as a cadet on Western Railway in July 1885, closed by BR to the naval school ship HMS Conway, was elected passengers in January 1983 and reopened on a to the Royal Society of British Artists in 1904 and nearby new site seven years later. was Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve shipping The 11-mile Paisley Canal linked Port Eglinton artist in the First World War. His work has been in Glasgow with Johnstone via Paisley. It opened exhibited at a number of locations, including the in two stages in 1810 and the following year and National Maritime Museum.

As ever with auctions, there are sometimes cost £130,000 to build, with partial funding from Hugh Montgomerie of Coilsfield, the 12th Earl of bargains to be had with memorabilia several centuries old, and this is illustrated by an Act of Eglinton (1739-1819).

Until the arrival of Parliament that featured in the railways it was both quarterly email and postal sale held by the transport paperwork a commercial and auction house Paperchase from passenger success, with July 14-August 2. the latter transported The Act, dated 1774, by boats pulled by six horses. Sadly it was also authorised the construction by the scene of Britain’s Sir John Ramsden of a canal from worst canal boat disaster, the River Calder at Huddersfield, when in the year of and the price for this 248-yearopening a day-trippers’ old piece of canal history was craft capsized, leading to just £16. The canal, which is just the deaths of 84 people. under four miles long, is now the The canal was taken Huddersfield Broad Canal and is over by the GSWR in popular with leisure traffic. The 1869 and closed in 1881, Canal & River Trust lauds it as “a with much of the route place to nurture your own health being converted into a and happiness in the heart of railway line. This line was urban Huddersfield.” closed in 1983 but was In the same auction, two subsequently reopened Mersey & Irwell Navigation between Glasgow Central consignment notes dated 1841 and the new Paisley and 1845 sold for £11, a price station and is known as matched by five BR Western Region timetable leaflets dated the Paisley Canal Line. between 1954-67 for River Dart The price for the totem trips. Prices exclude buyer’s sign excludes buyer’s One of five River Dart Trip premium of 15% (+ VAT). leaflets. PHOTO: PAPERCHASE premium of 12½%.

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12 IWA ROUNDUP

October 2022

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AROUND THE COUNTRY WITH IWA’S AMY TILLSON

The sun shines on Fenny Stratford Canal Festival TWELVE trading boats and 14 land-based stalls, as well as the Milton Keynes community boat Electra, drew the crowds to the canal towpath south of Watling Street, where the Fenny Stratford Canal Festival took place in August.

This event was organised chiefly by IWA Milton Keynes Branch for the second year running and has become an important fund-raiser for the branch.

The IWA stall included sales of its merchandise, a raffle, and IWA’s usual publicity and information point. The big waterway map forming the back of the gazebo was a very useful talking point, sparking many comments and reminiscences from passers-by. Alongside IWA, the Buckingham Canal

Society offered its ‘retro recycling centre’, society merchandise and beautiful rag rugs. Other stalls and traders had, it seemed, every conceivable item on offer,

Visitors browse the trading boats along the towpath at the Fenny Stratford Canal Festival.

PHOTO: JOANNE VELLAM

including clothing, jewellery, fancy goods, food and drink.

Each day, Electra provided 50-minute trips to Water Eaton and back; three trips on Saturday, five on Sunday. All places were sold out on both days. On Sunday, another electric boat arrived – James Griffin’s radio-controlled model narrowboat, complete with authentic engine noise.

A tug-of-war between it and Electra was suggested, but James was afraid that Electra’s wash might sink it!

Also on Sunday, members of the IWA branch were pleased to have a visit from Jonathan Smith, its interim chief executive officer, who congratulated the branch on a successful event.

It was pleasant to welcome some formerly active branch members.

Roy Cleverly, Rodney and

Festival welcomed back to Burton

IWA’S Festival of Water returned to Burtonupon-Trent for the third time, welcomed by delighted crowds at Shobnall Fields during the August Bank Holiday weekend.

Opening the festival on the Saturday, Coun Philip Hudson, Mayor of East Staffordshire, said he was

delighted to welcome the IWA back to the Trent & Mersey Canal, one of the earliest to be built, with strong links to Burton.

John Butler, IWA national treasurer, thanked all the volunteers and Coun Hudson for the council’s support.

Next year’s FoW returns to Pelsall where

With the traditional tiller pin at the opening of the Festival of Water in Burton-upon-Trent are, from left: Coun Shelagh McKiernan, borough councillor for Shobnall Ward, Mayoress Karen Hudson, Coun Philip Hudson, Mayor of East Staffordshire, Neil Brown, manager of Shobnall Leisure Complex and Dave ‘Moose’ Hearnden, IWA Festival of Water site director.

PHOTO: IWA

it was last held in 2016.

For full report and photos, see page 20.

Wendy Evans, Dave and Annie Roberts all stopped by to chat. Accommodating the trading boats was hindered somewhat because some stretches of the towpath are quite eroded behind the piling or overgrown in front of it, meaning uncertain footing at the water’s edge.

A big thank you to Diane Witts and all branch members who took part in organising the event or turned up to help on the day and to the traders who attended. Special thanks are due to Lorraine Andrews and Penny Holloway for much behind-the-scenes work liaising with the traders.

The branch is grateful also to Bletchley & Fenny Stratford Town Council for a grant for essential expenses. An early calculation of the profit from the event gives a figure of more than £900.

Branch webinars and social events IWA branches are filling up their winter calendars with in-person and online events. Details here: https://waterways.org.uk/support/ ways-to-get-involved/events One webinar is to be held by West London Branch on November 3 at 7.30pm, on Water Resources and Costs of Maintenance. This year has seen Canal & River Trust have to close, or restrict hours, on many of the canals and rivers it manages.

Adam Comerford, CRT’s national hydrology manager, will speak about managing water resources on CRT’s canals and rivers and Neil Owen, CRT regional engineer, will explain why maintenance on the waterways costs so much more than most people think.

Register at https://waterways.org. uk/support/ways-to-get-involved/ events/crt-water-resources-andcosts-of-maintenance

Get involved – work party dates PLEASE contact the branch to register an interest if you would like to attend one of these work parties. It is advisable to wear stout shoes, old clothing and take a waterproof. You may also want to take a packed lunch and any refreshments.

NORTH WEST Monday October 17 IWA North Staffordshire & South Cheshire Branch and Caldon & Uttoxeter Canals Trust: Monthly work

party on the Uttoxeter Canal working between Alton and Crumpwood.

10am-4pm. This month we will be working at the Alton end of the length.

The meeting point is close to Alton Station on Farley Lane, close to Alton Towers. For those using sat nav, use ST10 4BY. The work site is a short walk from this spot. The What3Words location for the parking/meeting location is ///adapt.overdone.grow There is a parking area down a track parallel to the railway, opposite the station. Please do not block the

parking at the station, which is used

by Landmark Trust guests. All tools and equipment will be provided.

Volunteers are advised to wear old clothes, stout shoes and to bring waterproofs in case of rain and a packed lunch if staying all day. As we are pulling up Himalayan balsam, long trousers and long sleeves are also advisable to avoid nettle stings.

EAST Sunday October 2 and Tuesday October 18 IWA Northampton Branch: Work

parties are usually held one weekday and one Sunday a month, along the Arm, 10am-2pm. The tasks usually include vegetation clearance, weeding, litter picking and painting

at locks. Contact Geoff Wood geoff. wood@waterways.org.uk Tuesdays IWA Milton

Keynes

Branch:

Regular work party at Fenny Lock on the Grand Union Canal.

9.30am-1.30pm. Work can include vegetation clearance, gardening, litter picking and painting. Work parties are dependent on weather. Contact Pat Durham on 07510 195918 or email pat.durham@waterways.org.uk WEST Tuesdays & Saturdays IWA West Country Branch (Taunton & Bridgwater): Work parties in the

Somerset area. 10am-1pm. Contact Mike Slade: mike.slade@waterways. org.uk on 07977 263840.

IWA petitions against HS2 bill

One of the areas affected by the bill – the Trent & Mersey Canal at Whatcroft. PHOTO: IWA THE HS2 (Crewe– Manchester) Bill received a second reading on June 20 and was referred to an HS2 Select Committee to hear petitions from those directly and specially affected.

This bill for Phase 2b West affects the Middlewich Branch of the Shropshire Union Canal, the Trent & Mersey Canal, and the Ashton and Rochdale canals in Manchester.

IWA’s main objection to the plans is the absence of adequate noise mitigation measures for canal users.

The plans include (i) the Crewe North Rolling Stock depot and three adjacent viaduct crossings of the Middlewich Branch, (ii) three separate viaduct crossings of the Trent & Mersey Canal north of Middlewich, and (iii) a main construction compound in Manchester. At each of these interfaces the canals would be subject to excessive noise unless better mitigation is provided.

IWA has responded to several previous consultations, including the National Infrastructure Commission and the Transport Select Committee, criticising the choice of route through an area prone to brine subsidence, and its adverse effects on the canals’ landscape, environment and heritage.

This petition concentrates on the major impacts of noise on canal users and is closely based on IWA’s response to the Environmental Statement consultation.

(See: HS2 Bill threatens tranquillity of waterways around Middlewich and Lymm, 11/4/2022) IWA is particularly concerned that the residential use of boats is not adequately assessed, and the noise mitigation measures proposed are therefore inadequate

where HS2 crosses or runs near to each of the affected canals.

Noise mitigation

Our canals are major heritage assets, wildlife sites and recreational corridors, valued for their tranquillity and each HS2 affected location is used by tens of thousands of people each year.

Noise levels close to HS2 bridges will be extremely high without acoustic barriers and the noise of passing trains will propagate over a wide area. Although this is intermittent, it is the peak noise levels that cause maximum disturbance, and any form of averaging noise levels is misleading.

HS2 automatically includes noise barriers, earthworks or fencing to protect residential properties but continues to misrepresent all canal users as ‘transitory’ and thus not worthy of consideration. A few canal crossings benefit from the proximity of inhabited buildings, but most crossings in rural areas are given no protection and will be subject to intolerable levels of noise.

IWA’s p etiti on explains in detail the wide variety of ways in which people use and reside on the waterways, and the vulnerability of moored boat occupants to external noise. Canal boats are residences, and while not always permanently occupied and capable of moving, wherever more than a few boats are moored, permanently or intermittently, it is likely that people will be living there for significant periods, so their acoustic environment should be protected.

Parliament failed to address this issue for Phase 1 and for Phase 2a, but that is no reason why the same mistakes should be repeated with Phase 2b.

Canal interfaces

IWA’s petition details the usage of the canals around each HS2 interface. On the Middlewich Branch permanent moorings at Park Farm and visitor moorings at Yew Tree Farm are affected. On the Trent & Mersey Canal visitor moorings at Bramble Cuttings, popular temporary moorings at Billinge Green Flash and permanent moorings at Oakwood Marina would be particularly affected.

At each canal crossing location there should be 4m high noise barrier fencing across the viaducts and on adjacent embankments.

In Manchester the construction compound should have substantial noise fencing.

First additional provision

The Bill, as deposited, would also affect the Bridgewater Canal and the Manchester Ship Canal, although the Government’s lastminute decision to remove the Golborne Link through an Additional Provision (AP1) removes the threat to moorings on the Bridgewater Canal, for now at least.

Ho w e v e r, AP1 includes some new works on the Middlewich Branch at Clive Green Lane Bridge that, while providing improved cycle access, would worsen pedestrian access. IWA’s second petition therefore asks for retention of the access steps and towpath hedge.

Read IWA’s petitions: the full text of both IWA petitions – that against the Bill and that against the First Additional Provision, as published on the Select Committee website – can be seen at https://waterways.org.uk/about-us/news/ iwa-petitions-against-hs2-crewe-manchester-bill

13

www.towpathtalk.co.uk October 2022

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14 FREIGHT

October 2022 October 2022

Levelling up!

Jonathan Mosse continues his monthly look at freight developments on the inland waterways.

maintaining the Anderton Lift in 1908 when it was electrified) 1905 paper On Waterways in Great Britain, written with the purpose of regenerating interest in Britain’s waterways.

By this point the railways had reduced the cost of transport to the barest minimum and Saner set out to explore the possibility that a reinvigorated canal system could reduce costs even further.

Also known as the Three-hundredfoot Canal the proposal (now almost 80 years old) was for a spinal waterway, running the length of England – 100ft wide, 17ft deep and with 25ft headroom – able to carry 1500-ton barges. Actually sitting on the 310ft contour, it connected all the country’s main conurbations and, with a few cleverly contrived branches, managed to tie in the existing inland waterways of any significance, all linked via a totally lock-free system, requiring the minimal use of tunnels.

I’M BOTH intrigued that Boris has unwittingly stolen my thunder and dismayed in equal measure that he might, by association, have devalued my message. But, on balance, I feel there’s nothing for it but to press on!

We’ve recently viewed the burgeoning ‘last mile’ developments on the tidal Thames driven, as much as anything, by congestion rather than any immediate environmental considerations. Lack of space prevented the inclusion of a look at the bigger picture, which is how our erstwhile prime minister managed to get a look in this time round!

Moving water from the wet west to the arid, populous east of the country is already under serious consideration and one of the potential beneficiaries is the Cotswold Canals Trust in that a restored Thames & Severn Canal could perform the task admirably, resulting in a win-win situation for both boaters and thirsty Londoners alike.

Now, into the spotlight comes the transfer of water from the North East (and even Scotland) to the Home Counties, although largely overlooking its use as an eminently viable mode of transport. This is a possibility that JF Pownall identified back in 1942 and examined in depth in his treatise The Projected Grand Contour Canal.

Pownall was inspired by John Saner’s (the engineer responsible for

Waterway vision

Pownall noted that many of the significant canal builders had already made substantial use of this contour by constructing significant lengths of their individual navigations at this level, or within 20 feet of it. However, canal company thinking in the heady days of canal mania had been relatively parochial and what was clearly lacking was a nationwide, HS2-scale, waterway vision.

In his treatise, Pownall goes into great detail as to why this contour is so prevalent throughout the UK, quoting erosion to coals alongside an analysis

of different geological strata, backed up by an examination of subsequent rates of erosion.

The major challenge lay not in its construction, but in efficiently connecting it with the major ports at sea-level. Obviously not a water transfer issue, it nevertheless requires an elegant engineering solution and, casting around the world’s canals today, there are clearly several candidates to choose from.

For those who wish to delve deeper into the potential of this concept, it is well worth watching the comprehensive coverage of the idea at https://www. youtube.com/watch?v=BMCicCN_x0s which not only rehearses the wellworn arguments in favour of the inland waterways as freight-carrying arteries – as well as demonstrating how Pownall’s concept neatly overcomes their shortcomings – but also ably develops the concept within the industrial framework of the 21st century.

In essence it’s all a matter of context.

Set against the imperative of climate change and the impending catastrophe of global warming the idea suddenly takes on an attractive form, whereas in the heyday of unrestrained fossil fuel burning, it could easily be construed as the imaginings of a lunatic. As with any radical concept, context is king.

As Patrick Moss – waterways authority and chair of the Somerset Coal Canal Society – acutely observed (painting a backdrop to developing inland waterways freight) ‘… consultants compliant with the road lobby are the

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This is, in reality, simply an extension of the old saying ‘we see things as we are and not as they are’. It is to be hoped that the vigorous lobbying activity currently being undertaken by GPS Marine (and recently featured in these pages) will finally succeed in bucking this trend.

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