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Issue 148, February 2018
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The lock and waterside pub proved a hit with visitors to the London Boat Show. More pictures on P4. PHOTO: JANET RICHARDSON
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BOATING on the inland waterways had a great start to 2018 with a successful return to the London Boat Show. Organisers British Marine reported that more than 52,000 visitors attended the five-day event at ExCeL and on the
Saturday alone more than 3000 people visited the new inland boating attraction overlooked by a lock and a waterside pub, The Lock Keeper’s Inn. Described as a hit with exhibitors and visitors, it had provided a great hub to
attract interest in the inland boats on show as well as a welcome pitstop for thirsty showgoers. British Marine Inland Boating (BMIB) chairman Russell Chase of Farncombe Boat House said all the inland boating
exhibitors had been very pleased with the high number of visitors who looked through the holiday and day boats plus the huge level of very positive interest around canal and river boating. • Continued on page 2
Growth industry
Prison visits
Deputy chaplain
THE UK’s leisure marine industry has achieved its sixth consecutive year of growth, according to research by British Marine. According to data published at the opening of the London Boat Show, revenues rose by 3.4% in 2017 to their highest level since the financial crisis of 2007/08. The sector supported more than 33,000 full-time equivalent jobs in manufacturing and service industries.
A PRISON near Market Drayton has adopted a one-mile length of the Shropshire Union Canal. In a ground-breaking partnership, the Canal & River Trust will be working closely with HMP Stoke Heath, an adult male training prison, to provide vocational training opportunities on the canal towpath at Tyrley Locks to help prisoners close to release gain valuable work experience.
A NEW deputy national senior waterways chaplain with special responsibility for the Midlands and north of England has been appointed. Trainee Anglican priest, Debbie Nouwen, who herself lives aboard a narrowboat, will organise and support a growing band of volunteer chaplains operating in her region alongside the senior chaplain, the Rev Mark Chester, who operates in the south.
2 NEWS/COMMENT
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WE HAVE just got over ‘Blue Monday’ – said to be the most miserable day of the year – as I write but when I visited the London Boat Show I found the atmosphere anything but blue. It was great to see the return of the Inland Boating section with its lock – complete with ‘leak’ through the gate – and The Lock Keeper’s Inn was heaving, in fact customers were queuing out the door at one point when I went past. According to show organisers British Marine, more than 52,000 visitors attended the show in its new five-day format and on the Saturday alone more than 3000 people visited the display of inland boats. Let’s hope this interest reflects all around the country as we prepare for a new season which, with the Easter weekend starting at the end of March, will soon be upon us. In the meantime the winter stoppage season continues and there are more lock open days to come during February: Meaford Lock 31 on the Trent & Mersey Canal and the Aire & Calder Navigation at Leeds on the first weekend of the month (February 3-4) followed by Foxton locks on the Leicester Line on February 10-11 with more to come in March. Late last year I visited Windsor Racecourse Marina to see a TYHA (The Yacht Harbour Association) assessment in progress – see my report on page 16 – and to see new developments at Tewkesbury Marina, see page 18. We’ve also been stepping back in time with Harry Arnold reporting on plans to create a new 1940s-1960s ‘town’ at the Black Country Living Museum (page 6) and Geoff Wood visiting the Portland Basin Museum (page 95). Keep smiling
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New Canal Laureate Nancy to seek out and share stories OXFORD-based poet and kayaker Nancy Campbell has been named as Britain’s new Canal Laureate by The Poetry Society and the Canal & River Trust. She has a keen interest in Arctic, marine and water conservation, following on from her winter residency at the most northern museum in the world in Greenland in 2010 and subsequent museum residencies in both Greenland and Iceland over the last seven years. During 2018 she will ‘seek out and share stories’ from the people and places she will encounter during her travels along the nation’s historic canals and waterways looked after by the Canal & River Trust. Nancy begins her role as Canal Laureate this month, taking over from poet Luke Kennard (2016-17) and poet Jo Bell, who became the inaugural Canal Laureate (2013-15). Interested in helping make her poetry accessible to a mainstream audience, she is keen to realise her poems through other mediums such as printmaking and film. Her initial events and collaborations will include: creating a short work about rain to be displayed by the waterways; writing a poem about an unassuming and endangered
type of herring – the twaite shad; and a collaboration with Nottingham’s ‘Light Night’ event.
Green corridors
Nancy said: “I’ve always lived near to water, from my childhood living between the Tweed and the Tyne, I now live just 10 minutes’ walk from the Thames and not far from the River Cherwell and Oxford Canal. I would love to live on a narrowboat, but I don’t think I could fit all my books into one! Instead, I paddle around Oxford’s waterways on a kayak or canoe, which is a great way to discover these green corridors.” She added: “I’m keen to explore the history of Britain’s remarkable canals, to discover how they have transformed over the last 200 years from an industrial to leisure resource and have become places of recovery and healing to enhance our well-being.” Established in 2013 by The Poetry Society and the Canal & River Trust, the Canal Laureateship aims to encourage exciting new writing about Britain’s historic canal network. Previous Laureateships have seen poems stencilled on to canalside walls, carved
MOORING OPERATORS CAN SIGN UP FOR VALIDATION SCHEME THE Canal & River Trust is working with mooring operators to confirm that the records the charity holds for boats’ moorings is correct. This will ensure the trust is monitoring boats against the correct terms and conditions, and will give mooring operators the confidence that their sites aren’t being used fraudulently. The roll-out follows a pilot involving 12 mooring operators, with the help of the Association of Waterway Cruising Clubs and British Marine. Following a routine check of the sites, the trust provided the operators with two lists of information to check, comprising boats recorded as having a mooring at the site but not seen, and boats seen moored at the site but not being recorded as having a mooring there. The operators reviewed the lists, following which the boats’
records were updated and, where necessary, boaters were contacted to get an update on the home mooring status for their boats. CRT will now ask mooring operators if they would like to sign up to the scheme, which at this stage will run on an opt-in basis. Mooring operators that wish to be involved should contact the trust via customer services on 0303 040 4040 or the ‘contact us’ page at www.canalrivertrust.org Jon Horsfall, interim head of boating, said: “We want to make sure that the data we hold for boaters is up to date, so that we can work with them as effectively as possible. "The new mooring validation process will also be good news for mooring operators, who will be able to check that the boats on their moorings are the ones that are meant to be there.”
Nancy Campbell kayaking on the Oxford Canal. PHOTO COURTESY NANCY CAMPBELL into newly made lock-beams, translated into short films, and forgotten classic poetry given new life in performances, publication and animations. Canal poetry has been celebrated at venues including the Hay Festival, the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, Birmingham Literature Festival, National Waterways Museum Ellesmere Port, London’s Southbank Centre and Crick Boat Show, Welshpool Poetry Festival, Market Bosworth Festival,
Leeds Liverpool Biennial, and showcased in a dedicated canal edition of BBC Radio 4’s Poetry Please. The project is part of the Arts on the Waterways programme, a partnership between the Canal & River Trust, Arts Council England and Arts Council of Wales to help attract even more visitors to the waterways while surprising and delighting existing communities through innovative art projects. www.nancycampbell.co.uk
Sir Frank Price – an effective ally A FORMER Lord Mayor of Birmingham who went on to become the chairman of the British Waterways Board has died at the age of 95. Sir Frank Price came from the back streets of Hockley and was elected as a Labour city councillor in 1949. He was knighted in 1966. He became the longest-serving chairman of a nationalised industry, running the British Waterways Board. During his 16 years in office from 19681984 he was regarded by the Inland Waterways Association as an effective ally in the battle to save the waterways. Sir Frank oversaw the development of Telford in Shropshire as chairman of the project board, creating the new town by merging Wellington, Oakengates, Madeley and Dawley and building on the agricultural land in between to establish the fastest-growing town in the UK. Having retired to Spain, he died peacefully at Almeria Hospital on December 30 after a battle with Alzheimer’s.
• Continued from page 1
Sir Frank Price at the official opening of a lock named after him during the modernisation of the Sheffield & South Yorkshire Navigations. PHOTO: WATERWAY IMAGES
Waterways attraction is a hit with show visitors
WIs join campaign to reduce plastic waste
“Exhibitors are already talking about working together again, along with other BMIB members who visited and helped out on the display saying they hope to get more involved in this collaborative approach next year,” he said. Describing the lock and waterside pub as a great showcase and a fantastic draw for visitors, he added: “It has been a delight to talk to families and visitors of all ages about their inland waterway experiences and plans for future boating adventures.” Making its debut at the show was the Aintree Beetle exhibited by Church Minshull Aqueduct Marina. Director for marine and leisure operations Andrea Parton reported that the display had generated much more business than expected.
OXFORDSHIRE Federation of Women’s Institutes and Thames Water are looking at how they can work together to reduce the quantity of microfibres entering the water system, writes Elizabeth Rogers. The federation has already issued a list of ways in which members can help every time they wash their clothes. Thames Water has explained that its main concern at present is the number of wet wipes which not only block drains but also contain plastic which sheds microfibres, and singleuse plastic straws which also cause blockages and contribute to the enormous problem of pollution in our rivers and oceans.
“Confirmed orders to build new boats from the London Boat Show are already approaching 10, with enquiries still coming in as the show closed on Sunday,” she said. “Customers are from all walks of life and ages, including a young city couple wanting to combine boating with their busy professional life as architects and coastal sailors who want to shift their pace of boating.” Making a welcome return to the show after a six-year absence were Thames hire boat operators Kris Cruisers. Manager Paul Clark said: “We have enjoyed excellent levels of enquiries across the five days and it’s been great to see so many past customers who have gone on to buy boats.
“I believe the hire boat market is an ideal way to get into the industry and the show has offered a great platform to raise awareness of our brand.” British Marine CEO Howard Pridding said the organisers were delighted that the changes they had implemented had been such a success. “The atmosphere has been vibrant, and our new attractions gave everyone the chance to experience and interact with the show. With the latest industry figures demonstrating a sixth continuous year of growth within the sector, this year’s show has continued along that terrific vein.” The next London Boat Show will take place from Wednesday-Sunday, January 9-13, 2019.
NEWS 3
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Ely moorings to stay in public ownership THE Inland Waterways Association’s campaign to stop the Environment Agency from selling off river frontage in Ely to private bidders has achieved a successful result, with the news that the local council will be buying the land. Although IWA would have preferred the land to remain in EA ownership for future navigation income and legacy it has welcomed the purchase by East Cambridgeshire District Council which means that the land will remain in public ownership. As reported in Towpath Talk (News, Issue 144, October), three waterwayrelated businesses are based at the site: Bridge Boatyard, which has been operating for more than 40 years and which is now the only holiday boat hire company on the River Great Ouse, hotel barge Water Nimf and The Boat Yard boat restoration business. IWA Eastern Region chairman, Chris Howes, said: “East Cambridgeshire District Council is to be congratulated on its acquisition and stepping in to keep the waterside businesses going. We understand that the council has ambitions for the regeneration of this part of the City of Ely and hope that in developing this area the current navigation and leisure activities will be preserved and encouraged.” The three plots of land, amounting to
The existing Liverpool Wake Park in the Queens Dock area of the Albert Dock complex which the Adventure Dock Co is also involved in. PHOTO: WATERWAY IMAGES
Aqua park at Albert Dock By Harry Arnold
Part of the river frontage at Ely which the Environment Agency has sold to East Cambridgeshire District Council. PHOTO COURTESY BRIDGE BOATYARD more than 300m of river frontage, had been offered for sale by private auction last summer. IWA considered that this was extremely short-sighted given that the businesses and moorings at this location bring in an income to EA as the navigation authority, and wrote to the head of the Environment Agency, the Waterway Minister, MPs and leaders at East Cambridgeshire District Council to raise concerns. Bridge Boatyard brings between 2000 and 2500 people on to the river each year on their hire boats, the loss of which would have had a serious effect on the
tourism and leisure use of the river and consequently on the economy of Ely and other towns and villages along the river through loss of visitor spend. As a result of the number of representations received, the Environment Agency confirmed to IWA several weeks after the closing date for bids that it was reviewing the situation. After an uncertain few months for the businesses based at the site, the announcement in a letter from EA to IWA, stating that the land would remain in public ownership through its sale to the council, has been welcomed by IWA.
A NEW family-friendly water park experience is to open in Liverpool’s Canal & River Trust Albert Dock complex. Described as an ‘aqua park’ by owners The Adventure Dock Co, it is an on-the-water giant inflatable obstacle course being built in Duke’s Dock. This is the currently unused water space immediately adjacent and to the south of Albert Dock itself, next to the Liverpool Wheel and the Echo Arena. The Adventure Dock course is made up of more than 50 elements, joined together to create a serious amount of what the company describes as ‘floating fun’. It includes a major feature called ‘Mount Rainier’ which apparently “will tower over Albert Dock”.
‘De-maining’ pilot goes to consultation
Tackling the Thames pondweed problem
By Janet Richardson
By Elizabeth Rogers
THE public consultation into the ‘de-maining’ of waterways in the South Forty Foot catchment in Lincolnshire started in January and continues until noon on Monday, February 12. Proposed re-designation of selected main rivers to ordinary watercourses would allow the transfer of flood risk activities to willing internal drainage boards or county and district councils, the South Forty Foot Catchment having been chosen as a pilot area. The proposal is for Black Sluice Internal Drainage Board to take on responsibility for maintaining these watercourses in the future. It will also take ownership of any Environment Agency assets such as bridges and sluice structures. As reported in Towpath Talk
(News, Issue 146, December) a number of informal public drop-in events were held. According to the Environment Agency, the feedback overall was very positive and it has worked closely with Black Sluice IDB to answer any queries and resolve concerns. This led to a decision to remove Cliff Beck and Car Dyke North from the de-maining proposals and these two watercourses will continue to be part of the main river network. The watercourses being taken forward for de-maining, a total of 16.8km, are: Ewerby; Horbling Catchwater, New Cut & Diversion; Pointon Lode; Atkins Cut and Northlands Dyke. You can view the consultation documents and consultation questions online at https://www. gov.uk/government/consultations/ rationalising-the-main-rivernetwork-de-maining-proposals
HENLEY MP John Howell called for an urgent debate in the House of Commons on the problem of floating pondweed which he said is threatening aquatic wildlife in and around Henley and across stretches of the River Thames. “Floating pennywort is a strong contender for the worst aquatic weed in the UK,” he said. “A debate would allow us to sort out how to deal with it.” Leader of the House, Andrea Leadsom, replied that she agreed that this was a highly invasive species that has a significant environmental impact. She said that the Environment Agency has removed thousands of tonnes of this plant in a coordinated
programme of removal and spraying to control its growth. “The Environment Agency redoubled its effort to remove floating pennywort from the Thames and its tributaries throughout October and November and is putting in place a spraying, removal and monitoring programme from spring 2018,” she continued. Mrs Leadsom’s statement followed information from the Environment Agency confirming that it is using its permissive powers to work with riparian owners. “This is the case for works currently under way to remove floating pennywort along sections of the Thames,” the Environment Agency’s statement continued. Backwaters of the River Thames at Sonning and the
From this there will be a number of exciting ways to descend back to water level, including via inflatable free-fall slides, trampolines, rafts and barriers. It opens on Saturday, May 5 and will close on Sunday, October 28. It will be open daily and pre-booking for individual sessions and parties is already open. Sessions will last an hour, which includes a 10-minute dry-land safety brief at the start. You will need to bring a towel and set of swimming gear with you. Full details are available at www.adventuredock.co.uk or tel: 0151 347 7568. Albert Dock and the Liverpool waterfront are the location of the Mersey River Festival, the Northern Boat Show and the start of the Tall Ships Race over the Bank Holiday weekend of May 25-28.
River Kennet at Blakes Lock had been largely cleared of the plant and similar works were due to take place around Henley with the support of specialist contractors. “The current cool conditions have slowed growth down, making it a good time to removed floating pennywort, but in warmer months the plant can grow extremely quickly and spread from very small fragments. Effective long-term management is extremely challenging and potentially very costly, but very important if the plant’s spread is to be controlled.” Mr Howell said he had thought it right to call for a debate in the House of Commons to clarify what was being done and how the problem was being dealt with.
John Howell: “This weed grows at phenomenal rates.” PHOTO SUPPLIED “This is a really nasty weed that changes the availability of oxygen in the river and thus threatens fish and invertebrates, chokes drainage systems and crowds out native water plants. It is able to grow at phenomenal rates,” he said. “My postbag has had a lot of coverage of the issue.”
4 LONDON BOAT SHOW
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A busy Saturday snapshot of visitors to the inland boating section by the pub.
The line-up of inland boats. PHOTO: WATERWAY IMAGES
Meet the team THE British Marine Inland Boating feature which proved such a hit at the show was coordinated by Ann Davis of Napton Narrowboats and Paula Syred of Fox Narrowboats in Cambridgeshire who were present throughout the build-up and show itself, as were members Kris Cruisers and ABC Boat Hire who also exhibited day and holiday boats. BMIB chairman Russell Chase was at the show to help greet visitors and tell them about boating on the River Wey with his company Farncombe Boat House. He also met visiting BMIB members, many of whom also helped out with a shift on the busy stand.
By the lock and waterside pub, overlooking the new inland boating attraction at London Boat Show 2018 are BMIB (British Marine Inland Boating) team Russell Chase, Ann Davis and Paula Syred. PHOTO: WATERWAY IMAGES
PHOTO: WATERWAY IMAGES
Cheshire marinas’ top inland awards CHURCH Minshull Aqueduct Marina celebrated winning the UK Inland Marina of the Year 2018 for the second consecutive year. Awarded by The Yacht Harbour Association and sponsored by marine insurers NMU, it was presented at London Boat Show where the Cheshire marina was exhibiting for the first time. Managing director Robert Parton said: “We are delighted to have won the Inland Marina of the Year award 2018. In an increasingly competitive market where customers have plenty of choice of marinas and moorings around the inland network, it is particularly rewarding to win as a result of boat owners’ votes.” To commemorate the achievement, Aqueduct directors, Robert Parton, Andrea Parton, Jennifer Parton, Stuart Martin and Phil Langley were presented
The Aqueduct Marina team of Andrea and Robert Parton with daughter Jennifer after receiving the award from Nick Limb, director of sponsors NMU. PHOTO SUPPLIED
Angus and Janet Maughan of Overwater Marina receive the runner-up award from Nick Limb, director of sponsors NMU.
with an etched glass trophy and framed certificate by NMU. Another Cheshire marina – Overwater at Audlem – was runner-up
this year, having last year become the first inland ‘marina of distinction’ for featuring as winner or runner-up for three consecutive years.
PHOTO SUPPLIED
Anniversary visit
Boat surveyor Ben Sutcliffe-Davies, who writes on technical issues for Towpath Talk, giving one of the demonstrations at the Practical Boat Owner Theatre. PHOTO: JANET RICHARDSON
Business Minister, the Rt Hon Lord Henley, meets Robert Muir, managing director of E P Barrus Ltd during his visit to the London Boat Show. The Bicester-based marine engine manufacturer, which has been celebrating its 100th anniversary, was named British Marine Trades Association 2018 Business of the Year at its awards dinner following the first day of the show. Its products include the Shire Canal Collection of engines for narrowboats, widebeams and Dutch barges. PHOTO: BRITISH MARINE
The Young Person’s Business Award was presented to Fischer Panda’s marina sales and marketing director Chris Fower, pictured at Crick Boat Show. PHOTO: JANET RICHARDSON
British Marine Trades Association chairman Paul Martin is pictured with Boatshed.com founder Neil Chapman who received the chairman’s Special Award for his individuality and character. PHOTO: BRITISH MARINE
KAREN and Peter Wyatt visited London Boat Show on Friday, January 12 as they celebrated 70 years to the day of the founding of their family business Canal Cruising on the Trent & Mersey Canal at Stone, Staffordshire. There are lots of stories to tell about all the five generations of the Wyatt family who build boats and have made many happy holiday memories for people – and have played a key role in inland waterways trade associations. They and British Marine Inland Boating will be telling more and announcing exciting news through this anniversary year.
Karen and Peter Wyatt celebrating 70 years of the Canal Cruising Co. PHOTO: WATERWAY IMAGES
Old and new: historic narrowboat Sandbach alongside a new Richardson’s holiday cruiser in the lock. PHOTO: WATERWAY IMAGES
LONDON BOAT SHOW/NEWS 5
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Keeping it in the family
Lego swing aqueduct to inspire a new generation of engineers By Helen Gazeley
Captured on camera at the London Boat show are, from left: Jennifer Parton (18) with mother Andrea and father Robert Parton; Connie Chase (18) with father Russell Chase and Harry Arnold with daughter Julie Arnold (56). PHOTO: JANET RICHARDSON THREE British Marine Inland Boating fathers and daughters were among the family businesses working together at the 2018 London Boat Show. BMIB chairman Russell Chase of Farncombe Boat House was joined by his 18-year-old daughter Connie who will be going to Winchester in September 2018 to study Business Management. Meanwhile during a gap year she helps administer holiday and day boat hire bookings at Farncombe Boat House in Surrey along with other customer service and hospitality roles. Her parents Russell and Lynn run Farncombe Boat House in Godalming, the furthest point south on Inland Waterways. Russell has been involved with many British Marine committees and worked closely with British Marine Thames Valley as well as the Inland Boating and Boatbuilding associations before becoming BMIB chairman in November 2017. Another 18-year-old is Jennifer Parton, director of hospitality and social events at Church Minshull Aqueduct Marina, Cheshire. Having started in the marina office and cafe, she is studying Business Management and Enterprise at Sheffield Hallam University. Her father Robert is the marina’s managing director and also chairman of British Marine Midlands while mother Andrea is director for marina and leisure operations. Making up the trio were photographer and journalist Harry Arnold of British Marine member Waterway Images Ltd and his daughter Julie, who also focuses on tourism including boat show public relations for BMIB. Awarded the MBE in 2010 for services to the inland waterways, Harry works throughout UK inland waterways and
overseas. As well as writing for Towpath Talk, his other credits include helping found the National Waterways Museum at Ellesmere Port and Waterway Recovery Group after running boat hire and building operations at Norbury and Fradley Junctions in Staffordshire. The author of a number of canal history books, he was the first recipient of the Outstanding Personal Achievement Award at Canal & River Trust’s launch of the Living Waterway Awards in 2015. Daughter Julie studied Social & Economic History at Birmingham University, taking photos of the city’s waterways before its regeneration in her spare time. She has been around boatyards since the age of two, working in the hire boat industry throughout her time at school and university. She returned to the inland waterways in 2000 after more than 15 years in the film and audiovisual industries where credits include work for Ferrari Formula 1, Jaguar Cars, BP, JCB and Astra Zeneca. She was audiovisual consultant for the Imperial War Museum London and National Maritime Museum Greenwich during their major redevelopments in the 1980s and 90s and now works with tourism organisations such as Enjoy Staffordshire. Julie is an assessor for the Visit England British Marine Quality Accredited Boatyard scheme (QAB), as well as volunteering with the Caldon & Uttoxeter Canals Trust and other inland waterway campaign and restoration groups. Other multi-generation inland boating family businesses exhibited and worked at this year’s London Boat Show and will be the subject of special British Marine features in the coming year.
SALFORD schoolchildren will discuss an extraordinary construction during Science Week next month (March 9-18) when a 1.8m-long working model of the Bridgewater Swing Aqueduct will be displayed in workshops aiming to inspire a new generation of engineers. Made of around 18,000 individual Lego bricks, the model depicts the stonework remains of James Brindley’s original aqueduct dating from 1761, the unique swing aqueduct across the Manchester Ship Canal which replaced it in the 1890s, the central tower which controls the opening and closing of the aqueduct, and the adjacent road bridge. Just like the real thing, which carries 800 tonnes of water in an iron trough that can be closed with gates at either end and is described as one of the seven wonders of the waterways, the Lego version swings open. Part of a programme of activities by Est. 1761 – which coordinates events that promote Salford’s waterway heritage – it’s designed to boost visitor numbers to the Bridgewater Canal and underline its industrial importance. The Salford section of the canal is currently undergoing a five-year, £5.6 million refurbishment, funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund and Salford City Council. The model also shows Barton Aqueduct Pocket Park, by the side of the 1761 remains, which has been renovated to give better views of the
The Lego model includes the control tower on the island in the centre of the Bridgewater Canal. aqueduct. Original stone masons’ marks have been illuminated and a walkway leads down to a viewing point beside the Ship Canal.
Super-highway
Coun David Lancaster, lead member for environment and community safety, said: “The Bridgewater Canal is one of Britain’s greatest engineering
Building the swing aqueduct involved hours of research on its history and geography, as well as, says masterbuilder Dave Fautley, “quite a bit of maths” to get the proportions of the bridge correct in the space available. PHOTOS: SALFORD CITY COUNCIL ● More about the Bridgewater Canal in Wet Web, page 100.
achievements. James Brindley designed it to drain the Duke of Bridgewater’s mines and create a super-highway to carry coal to the growing industrial centres of Manchester and Salford. Part of the challenge was to take the canal over the River Irwell – and to explain how he proposed to do that, he carved a model from a block of cheese which he took to Parliament.” The current, 1:70 scale model has been created by Bright Bricks, which creates bespoke Lego commissions for companies, individuals and special events. Lego masterbuilder David Fautley said: “The project was particularly interesting because it had a moving bridge and because of the geography. The bridge isn’t at a 90-degree position on the river, and I had to work out how to locate it with square bricks.” To swing the bridge, he used a battery-powered mechanism used to open conservatory windows, operated using a key fob remote. He’s delighted at its part in Science Week. “It’s interesting from an educational point of view – it shows the aerial view; they’ll see how the river flows; and Lego figures give scale. Seeing the bridge open is always a surprise and delight for youngsters.” The model is currently on public display at Eccles Gateway, Salford M30 0TU. Details of future venues will be posted at www.est1761.org.
6 NEWS
IN BRIEF Rescue base sought
THE charity which helps to keep York’s rivers safe is in desperate need of a home, writes Geoff Wood. York Rescue Boat, which operates from Queen’s Staith on the River Ouse, was founded in 2014 and went operational the following year but has never had a permanent base. Its three boats, three vehicles and equipment are stored in various locations around the city. Mark Mullen, lead coxswain with the organisation, said: “For obvious reasons we need 24-hour access, with somewhere to keep boats and vehicles inside. A light industrial unit, warehouse or workshop, would be ideal.”
Wadenhoe work
REPAIRS to Wadenhoe Lock on the River Nene are expected to continue until mid-February. The lock in Northamptonshire is getting a complete overhaul, including repairs to the structure, replacement of its mechanism and a thorough paint job. The refurbishment is part of the Environment Agency’s £1.4 million investment into Anglian Waterways.
Property hotspots
AN END-of-terrace canalside cottage has proved the most popular house in the Leeds area now that it has gone up for sale – with 2400 viewings on the property website Zoopla, writes Geoff Wood. On the Leeds & Liverpool Canal at Rodley, near Horsforth, it is a grade two listed building with its own mooring. The owners are asking £350,000. Meanwhile two West Yorkshire canalside towns have been named as some of the country’s property hotspots. Sowerby Bridge and Todmorden, on the Rochdale Canal, saw average home prices rise last year by between 10% and 12%, property prices averaging £190,000.
Flood warning
A FORMER drainage engineer who predicted the widespread flooding following Storm Desmond in 2015 has warned of future ‘catastrophic floods’ in North Lancashire if the River Lune is not dredged immediately, writes Geoff Wood. Sean Kelly, who wrote the book Flood: Disaster on the Horizon in 2010, said that accelerated erosion in the hills has increased the amount of sediment and stone being deposited in the river channel as it widens and deepens, causing a natural blockage.
Fee plea
PRESSURE for the controversial toll on the Mersey Gateway bridge to be scrapped is gaining momentum, writes Geoff Wood. St Helens North MP Conor McGinn has joined Weaver Vale MP Mike Amesbury and politicians across the North West to press the Government to abolish the fees.
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Museum to forge ahead with ‘new town’ project By Harry Arnold
AN expansion plan for Dudley’s Black Country Living Museum will create in effect a ‘new town’ based on the 19401960 period. The £21.7 million project called ‘BCLM: Forging Ahead’ forms Phase One of the museum’s 40-year masterplan and will see the museum expand by a third, transforming the site with this new major historic development and also improving visitor facilities. Described as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to save landmark community and commercial buildings from demolition and rebuild them at the museum, it is financially supported by a number of bodies including the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF), Black Country Local Enterprise Partnership and Arts Council England, as well as BCLM’s own investment. HLF has awarded it a grant of £9.8 million and The Patrick Foundation of Kings Norton has pledged a gift of £500,000, plus a donation of five vintage
An artist’s impression of the main street in the new 1940s-1960s town development. PHOTO: BCLM vehicles from the Patrick Collection. It will also make an annual donation of £30,000 per year for the next 10 years to support the maintenance of the museum’s heritage vehicle collection. BCLM has launched an appeal to raise a balance of £1.9 million. The project – which will create 450 jobs in the local area – will allow the BCLM to tell the story of the Black Country up to the closure of the Baggeridge Coal Mine in 1968. Historic buildings will increase by 34% and the amount of collections on display to the public will double.
The present main street at Dudley’s Black Country Living Museum. PHOTO: WATERWAYS IMAGES
There will be a new visitor centre and car park and contemporary visitor centre which will see the museum ‘turn its face’ towards Dudley’s Castle Hill. The present Rolfe Street entrance building will be refurbished as a new Learning Centre. Among the major Black Country buildings that will be relocated to the museum are West Bromwich Gas Showroom, West Bromwich; Woodside Library, Dudley; William Griffin & Sons Proving House, Cradley Heath and J H Lavender Aluminium Foundry, West Bromwich. Others, including Wolverhampton’s
Plans are in hand to solve water feed problems from Chasewater THERE are problems – recently flagged up by the Inland Waterways Association – with the water feed to the Birmingham Canal Navigation (BCN) system from the main Chasewater Reservoir. Originally built as a canal reservoir through a series of ownership changes, it is now the property of Staffordshire County Council and managed as part of its Chasewater Country Park. However, throughout all these changes the canal company – now the Canal & River Trust (CRT) has retained the rights to the water. No water has been available to CRT for almost a year as the valve admitting water to the BCN’s Anglesey Branch was declared unsafe by Staffordshire County Council’s reservoir engineer in April 2017 and can only be used for the emergency drawdown of water from the reservoir. Apparently, the valve has actually been inoperable for some years. This is despite the fact that Chasewater was completely drained for major engineering works to construct new spillways, repair the dam, and overhaul the valve between 2010 and 2012. Meetings are in hand between the county council, CRT and other bodies such as Natural England – as it is a Site of Special Scientific Interest – to first work out a temporary water feed system for the canal, then a long-term solution.
Chasewater – with the canal feed valve house on the right – when drained for extensive repairs in 2010. PHOTO: WATERWAY IMAGES
This will involve engineering consultants inspecting, then redesigning a solution to the defective valve, with subsequent works to solve the problem. There are also other groups to consider in that Chasewater is now a major water sports centre and public leisure amenity. CRT’s group hydrology manager Adam Comerford told us that he was confident that the problem at Chasewater would be solved by joint action. He also said that, with the recent wet weather and melting snow raising the level of Rotton Park Reservoir and the back-up of increased pumping from the Bradley borehole, he was confident that BCN water levels would be maintained. He added that the recent wet weather had raised water holdings at a number of CRT reservoirs.
Elephant & Castle Pub and Lye’s Marsh & Baxter’s Butchers, will be recreated from archive material and images. Over the coming months the museum will continue to work closely with its local communities to build a picture of post-war Black Country in order to submit a second-round application to the Heritage Lottery Fund in October 2018 to release the rest of the funding. If successful, construction will begin with a view to be completed in 2022. Anyone wishing to get involved, particularly with archive material and memories of the period, can contact the museum on bclm.com/ForgingAhead.
NEW NON-SLIP LANDING STAGES FLOATED INTO PLACE BOATERS on the River Great Ouse can now stop off at three new landing stages installed by the Environment Agency. The floating moorings replace ones on the relief channels at Stowbridge, Wiggenhall St Mary and the Denver Complex, all in Norfolk. Expected to last at least 50 years, the new platforms feature non-slip mesh decking and galvanised steel frames. Andy Bennison, the Anglian Waterways engineer who has managed the project, said: “The existing landing stages have been taken away to
Floating one of the new landing stages into place. PHOTO: ENVIRONMENT AGENCY
be refurbished and reused elsewhere on the River Great Ouse. The new frames and decking will improve safety, as well as look better and reduce maintenance costs. “It’s all part of our ongoing efforts to protect and improve our cherished waterways.” The work to replace the landing stages is part of the Environment Agency’s £1.4 million Capital Investment Programme. Announced in November, the programme sets out the investments being made into Anglian Waterways’ 353-mile network. Projects in the pipeline include improvements to eight locks, and take place from November to March – avoiding the peak boating season to minimise disruption for those on the river. The Environment Agency cares for more than 350 miles of navigable waterways in the Anglian region, as well as a vast network of associated facilities such as bridges, locks, moorings and toilets.
RYA SPOTLIGHT 7
www.towpathtalk.co.uk The Royal Yachting Association (RYA) is the national body for all forms of boating, including dinghy and yacht racing, motor and sail cruising, RIBs and sports boats, powerboat racing, windsurfing, inland cruising and narrowboats and personal watercraft.
Miles of inland waterways a step nearer to CRT control Environment Minister requests formal submission outlining proposals THE Canal & River Trust has taken a step closer towards ensuring the transfer of Environment Agency navigations, which could see a number of important inland waterways transfer across to the trust. Following 18 months of productive joint working with the Environment Agency and a recent meeting with Environment Minister Thérèse Coffey, CRT has been asked to make a written
submission to Defra, setting out its proposals for a transfer to the trust of the river navigations operated by the Environment Agency (EA). According to the EA, it remains the Government’s ambition to transfer its responsibility for navigation of the rivers to the trust, subject to affordability and approval by the trust’s board and the minister, in order to help realise the benefits of a sustainable navigation and give the public greater involvement in the running of the waterways. At the recent meeting with the Environment Minister, CRT outlined the need for the transfer to include a
long-term funding commitment, such as that which has proven so vital to the trust’s success since 2012.
The RYA’s position
The RYA believes that the navigations currently managed by the Environment Agency should be transferred to the Canal & River Trust, subject to a workable solution being agreed by the trust which must include an adequate funding package. The transfer of the waterways would provide a more sustainable and efficient inland waterway system for more than half of the inland waterways of mainland UK.
Canal and riverboat cruising is accessible to people of all ages and abilities. PHOTO: RYA Along with its many environmental responsibilities, the Environment Agency manages the navigation of more than 621 miles of waterways such as the River Thames and the River Medway in the south east, many waterways in the Anglian Region (River Ancholme, Black Sluice Navigation, River Great Ouse, River Nene, River Stour, River Welland and the River Glen), as well as Lydney Harbour and Rye Harbour, its two remaining ports.
Next steps
The River Great Ouse is one of the Anglian waterways which could be transferred to the Canal & River Trust. PHOTO: JANET RICHARDSON
Stuart Carruthers, RYA cruising manager, said: “Canal and riverboat cruising is a very affordable way to get out on the water, while also being hugely accessible for people of all ages and abilities. We believe the transfer of responsibility of the EA navigations and assets to the Canal & River Trust under the right conditions will provide a more secure future for them, helping to ensure that boaters can continue to make the most of our inland waterways.
“In order for the waterways to be successfully transferred to the Canal & River Trust, there needs to be an adequate funding package in place, and we will continue to lobby Government ministers and Defra officials on this matter so that a final agreement can be reached without delay.” ● Love our inland waterways? Then why not join the association that promotes and protects safe, successful and rewarding British boating. Join today and support the RYA in protecting your boating rights and freedoms. Take advantage of free advice and support on all aspects of your boating, as well as enjoying a range of fantastic personal member offers. Find out more by calling 0844 556 9556 or email member.services@rya.org.uk
8 NETWORKING
SOCIETY NEWS Calendar shots
LICHFIELD and Hatherton Canals Restoration Trust is asking local photographers to submit pictures focusing on the two canals for a 2019 calendar. The photos will be judged by members of the LHCRT board of directors and all photos used in the calendar will have full credit to the photographer with links to their website or Facebook page. The only rules are that the photographs must be landscape and high resolution and the trust will need to receive them by March 2018. There is no monetary or other prize and photos can be submitted by using the entry form at http://www.lhcrt.org.uk/ calendar-comp.html
Heritage bid
THE Lancaster Canal Regeneration Partnership and Canal & River Trust have submitted a £1.5 million bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund to repair Stainton Aqueduct and provide interpretation and community activities in Hincaster, Stainton and Sedgwick. If successful the project will support a full-time project officer for two years to co-ordinate community activities and projects to celebrate the area’s canal heritage. A final decision is expected in March. (LGRP Newsletter, December 2017)
WRG support
OVER the past year, Waterway Recovery Group volunteers contributed 2448 days on 28 canal camps; that’s 19,584 hours spent covered in mud, warming at the bonfire, restoring locks and having a blast! Volunteers also ran, cycled, danced and so much more to raise close to £10,000 to keep WRG running. (WRG e-newsletter December 2017)
Easter outing
SHROPPIE fly-boat Saturn’s first outing in the 2018 season will be to the Easter Gathering at the National Waterways Museum, Ellesmere Port from March 30 to April 2, with the AGM taking place on the Saturday. A mini auction of decorated canalware, some painted by Ron Hough, will take place during the event. (The Saturn Project Newsletter, December 2017)
Work sessions
VOLUNTEERS at IWA West Country have completed over 3500 working hours at 122 work sessions during its current volunteering year which started on May 1. It is planned to continue in 2018 with the various tasks required on local rivers and canals while starting other projects to enhance these waterways areas for everyone to enjoy.
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Canal trust receives honour from Queen A QUEEN’S Award for Voluntary Service for 2017 was presented recently to the Chesterfield Canal Trust. The Duke of Devonshire was acting for the Queen in his role at the Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Derbyshire when he made the presentation at the trust’s Hollingwood Hub headquarters before an audience of some of its volunteers. Other dignitaries included the High Sheriff of Derbyshire, the Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Nottinghamshire and the Mayor of Chesterfield. Trust chairman Robin Stonebridge said how proud he was of the volunteers who had given more than 40,000 hours of their time last year. He explained that 12 miles of canal had already been restored along with 37 locks, 11 major road bridges and two marinas. However, nearly nine miles still await restoration.
The Duke of Devonshire, centre, with David Fox holding the certificate and Richard Allsopp with the domed glass crystal.
PHOTOS: CHESTERFIELD CANAL TRUST
To loud applause, he said that the trust was campaigning for the completion of this restoration by 2027, the 250th anniversary of the canal’s opening in 1777.
New guidebook launched to celebrate canal bicentenary THE Pocklington Canal Amenity Society has produced a revised guidebook to coincide with the bicentenary of the opening of the East Yorkshire waterway in 1818. It has updated the guidebook to include an in-depth history of the waterway and full navigation notes for entry into the canal with detailed descriptions, maps and illustrations. Each section of the historic canal has its own map and detailed notes to assist, whether on foot or on board. Tim Charlson, of the Pocklington Canal Amenity Society, said: “We wanted to produce something that is both informative and useful to the many thousands of people who visit and love the canal. It is fitting that we can celebrate the canal, the wildlife that depends on its clean water and the peaceful open space in this, its 200th year.” The 48-page colour guide is priced at £5 (plus £1.22 p&p) with all profits going towards the restoration of the remaining three miles of the canal. Copies are available by contacting tcharlson58@gmail.com or by calling 07926 910717.
A great champion of the Sankey Canal THE Sankey Canal Paying tribute, SCARS Restoration Society events and restoration officer Colin Greenall (SCARS) is mourning said: “I first met Dave in the loss of its chairman 1995 at the IWA National David Smallshaw, who died suddenly at the age Waterway Festival in of 71. He leaves his wife, Chester where he was three daughters and helping on the Towpath grandchildren. Action Group Stand. He had held the office He joined SCARS in for six years, during which 1999 and from then time the society had made on became a regular great progress in its bid to The late David Smallshaw. member of our monthly bring together the three PHOTO SUPPLIED work parties and also on boroughs and CRT to our sales and exhibition work towards restoration of the Sankey stand at IWA National Festivals and local Canal and to regenerate the whole of the shows we attended throughout the years Sankey Valley Corridor. from then on. In September 2017 the formation “During that time he came to SCARS of the Sankey Canal Partnership was Committee meetings as an observer for finally announced and Dave was eagerly the IWA Merseyside and North West looking forward to moving the project Branch. In 2005 he was elected to SCARS forward. Sadly for him this was not to Executive Committee and became communications officer in 2008. In be, but the fight will go on. More than 200 family and friends 2011 he took on the task of chairman, packed into Thornton Crematorium for a role in which he soon showed great the funeral , many of them standing out leadership skills. “As a keen member of IWA he served in the cold wind and rain listening to the eulogy of his life and times which on the committee of the Merseyside and was relayed via speakers situated in North West Branch which later became IWA Chester & Merseyside Branch and the entrance. He was an avid sportsman, playing was also a member of IWA North West rugby union for Waterloo in his younger Region Branch Committee. “In 2016 he accepted a position on the days, and a cricket fan, being a member of Northern Cricket Club. He was also CRT North West Partnership committee, a great fan of his home town rugby a role to which he was well suited with league team Wigan RLFC and a keen his wonderful knowledge of things that Everton FC supporter. Along with these were happening in the North West area. activities he liked walking and belonged “A great enthusiast for all things to do to many rambling groups. Gardening with waterways, railways and industrial was another of his passions and he spent heritage, he belonged to many such associations, groups and societies.” hours pottering around his garden
The formal party: John Baylis (IWA), Peter Moore (Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Nottinghamshire), Mrs Liz Archer (Mayoress of Chesterfield), Coun Maureen Davenport (Mayor of Chesterfield), the Duke of Devonshire, Robin Stonebridge (chairman of Chesterfield Canal Trust), David Fox (CCT), Mrs Annie Hall (High Sheriff of Derbyshire), Coun Linda Chilton (chair Derbyshire County Council) and Richard Allsopp (CCT). The Duke presented a certificate, signed by the Queen, to David Fox and a domed English Crystal with the QAVS logo insignia to Richard Allsopp.
Both David and Richard were original members dating back to 1976. After the formalities, all the dignitaries stayed to talk to the volunteers.
Boater was regular work party volunteer THE funeral has taken place of boater Allan Cottrell, who died recently at the age of 61. He was well known on the Chesterfield Canal with which his family had been connected for around 50 years. His boat April Rose was moored at Shireoaks Marina until he moved it to Sawley Marina on the River Trent. Allan had been a keen boater for
many years and his parents, Tom and Janet Cottrell, were members of the Retford & Worksop Boat Club back in the 1970s; Tom was at one time club chairman. A regular volunteer at work parties, Allan had spent many hours renovating his boat, which always gave him great pleasure.
Safety advice for paddlers BRITISH Canoeing has endorsed new advice from IWA on using small unpowered craft on the inland waterways and the safe passage of canal tunnels by all types of craft. Taking a boat through a tunnel can be an exciting element of any canal journey but it comes with inherent dangers which people need to be aware of, and IWA’s new Briefing Note on ‘Navigating Canal Tunnels Safely’ is intended to highlight some of these issues. It contains advice for users of powered and unpowered craft, as well as recommendations for navigation authorities. Small boats such as rowing boats, dinghies, canoes or stand-up paddleboards are a great and affordable way to get afloat. IWA has updated its Briefing Note on ‘Using Canoes and Small Unpowered Craft’ and would encourage everyone (even experienced boaters of other types
An affordable way to get afloat. PHOTO: JANET RICHARDSON
of craft) to consider trying new ways of getting afloat. It’s a great way to introduce children and young people to sport and the great outdoors and the briefing note contains lots of information to help you get started. IWA is grateful to British Canoeing for endorsing these two Briefing Notes and looks forward to working in partnership over other issues of joint interest.
Free workshop for waterways restoration groups and volunteers RESTORING confidence will be the theme of the 2018 Waterway Restoration Workshop, jointly run by the Inland Waterways Association and Canal & River Trust. It will take place on Saturday, April 14 at the South Wolverhampton and Bilston Academy. This free training workshop is aimed at waterway restoration groups and hopes to give volunteers support and information to assist in the development of their schemes. It is also a great opportunity for those passionate about waterway restoration to share and discuss ideas.
Main sessions will be Community Engagement with Nick Cleaver of the Community Roots Project; Water Management with Adam Comerford of the Canal & River Trust; Running a successful campaign with Claire Norman, Friends of the Earth/CPRE; Safety Focus with WRG chairman Mike Palmer and Influencing behaviour within your group with Tony Stammers, CRT head of safety. There will also be breakout sessions on a variety of specific topics. To book a place visit https:// w a t e r w a y s. c l o u d v e n u e. c o. u k / restorationworkshop2018
NETWORKING 9
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River people Lifeboatman John Chapman is one of the crew who patrol the busy tidal River Thames from Teddington. Elizabeth Rogers finds out more THIS year marks the 16th anniversary of the forming of the Thames Lifeboat Rescue Stations, to add to those which have been in operation in coastal areas by the RNLI (Royal National Lifeboat Institution) since the first half of the 19th century. The RNLI established its lifeboat stations to work on the River Thames following the Public Inquiry into the Marchioness disaster of 1989 in which 55 lives were lost. From this a recommendation was made that there should be a dedicated search and rescue service established. Today the central two Thames stations are the busiest throughout the service. There are four: Gravesend, covering from Holehaven at the west end of Canvey Island to the Thames Barrier; Tower Station on the Victoria Embankment just below Waterloo Bridge, covers from the Thames Barrier to Battersea; Chiswick Station continues the cover from Battersea to Richmond Half-tide Lock, and then the Teddington Station takes over the stretch from the Tower Station and is the busiest of the entire fleet. In 2016 it carried out 512 launches, assisted 72 people and saved 19 lives. The Chiswick Station is the second busiest, on its 180 launches it assisted 110 people and saved 12 lives. All the lifeboatmen at Teddington are volunteers, as are all the other personnel there, mechanics, administrators and others playing vital roles. Among those at the Teddington Station – which like that at Gravesend also has a very regular demand on its services – is John Chapman. John joined the service five years ago and is both a crew member and trainee helmsman and is involved in the training of new recruits. He has always been a man of boats and enjoying rowing, sailing and kayaking. At the Lensbury Rowing Club at Putney he was its captain and he is a qualified sailing skipper. He has also been involved in coaching. A background with boats is an advantage but it is not essential, John explains, as new recruits undergo a lengthy period of training, of two to three years. As well as boat skills, this includes learning about Health
and Safety procedures, and casualty care. The crew are in a number of instances in the role of first responders, maybe having to give emergency first aid until the paramedics on shore take over.
Duty calls
The Teddington Station boat is the RNLI fleet’s D class, 4.5m in length. To go out on a rescue it needs to have a helmsman and two crew. Therefore, John explains, there must be at least four people available for duty to ensure that the boat can respond to a call-out. A full complement of staff for a station with this D class boat is 24: 16 crew members and eight helmsmen. Teddington has around 25 volunteers and every Tuesday evening they each prepare a spreadsheet indicating the days and times when they expect to be available during the coming week, according to work, family and other commitments. Individually differing work patterns enable cover at different times of the day, although inevitably commitments can change. John is a solicitor so has fairly regular business hours. Numbers required to man the boats at the other stations vary according to the needs. The Gravesend Station has the Atlantic 85, a large rigid inflatable boat (RIB) and the Tower and Chiswick Stations the E class. Because of their situations on the river, they are equipped with one of the fastest boats supplied, water jet propelled. This, John explains, enables them to sit less low on the river and thus cause less disturbance of the water. This is important in an area where there are always many other craft. They can travel at 40 knots. “They are not used at any station other than here and are among the fastest boats in the fleet,” says John. The volunteers need to live within two to three minutes’ journey time to the station to be able to respond quickly enough to pager calls. In a residential area such as Teddington this is possible, but the Tower and Chiswick Stations are not in such residential neighbourhoods and therefore they have staff who are full-time there in order to be able to provide permanent cover. These staff work on regular
A lifeboat on the Thames near the London Eye.
Teddington lifeboatman John Chapman. PHOTOS: RNLI deployments, and on day or night shifts, says John. Duty periods are 7am to 7pm and vice versa. There is nothing seasonal about river rescue. “Although there may be fewer tourists in central London during the winter months, there are always calls to us for assistance,” says John.
Weir rescue
Some of these may be to sensitive situations, maybe involving mental health, when a person has wandered off. Others are to those the worse for wear for drink and who have had too close an encounter with the water. “People who drink do daft things at any time of the year,” says John. Not all call-outs are actually to the river. Because the towpath along these stretches is often inaccessible by road, it is the lifeboats which can most easily reach a walker or cyclist who has suffered an accident or been taken ill. Similarly somebody needing help on a boat that is moored alongside the river bank, or on or alongside an island, needs to be accessed from the river. In these instances the fact that the lifeboats have defibrillators on board means that they can give the immediate medical aid that may be needed, or that in some other form, until the person can be transferred to an ambulance. John has been involved in many memorable incidents, and one that particularly comes to mind is the rescue of a man in a kayak who was in a very difficult situation. “It was on a Sunday afternoon when he was out on the river,” John recalls. “The river was very fast flowing and it was windy. His kayak capsized near Teddington Lock and he was trying to prevent himself being sucked into the weir pool. “He eventually managed to climb on to the boom on the top of the weir and he was just holding on when we reached him. It was a warm March day, but he was suffering from hypothermia. “It was really good to be able to get him off the boom. Later on when he was recovering from his experience he came to the station to thank us.” John finds the contribution he makes to river rescues very rewarding, as do all the volunteer crew and those who are involved in any way. “It gives us a great sense of purpose and camaraderie,” he says. “We like to think that we are making a difference. Our work is a very worthwhile way of spending our time.” The RNLI relies a great deal on the support it receives from the public, including that of the local fundraising branches in many parts of the country. Information about becoming involved can be seen on the website, www. rnli-org/support-us
10 COMMUNITY BOATING
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The National Community Boats Association is a national body for community orientated boating organisations.
How things have changed In this issue Derek Stansfield, former director of training for the NCBA, reports from the annual meeting and conference. ATTENDED by delegates from around the UK, including Northern Ireland, the annual meeting and conference was held at the Pirate Castle on the Regent’s Canal in London. The keynote speech was delivered by Derek Stansfield, who gave a personal journey through Adventure Activities Regulations entitled How Things Have Changed. This gave a historical account of how, through tragic events involving organised group activities, the NCBA has travelled from activities with no regulation to a point where some might argue there is over-regulation. He ended with a plea that
the NCBA must keep adventure within these activities, especially for the benefits that they do bring and that the association has to balance this with the expectation that all parents have for their children to arrive back safely, maybe a little bruised, maybe wetter but certainly wiser. There were also three presentations from NCBA members about their projects and these were:
Ethel Trust: un-Locking Confidence Project We are a small but very successful charity based in Sheffield and providing education, leisure
One of CanalAbility’s three wide beam boats, which enable groups to take an active part in the boating experience. PHOTO SUPPLIED
and tonic to vulnerable and marginalised groups of adults and children on the South Yorkshire waterways with our purpose built accessible barge Ethel. The Ethel Trust un-Locking Confidence Project is a wonderful, waterborne, educational, vocational, recreational and life-enhancing experience for disabled children, young people and young adults who often have combined physical disability and mental health problems. These are in the form of one-day and three-day residential trips, the latter being entry level 1, ASDAN accredited teamwork, boat handling and confidencebuilding courses. Last year we proudly delivered to 30 organisations and 451 youngsters. Outcomes include: • More self-assurance to be involved in practical tasks; • Greater sense of well-being; • Enhancement of social skills. We have planned: a pilot on-board Christmas grotto for autistic children with two partner organisations: spring boat trips on 80 days over springtime in Sheffield; 10 ASDAN accredited residential trips during summer from Doncaster. The un-Locking Confidence Project is delivered at a cost to the Ethel Trust of around £23,000,
with funding from more than 30 supportive grant givers enabling the entire project to be offered free of charge to all of our users.
CanalAbility: Boating Without Boundaries CanalAbility is an awardwinning charity dedicated to providing facilities for people with disabilities to enjoy boating on our specially adapted canal boats. We were founded in 1989 and are based in Harlow on the River Stort. We offer day trips supervised by our qualified volunteers, and holiday hire if you wish to rent the boat yourselves. Find out more at www.canalability.org.uk and on Facebook @canalability Our focus is on ‘ability, not disability’ and our three purposebuilt, fully centrally heated and wide beam boats enable everyone to take a full and active part in the boating experience all year round. These boats are fully accessible so whether they enjoy active involvement in steering the boat (under supervision) or a gentler day watching the river scenery, our clients always benefit from the experience of being on the river. For day hire bookings, we
Pirate Castle – venue for the recent annual meeting and conference. PHOTO: JANET RICHARDSON man the boats and can take up to 12 clients per boat. For holiday bookings, we have a dedicated holiday boat for up to 12 people to stay aboard and enjoy the local waterways.
Pirate Castle: Reaching Out The Pirate Club was founded in 1966 by Viscount St David’s when he started a canoeing and rowing club. Pirate Castle itself, which opened in 1977, has allowed the Pirate Club to offer indoor activities during the winter months, a hall for hire and functions and an office. Following on from this, the Pirate Castle gained its first purpose-built residential narrowboat, Pirate Princess. Named and launched by HRH the Prince of Wales in 1982 and skippered by future castle
manager of 25 years, Giles Higgitt, she enabled club members to get hands-on boating experience exploring the canal and river systems surrounding the capital and beyond, a service she performed admirably until her replacement in 2011. Narrowboat Pirate Viscount joined us in 1995, acting as a day boat to further enhance our community boating operations, a role she still carries out. Today the Pirate Castle has a further extension to enable full wheelchair access to the building and runs two community boats, Pirate Prince – a wide beam boat with full disabled access – and narrowboat Pirate Viscount. We also still run our everpopular canoe and kayaking sessions, and run a wide range of other land- and water-based activities and training throughout the year.
The NCBA has a progressive training and qualification structure for inland waterways at all levels.
COMMUNITY BOATING 11
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Working hours regulations for waterway craft crews By Harry Arnold
NEW regulations governing the working hours of crew on board commercial passenger vessels and hotel boats operating on inland waterways have come into force. The Merchant Shipping (Inland Waterways: Working Time) (Amendment) Regulations 2017 were placed in the UK statute book on December 14, 2017 and became law on January 5, 2018. The main points that operators of these vessels on the UK’s inland waterways should note are that the regulations apply to vessels (other than pleasure vessels) ordinarily operating in categorised waters. Employers of workers on vessels engaged in the carriage of passengers or cargo must comply with the daily, weekly, and annual limits on working time and daily and weekly minimum rest periods. These regulations apply to young persons (under the age of 18) except where the Merchant Shipping and Fishing Vessels (Health and Safety at Work) (Employment of Young Persons) Regulations 1998 provide a higher level of protection. Night work is limited and health and safety protection measures must be taken for night workers.
Operators of hotel boats, such as this one, and passenger vessels now have to comply with new UK crew working hours regulations. PHOTO: WATERWAY IMAGES The work schedule must allow rest days for workers, based on the number of days they have worked continuously, normally following immediately the period of continuous work. A rest break must be provided if the worker works for more than six hours continuously and records must be kept to demonstrate compliance with the regulations. Workers must be provided with at least four weeks’ paid leave per year, and also 1.6 weeks of additional leave (recognising that there should be an entitlement to leave for public holidays). Each
entitlement should be given pro rata for periods of employment of less than one year. Annual health assessments must be available at no financial cost to the worker. The full regulations are available to read and download at http://www.legislation. gov.uk/all?title=working%20 time%20inland%20waterways. The regulations are explained, and guidance provided in MSN 1876(M). Concerns or questions should be directed to Julie Carlton at the Maritime & Coastguard Agency, email Julie. Carlton@mcga.gov.uk
Rescue training at River Canal Rescue STAFF from breakdown and assistance firm River Canal Rescue were recently put through their paces during a day of rescue training at Red Hill Marina, Nottingham. More than 30 front-line engineering and office-based staff first went through the theory of a rescue, learning how to assess risks, formulate plans for safe rescue attempts and how to use rescue equipment safely and efficiently. Simulated rescues followed involving the sinking and refloating of an 18ft cruiser, sunk to varying levels of raising difficulty (six times during the day). There were also powerboat rescue scenarios including man overboard and high-speed manoeuvres and personnel rescue scenarios including a capsized vessel, plus throw bag, tow and personal water safety training.
Operations manager Jay Forman explained: “If Health & Safety allows, we like to train in a river as this is where our most risky and difficult rescues are undertaken. The river flow and depth of water enables us to recreate difficult situations we’ve encountered in the past – without taking any risks.” During the simulated rescues a chief and secondin-command are always present as trainers. Rescue workers are appointed, as they would be in a real rescue and assigned to tasks. Seniority given to the trainees is determined by the number of rescues they have undertaken in the past. Jay advises: “The chief must have logged at least 100 rescues and the second-incommand a minimum of 80 to be given control in a realworld situation. However for training purposes, trainees
Staff taking part in rescue training at Red Hill Marina. PHOTOS: RCR
Simulated rescues followed involving the sinking and refloating of an 18ft cruiser. will be given duties far more advanced than would usually be expected of them. Any trained member of staff can attend as a rescue worker, but they are usually put on light duties until they’ve taken part in at least 10 real-world situations.” Office staff are included in the training as they regularly support rescue teams that are called to attend incidents. Rescue training is held once or twice a year, dependent upon the number of call-outs. To find out more about River Canal Rescue, visit w w w. r i v e rc a n a l re s c u e . co.uk or check out their Facebook page.
12 IWA ROUND-UP
www.towpathtalk.co.uk
AROUND THE BRANCHES WITH IWA’S GEMMA BOLTON
Waterway Recovery Group announces 2018 camps
Walkers visiting the site of the 2012 breach on the Grand Western Canal on New Year’s Day. PHOTOS: IWA
New year, bracing walks! MORE than 70 people burned off the seasonal excesses by wrapping up and enjoying some fresh air on a series of IWA branch new year walks. On New Year’s Day, 36 people and two dogs took part in a walk on the Grand Western Canal organised by IWA West Country Branch. The walk passed through quiet Devon countryside prior to reaching Rock Bridge and on the offside the listed Rock Cottage, where the canal historian Charles Hadfield lived as a boy and started his interest in waterways. This was followed by a stop at the
site of the 2012 breach. A smaller group continued along the towpath past the site of a trailboat rally held in May 2014, to a slipway adjacent to Boehill Bridge, built by IWA’s Waterway Recovery Group in 2003. A few days later, about three dozen people explored the Shrewsbury Canal with IWA Shrewsbury & North Wales Branch. The four-mile route took walkers to the former canal village of Uffington along the river Severn, past an old forge, and along the line of the partly cleared canal.
WATERWAY Recovery Group’s (WRG) 2018 Canal Camp programme will feature 28 Canal Camps across 13 different waterways. More than 400 volunteers are expected to sign up to the week-long residential camps, which include four sites where the project is close to completion or return to water, as well as three family camps. The aim of the programme is to support the admirable work being carried out by local canal restoration groups to help return even more canals back to navigation. The four projects close to completion are: • Borrowash Bottom Lock on the Derby Canal, where volunteers will undertake technical restoration work on the partially restored lock; • Fosseway Heath on the Lichfield
Canal, which will see volunteers restore more than 100m of retaining wall and towpath; • the Montgomery Canal, where volunteers will be working between Redwith Bridge and Pryces Bridge, focusing on repairing a leaking section of a recently restored canal; and on: • the Lancaster Canal, where volunteers will be relining a section of ‘the first furlong’. Once these four projects are finished 950m of canal will have been returned to water. Following the success of WRG’s first family volunteering weekend in 2017, three further weekends are planned in 2018 – on the Grantham Canal, Chelmer & Blackwater Navigation and Uttoxeter Canal. Families with children aged
between eight and 14 will have the opportunity to experience canal restoration first hand. Mike Palmer, WRG chairman, said: “Canal Camp volunteers have the chance to learn new skills, meet new people and enjoy new experiences. WRG Camps aim to give a significant boost to local restoration societies through an influx of volunteers over a single week or series of weeks and allow substantial progress to be made over a short space of time. “Our volunteers, both seasoned and new, can be found restoring locks, relining canals, creating towpaths, removing vegetation and uncovering archaeological artefacts. This year is set to be an exciting one for us.” To find out more about the full programme visit: https://www. waterways.org.uk/wrg/canal_camps
Training waterways volunteers to inspire youngsters IWA is running a series of events in partnership with Canal & River Trust for volunteer groups working on the waterways. Each day will look at working with young people to attract and inspire the next generation of waterways enthusiasts. It will start by exploring the challenges organisations face when working with a younger audience and will include how they manage safeguarding. This event is about finding
practical solutions together and will be an interactive day run by a team of CRT and IWA staff plus a safeguarding specialist. The next two dates are: Saturday, February 3 in London and Saturday, February 24 in Manchester. If you think this would be useful for you or other volunteers in your group please book your place or pass it on. To register your place visit: www.waterways. org.uk/safeguardingdays
Training volunteers to work with young people.
IWA WORK PARTIES IN FEBRUARY Anyone intending to attend one of these events for the first time should contact the organisers beforehand and wear suitable clothing and footwear. If staying all day take a packed lunch unless other arrangements are indicated.
East
work party on the Uttoxeter Canal at Bridge 70, Crumpwood. 10am-3pm. Contact Steve Wood 07976 805858, steve.wood@ waterways.org.uk
IWA Ipswich Branch supporting River Gipping Trust: Regular work parties at either Pipps Ford or Baylham Mill Lock, River Gipping. Meet at 9am to continue clearing storm damage to Pipps Ford or carry out maintenance at Baylham Mill Lock, finish at about 4pm. Contact Martin Bird 01394 380765, restoration@rivergippingtrust.org.uk
Thursday February 15
Sunday February 11
Saturday February 17
Wednesdays February 7, 14, 21, 28 and Saturday February 10
Exploring the canal route with IWA Shrewsbury & North Wales Branch.
IWA Lincolnshire Branch supporting Sleaford Navigation Trust: Regular work parties on the second Sunday of the month. Volunteers carry out a variety of tasks to maintain the navigable section of the Sleaford Navigation. Dates and locations are subject to change so contact Chris or Steve Hayes 01522 689460, workparties@sleafordnavigation.co.uk
Wednesdays February 14, 28 and Saturday February 24
IWA Peterborough Branch: Clearing vegetation on Horseways Channel and carrying out maintenance of Horseways Lock, 10am-3pm. Contact David Venn 01366 324102, david.venn@waterways.org.uk
North
Saturday February 3 and Tuesday February 27
The slipway built by IWA’s Waterway Recovery Group.
One-day first aid course IWA’s Restoration Hub is running a free one-day first aid course through the First Aid Academy on Saturday, March 10, with a certificate issued at end of the course.
The course is open to restoration group or work party volunteers. The day will be held at Rowington Village Hall, Warwickshire. Reserve your place here: wrg.cloudvenue.co.uk/first aidcourse
IWA North Staffordshire & South Cheshire Branch supporting the Burslem Port Trust: Twice-monthly work party on the Burslem Arm, Stoke-on-Trent, 10am to 3pm. Meet at Luke Street, Middleport, Stoke-onTrent ST6 3LY. Contact Steve Wood 07976 805858, steve.wood@waterways.org.uk
Thursday February 8
IWA North Staffordshire & South Cheshire Branch and the Caldon & Uttoxeter Canals Trust: Monthly
IWA North Staffordshire & South Cheshire Branch and Trent & Mersey Canal Society: Monthly work party on the Cheshire Locks, Trent & Mersey Canal. 10am-3pm. Contact John Brighouse 07808 878317, john.brighouse@waterways.org.uk IWA Chester & Merseyside Branch: Monthly work party in the Chester area working at various locations alongside the Shropshire Union Canal, 10am-4pm. Work will include painting and vegetation clearance. Contact Jason Watts, jason.watts@canalrivertrust.org.uk IWA Manchester Branch: Monthly work party at a venue to be confirmed in Greater Manchester, 10am4pm. Tasks will include vegetation clearance, litter picking, painting and pulling rubbish out of the canal. Contact 07710 554602, secretary@manchester-iwa. co.uk
Midlands
Sunday February 4 and Tuesday February 20
IWA Northampton Branch: Northampton Arm adoption, fortnightly work party 10am-2pm. Work includes a variety of tasks such as painting, vegetation clearance and litter picking. Location dependent on work completed at the previous work party. Contact Geoff Wood at geoff.wood@waterways.org.uk
South
Tuesdays February 20 and 27
IWA Oxfordshire Branch supporting Banbury Canal Partnership: Regular work parties on the Oxford Canal near Banbury. 9am to 1pm. Contact Colin GarnhamEdge: bcpontheoxford@gmail.com.
For further information on any of these events please contact Gemma Bolton on 01494 783453 or email gemma.bolton@waterways.org.uk Details can also be found on IWA’s website at www.waterways.org.uk