Towpath Talk - September 2020 - Preview

TOWPATH

1 1 Issue 179, September 2020

The UK’s Number ONE read for all waterways users

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PLANNING THE WINTER STOPPAGE PROGRAMME

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LIVING THE BEST LIFE WITH THE MULLERS

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OVERWHELMING RESPONSE TO FUNDRAISING APPEAL

Pier pressure Canal & River Trust engineers repairing the pier at Sharpness Docks. PHOTO: ADAM BARNES/CRT

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TV SHOW BOOST FOR GLASSWARE ARTIST

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BOATS FOR SALE Starts on

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An engineer abseils down the 11m-high pier. PHOTO: CRT

THE Canal & River Trust has been using a combination of abseiling skills and a spider crane to repair a decadesold timber pier at Sharpness Dock in Gloucestershire.

It has been a race against tide, time and weather on the River Severn, which has the second largest tidal range in the world from 0.6m-8.65m and can be even higher at certain times of the year.

The 210m pier dates back to 1874, when the dock was opened, and some of its massive 11m-tall greenheart oak legs are original.

As a gateway from the River Severn to the Gloucester & Sharpness Canal, the

pier is exposed to huge tidal pressures, and mainly submerged, so a regular programme of repairs ensures it is kept in top condition.

This year CRT engineers have been using a spider crane to bring in massive greenheart oak planks to be fixed in place by a team lowered down on ropes suspended over the muddy riverbed.

Sharpness is one of the most inland ports in Britain and the Canal & River Trust is the statutory harbour authority.

Each month the dock welcomes up to 25 ships bringing in supplies from mainland Europe for the UK’s agricultural industry, and cement for the construction sector.

Guiding 200kg of timber off the edge of the pier. PHOTO: GILL HARRISON/CRT

Thames works

Magnet warning

Snowdon in May

THE Environment Agency is investing £5.2 million this winter as part of its annual programme of essential works to maintain key navigation structures along the non-tidal River Thames. This investment is needed to replace or maintain 45 River Thames locks, their associated structures and towpath bridges, to keep them in reliable condition for the continued safe enjoyment by boaters and all visitors. Stoppages are planned at Day’s, Abingdon, Cookham and Molesey Locks between November 2 and March 19. For programme updates visit River Thames: closures and restrictions on www.gov.uk

THE Canal & River Trust has reiterated warnings about the dangers of magnet fishing following a debate recently on BBC Radio 2’s Jeremy Vine programme. A CRT spokesperson said: “Items dragged out by magnets could be sharp or heavy and cause you to be dragged into the water. We’ve even had reports of people fishing out old wartime bombs and dumped weapons.” Piles of metal on the towpath could also be a hazard and CRT urged anyone wishing to help clean up the canal to join a regular volunteering group.

THE planned night-time ascent of Mount Snowdon

by Friends of President chairman David Powell will now take place on May 22-23, 2021. It was due to take place in August, as reported last month, but had to be postponed due to coronavirus restrictions. David is raising money for the Multiple Sclerosis Trust and has already exceeded his original target of £940 by more than £200. Thanking everyone for their support, he said that on the positive side he will have 44 extra weeks of training. Click on fundraising/davidpowell72 at www.justgiving.com

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WELCOME WORKING from a spare bedroom ‘office’ for the fifth consecutive month, I must admit to being envious of those of you who have been able to get out on the cut during the summer sunshine.

But as life under a ‘new norm’ starts to stir, I have reintroduced the diary dates this month, see What’s on page 19 and actually hope to attend a couple of outdoor events in the coming weeks.

With this strange year seeming to fly by, the winter stoppage season is only a couple of months away and I had a chat over the phone with two of the Canal & River Trust team involved in pulling the programme together, see page 4.

One family making the most of living aboard are the Mullers; Alice Griffin met the couple and their three children who have also taken on an allotment so they can grow their own produce, see page 9.

I enjoyed watching glassware artist Kate Webley of The Pod on BBC’s Home is Where the Art is and hearing afterwards of the amazing knock-on effect it has had for her business. A regular at Crick Boat Show and the IWA festivals, she would normally be gearing up now for the pre-Christmas markets but the majority of these have already been cancelled so online seems the way to go, see page 18.

With the popular IWA Towpath Walks starting up again in London, Roger Wilkinson describes how they came about in the first place and the great fundraising contribution they have made over the years, see page 19.

I was saddened to hear of the death of Braunston Historic Boat Rally ‘commentator extraordinaire’ Norman Mitchell who I had the pleasure of meeting on several occasions, most recently at the National Waterways Museum, Gloucester. See Tim Coghlan’s tribute to this rally parade stalwart on page 20.

After such a sunny spring, dare we hope for an Indian summer to make up for the days lost under lockdown?

Keeping my fingers crossed

Volunteers’ efforts to restore Brindley’s last canal hit the buffers The Old Mortonians are hoping to repeat the success of the 2015 festival. PHOTOS SUPPLIED OLD MORTONIANS are a canal heritage group on the Oxford Canal at Hillmorton where they produced a highly successful canal festival in 2015.

Since then, at no cost to the Canal & River Trust and contributing thousands of hours of volunteer time, they have worked to restore the last part of the last canal by James Brindley, who died just as it reached Hillmorton Locks in 1772.

Developers of 6500 new houses, Urban and Civic plc, created a large new access road that passed immediately by the basin and part of the original

plan was for countryside pathways alongside the basin that would provide essential access.

The company was kept informed of the plans and provided a couple of large cash payments in support of the work by the team of volunteers.

In 2017 IWA Waterways Recovery Group volunteers cleared the entirely overgrown 150yd basin that was created when the canal was shortened in 1834.

The project was to restore it to as it was when James Brindley’s workforce created it but as an educational

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The plans for the James Brindley Sunken Garden in the basin.

heritage mooring for historic boats for public enjoyment. Trenches were dug to expose a perfect clay layer, 200 trees were planted, original stone canal walls were uncovered and with positive soil and water retention tests, it was ready to fill.

But after many meetings, the Canal & River Trust shocked the volunteers by claiming they were actually trying to create a commercial marina and could continue only if they undertook to lease the finished basin at full market rent. The volunteers were unable to commit either themselves or future members to paying to restore their own canal.

All seemed lost until a member came up with the idea of creating a sunken garden without water, as a memorial to James Brindley in time for the 250th anniversary of his death in 2022. On the promise that no water would be let in, CRT allowed them to ‘adopt’ the basin. Spurred on by this, work started again after years of delay.

But then along came a coronavirus and all volunteering was prohibited once again. During this further enforced shut-down Old Mortonians devised another plan for a large part of the basin being made over to a sensory garden for the enjoyment

of those with disabilities.

This attracted great support and a team of well-qualified members started enthusiastically to work on the project along with a number of disability and caring charities. When work was once again permitted, the Brindley Memorial Sensory Garden plan was launched.

But during the lockdown, young people took to holding gatherings on the towpath every evening, prompting Urban & Civic plc to inform the Old Mortonians that it would not agree to the access path for wheelchair and disability vehicles around its adjacent field due to complaints that it would give access for those intent on antisocial behaviour.

The volunteers searched in vain for a solution but were forced to accept that without access for those with disabilities, the last vestige of feasibility had gone and this last in a long line of plans was no longer viable. Amid much sadness, they had no choice but to abandon the basin.

Ironically, the parties ceased when the canals reopened.

But Old Mortonians have vowed to repeat the success of 2015 and produce a canal festival called BRINDLEY 250 in September 2022 to be opened by local teenager Thomas Charles Brindley.

Coincidentally he lives just off the approach road to the locks named…

Brindley Road.

Restored lock gets first pair of gates The closed visitor centre at Fradley Junction – now the home of bats. PHOTO: LES HEATH

Bats take over welcome station

By Les Heath

FRADLEY Junction Welcome Station, normally a popular spot with boaters during the summer months, is unlikely to open this year – thanks to some furry squatters.

Covid-19 prevented the centre from opening

earlier this year but now it has become the home of bats – a protected species which cannot be disturbed.

The Canal & River Trust has come up with a partial solution by providing information and limited sales on Tuesdays and Thursdays from a

gazebo, manned by volunteers, in the courtyard. Boaters are still asked to use the online shop for pump-out cards or facilities keys.

M e a n w h i l e , volunteers are back at work helping boaters through the Fradley flight.

On the day we went to press, the bottom lock gates were being installed at Lock 14 on the Grantham Canal as restoration of another lock on the Woolsthorpe flight nears completion. The top gates will follow in a few weeks.

The new bottom gates in place.

PHOTOS: STEPHEN HARDY/CRT

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Canal trust ‘delighted’ at £40,000 charity grant for green corridor campaign

THE Lapal Canal Trust has welcomed a £40,000 grant from the Garfield Weston Foundation towards restoration of the Dudley No 2 Canal.

It will form a significant part of the funding of the Winding Hole in Selly Oak allowing boats to turn, enter and exit the soon-to-be-restored canal.

Land & Water Services has already started on the detailed design which will be an attractive water feature in the heart of Selly Oak and a destination for trip boats from Birmingham.

Lapal Canal Trust chairman Dr Andrew Hardie said: “We are delighted to receive the support of one of the largest UK

charities, supporting our community campaign to create a green corridor for boaters, walkers and cyclists.

“The restoration of the Dudley No 2 Canal preserves part of our industrial heritage and enhances the environment.”

In a letter, Sophia Weston, granddaughter of Garfield Weston and a trustee of the foundation, said: “We hope that this will not only be good news for your organisation but that it will encourage other funders to support your project.”

The Lapal Canal Trust is actively looking for more financial support. Contact details for donations can be found at www. lapal.org

The canal breach on the morning of Wednesday, August 12.

PHOTOS: BARNEY SOWOOD

Union Canal breached in one-in-240year event

By Cicely Oliver

Plans for the winding hole at Selly Oak. IMAGE SUPPLIED

About the foundation

The Garfield Weston Foundation was established in 1958 by Willard Garfield Weston, a Canadian businessman who moved to the UK with his family in 1932.

He was the creator of Associated British Foods and the foundation was endowed with a donation of family-owned company shares.

As a result, the foundation is still the ultimate controller of the company today.

Its brands include Ovaltine, Twinings, Silver Spoon, Ryvita,

and Allied Bakeries-Kingsmill.

On the retail side it owns Primark, with its biggest store in Birmingham.

Garfield Weston Snr was succeeded as chairman of both Associated British Foods and the Garfield Weston Foundation by one of his sons, Garfield Howard Weston (Garry), who successfully developed the company into a major international organisation, and at the same time became one of the UK’s most well-regarded

philanthropists. During Garry’s time as chairman (over nearly 25 years) the foundation’s annual donations grew from less than £1 million to more than £30 million.

The trustees today are all lineal descendants of the founder and remain committed to continuing the family’s philanthropic ethos.

Each year the foundation spends all of the income it receives, and donations continue to grow.

For more information visit www. garfieldweston.org

AFTER a night of heavy rain, a serious breach occurred on the Union Canal between Polmont and Muiravonside early on the morning of August 12.

Around 80mm of rain fell between midnight and 6am, with more than 40mm falling in one hour alone at 5am.

The significant volume of water flowing into the canal eventually overtopped and washed away part of the embankment, resulting in a breach which is now 30m wide.

It was first discovered by Barney Sowood as he cycled along the towpath with his washing, heading for the laundry facility at the Kelpies. Fortunately, as it is on a relatively straight stretch of the waterway, he was just able to stop in time.

Local residential moorers at nearby Causeway End saw levels in the basin rising steadily during the night, before dropping rapidly in the morning. The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) have estimated this significant rainfall as a one-in-240-year event.

Scottish Canals staff acted swiftly, inserting stop planks at Manse Road in Linlithgow – a couple of miles east of the breach – and dropping sandbags into the channel to the west. Water, flowing out of

the canal, found its way on to the main Glasgow-Edinburgh railway, totally closing the line.

By the end of the week, the flow of water from the breach had been stopped completely. The Scottish Canals workforce began to restore water levels on the east side of the breach, where the water feed is located, which will enable them to pump water to the west side: important for restoring boat movement between the Union Canal, the Falkirk Wheel down on to the Forth & Clyde Canal and the Kelpies.

A fish rescue has been managed, moving stranded fish from near the breach to an unaffected section of canal.

Scottish Canals is working to identify a safe towpath diversion.

It is estimated that repair will take three to four months to complete. The impact of the breach on hire boat fleet, some of which is strung out along the Union Canal which has only just come out of lockdown, still has to be assessed.

The navigation authority has recently applied to Government for a £1 million capital grant towards dredging the waterway which, being a contour canal, fills up at 25mm a year from field run-off.

Updates on the situation can be found at scottishcanals.co.uk and on social media.

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Repairs are due to start on the Bingley Five-Rise Locks in January.

Pulling out all the stops to plan the winter programme

Refurbishment of the guillotine gate system at Stamp End Lock on the River Witham at Lincoln is due to start in November.

PHOTOS: CANAL & RIVER TRUST

This year has been one of the most challenging so far for everyone, including the team who plan the Canal & River Trust’s winter stoppage programme. Janet Richardson had a virtual meeting with programme manager Paul Wroe and co-ordinator Julia Moore to find out how it has impacted on them.

AS WE went to press, the final version of the winter stoppage programme went online with over 130 packages on more than 50 navigations.

This followed months of planning involving programmers, engineers, construction and delivery managers responsible for priority projects, third party works, mechanical and electrical and other winter maintenance works.

Programme manager Paul Wroe plans the programme of works for the trust’s direct services teams while Julia Moore, who works in his team, co-ordinates the planned winter stoppages, working with the programmers from around the country and producing stoppage notices for the website to keep all the canal users informed.

Paul explained that records of all the assets such as locks, bridges and other structures must be kept up to date with regular inspections. “We monitor the condition of a structure or canal length and give it a condition grade. We prioritise and programme the works based on condition grades and decide, for example, if a gate needs replacing or a quoin needs repairing.

“We have a rolling three-year programme and record any changes, for instance whether a defect is getting worse or has already been repaired.

Because the network is 200 years old there is always going to be a need for repairs.”

Julia commented: “This year has been very challenging, especially as the programmers had to re-prioritise completely in the middle of the process due to coronavirus. The closure of lock

gate workshops during the early stages of lockdown meant that some of the gates which were due to be fitted during the winter would not be ready in time so they had to advise which gates could still be manufactured for the winter works.”

She said they had to strike a balance between the different types of repairs needed in order to plan what could be achieved. “It is not just about lock gates, we carry out a wide array of works throughout the year, some of which we can do without closing the navigation.

Programmers play a key role to make sure these can be delivered.”

Or if a navigation has to be closed earlier in the year, due to water supply issues for instance, they look to see if a team can go in at short notice and do repairs early instead of waiting until

the winter. “But you can’t just magic a gate out of the workshop, they are all different.”

Paul pointed out that the lock gate workshops were one of the first teams to get back to work with social distancing measures in place. “They are working at full capacity now.”

Planning for winter

Julia explained that she gets involved in the winter programme at the beginning of the year when they start looking at timings for all the closures during the following winter, taking into account third party works such as Network Rail’s work to their bridges. She works with a group of consultees including commercial and hire boat operators and private boaters.

The Pontcysyllte Aqueduct will be closed for repairs which are due to start in February.

Programme manager Paul Wroe.

They usually meet face-to-face but since March have had Zoom meetings.

“The technology has made it easier; being able to see people’s faces has made a difference.

“We have a protocol for keeping key north-south-east-west routes open in the winter. We then pull together the programme.” This is usually done in April but was impacted by the lockdown. “We can all work from home so we carried on with the consultation and published the first version on June 1.”

Two stages of public consultation via the trust’s website continued through the summer, leading to the publication of the final programme on August 17.

“We don’t expect any further major changes and any revisions will need director approval,” Julia continued.

“As part of the consultation we receive lots of comments through the website and we try to make sure the way the works are planned is best for our customers.”

For instance a proposed stoppage on the Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal will start a day later than originally planned in order that local hire boats can get back to base after Christmas.

Julia commented on recent speculation about whether the holiday season should be extended in view of its late start. “There has been a lot of discussion with hire boat operators and private boaters and it was decided we would continue with the dates we

Julia Moore co-ordinates the planned winter stoppages. already have agreed.

“If we hold the start of the winter programme it will have a knock-on effect and we would have to extend it after Christmas which could impinge on the Easter holidays.”

The programme starts on November 2, seven weeks before Christmas and after a two-week break continues for another 11 weeks until March 19. “We do our best to reduce the impact on our customers.

It’s not just the hire boat operators and private boaters, but there are coal and fuel suppliers and other freight traffic to consider, as well as canalside businesses who can be affected when the navigation is closed. We also try to keep the network open for Christmas cruising and Santa trips.”

Virtual open days

Current restrictions mean that the trust will be unable to hold its usual stoppage open days and weekends. “It would be difficult to do them safely,” said Julia.

“We are planning to do some virtual openings with tours and time lapses and put these on our website. Hopefully this will provide an opportunity to show the variety of work we do.”

If you want to see the winter stoppages in your area, look on www.canalrivertrust.org.uk/ notices/winter-stoppages

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Why have boats become stuck on sandbanks on the River Trent this summer?

Former seasonal lock keeper Les Heath looks at some of the reasons behind the groundings.

AN UNPRECEDENTED number of complaints have been flooding in from boaters following groundings on the River Trent this summer.

What makes it even more remarkable is that the year began with a series of floods which brought boating to a halt on the river for several weeks.

So why has the river gone from one extreme to the other in such a short space of time? And why are so many boaters running aground on both the tidal and non-tidal sections?

Some say it is a sign of global warming while others blame the navigation authority, the Canal & River Trust, for failing to carry out dredging operations in the affected areas. Others blame Covid-19 with operatives being unable to resolve the problems during lockdown.

In recent months two of the worstaffected areas on the non-tidal Trent are immediately below Stoke Lock and below Hazelford Lock. Pictures have appeared on social media of people standing in the middle of the river on sandbanks below the entrance to Hazelford Lock.

Commercial artery

The mighty Trent was once a busy commercial artery with thriving ports established at Gainsborough, Newark and Nottingham. Huge barges travelling daily this far inland played a significant role in keeping a reasonable depth in the river channels.

Unfortunately this trade, which was booming in the 1960s, disappeared years ago and vessels with a similar draught have not ventured that far inland since, apart from an occasional exception.

The gravel trade continued on the tidal section until seven years ago with a short-lived boost on the non-tidal section between Gunthorpe and Colwick.

Large vessels such as the 175ft long Battlestone regularly turned around below Cromwell Lock before collecting their cargo at Besthorpe Wharf.

It was not unknown for these experienced barge skippers to run aground here and on various sections of the river.

During my years as a seasonal lock

How will Brexit impact on boaters’ overseas cruising plans? PHOTO: RYA

RYA asks recreational boaters for input on Schengen discussions Mike Gowland, a member of Facebook’s Canal World Discussion Forum, shared this picture of marker buoys now in place on the approach to Stoke Lock. keeper at Cromwell, several barges fell foul of the river’s sandbanks while pleasure craft were running aground almost daily, usually at Dunham Dubs between Cromwell and Torksey.

Generally they were refloated on an incoming tide and pride was the only thing to suffer.

However, problems that boaters have always had to contend with on the tidal section are now becoming a nuisance between Newark and Nottingham, especially for those who have not experienced the tidal waters and who have always regarded the Trent as a trouble-free waterway.

Problem areas

River Canal Rescue has been on hand this year to rescue some of its members who have been stranded on Trent sandbanks. However, boaters should be aware that the navigation authority, the Canal & River Trust, claims that it is not its responsibility to help boaters in difficulties and that it does not have the manpower nor vessels to do so.

Jo Grummett, boating and customer service manager in the East Midlands, said: “We’re mindful that there have been some problems on the Trent this year caused by the heavy flooding in spring and we’re sorry that boaters have been experiencing difficulties.

“The situation was compounded by the coronavirus lockdown which made it difficult for us to identify specific problem areas and restricted our ability to respond.

“We’re grateful for the reports we’ve had from boaters since boating has been able to restart and we’re currently reviewing and reprioritising our national dredging programme to enable works to take place on the Trent as quickly as possible.”

Boaters have also been running aground on a sandbank which appeared above Ratcliffe Lock on the River Soar and was still there at the time of writing.

Buoys marking the channels through the sandbanks have now been put in place on the Trent but those below Stoke Lock have already been described as ‘confusing’ for boaters approaching or exiting the lock.

Such marker buoys are common on the River Nene, where the navigation authority is the Environment Agency, and boaters on this beautiful river are quite familiar with these permanent fixtures.

Perhaps boaters on the Trent should, similarly, also get used to the sight of marker buoys.

One never knows, if the Nene is anything to go by, they could be around on the Trent for some time yet.

THE RYA (Royal Yachting Association) has launched an online survey to gauge the impact of the Schengen agreement on UK recreational boaters.

It comes as the Government continues to negotiate the terms of the UK’s future relationship with the EU. Currently, the RYA understands that travel to the Schengen area will be visa-free for UK citizens after the transition period ends on December 31, 2020; however it appears that improving access beyond that permitted under the EU-wide Schengen 90/180-day rule is not part of the UK’s negotiations with the EU. If this is the case, then this will have a significant impact on UK citizens’ rights to travel in Europe after the end of transition, particularly those who wish to spend the summer, and possibly longer, in the EU27 on their boats as many do now.

Under current arrangements, EU citizens will be able to visit the UK on a standard visitor visa for six months at a time.

The survey aims to gather reliable and representative statistics to clarify the breadth of the issues involved. Participants of the survey will be asked to complete questions regarding topics such as the frequency of their boating trips abroad, the type of boat that they use and about their future

travel plans for boating trips to the Schengen Area.

RYA director of external affairs, Howard Pridding, said: “The RYA continues to engage with Government about the need for further discussions surrounding access to the Schengen Area.

“We are aware that there is a considerable number of boaters who keep their vessels in an EU27 country and many more who spend extended periods cruising European waters.”

He continued: “With this survey we hope to gain a better understanding of the actual size of the potential issue and how many recreational boaters could be adversely affected.

“In order for us to be able to gain this insight it is essential that recreational boaters across the UK engage with the survey when it is released later this month.”

The survey – The UK has left the EU: The impact of Schengen rules on UK boaters – was expected to go live as we went to press with the findings of the survey to be released in the autumn. Access to the survey can be found via the RYA website: www. rya.org.uk If you have any questions about the survey or require further information on Brexit, please visit the Current Affairs Hub on the RYA website. Alternatively, if you are a member of the RYA and require advice, please email cruising@rya. org.uk.

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Could this be the end of red diesel?

By Phil Pickin

IT WOULD seem that waterways users have lost the fight over red diesel according to the consultation on reforms to the tax treatment of red diesel and other rebated fuels published in July by HMRC. In it the Government has confirmed that only white, fully taxed, diesel can be used to propel boats.

If your boat is fitted with separate tanks for heating and propulsion fuel, you will be able to continue to use red diesel for heating and battery charging (this is assuming you are not using the battery power to propel the boat). The question will be if businesses will want to invest in having separate fuel pumps for both types of diesel?

The Canal & River Trust made the following statement: “The proposals will have implications for the trust where red diesel is used on our own fleet. As

proposed the removal of its use will increase fuel costs for the trust, although given that our fleet is not huge, the impact will be manageable.

“It is positive that the Government appears to have recognised that for boats which use red diesel for domestic heating, most do not have separate fuel tanks so the initial proposal requiring separate tanks for heating (red diesel) and propulsion (white diesel) would have been prohibitively expensive.

“There now seems to be a tentative acceptance that a partial rebate for those with a single tank who use red diesel for domestic heating might be approved. However, this would only be eligible for those with a permanent mooring.

“Boaters with moorings are most likely to be able to access shore-based power, whereas those liveaboard boaters without

a mooring are entirely dependent on fuels such as diesel to provide heating. If this partial exemption is implemented those without a permanent mooring would be more disadvantaged given they would not be eligible to this partial rebate for the domestic heating part of their diesel use.

“For those who currently supply fuel, the requirement to have separate tanks for red and white diesel would have made this prohibitive. If the Government does allow partial rebate on white diesel for use in domestic heating, then this would allow suppliers to operate with one tank.

“There would, however, be an additional cost to suppliers of having their tanks flushed out to remove any residual trace of red diesel to ensure no crosscontamination with white diesel and there would be additional administration for suppliers who would have to claim back this partial rebate from HMRC.”

Will red diesel become a thing of the past on the inland waterways? PHOTO SUPPLIED “There may be alternative solutions to be considered such as – following the recent DfT call for evidence on reducing emissions from recreational boats – moving the rebate to the new brand of green diesel which has lower emissions and so would meet the EU obligation and government aims for reducing emissions without causing significant hardship to boaters.”

The trust has forwarded details of the consultation to the national boating organisations (RBOA, NABO, AWCC, NBTA) and the elected boater reps to Trust Council as they are best to respond on behalf of their members and to encourage their members to respond directly to the consultation.

The RYA (Royal Yachting Association) is also looking for input from its membership.

It recently stated: “The RYA supports a move to increase energy efficiency in the short term and to develop a pathway to zero carbon for all sectors in line with UN goals. The RYA’s case for retaining red diesel is about existing supply needs, not colour, tax status or price.”

Recreational boaters already pay the full rate of duty and VAT when purchasing fuel for the purposes of propulsion. RYA will, therefore, be looking at the proposals to reform the tax treatment of red diesel closely to see how this might affect the supply of fuel for recreational use for both propulsion and how it will impact supply for

domestic usage such as heating.

The further west and north you travel in the UK the more likely it is that you will have to rely on waterside outlets that only supply red diesel for commercial purposes, such as to fishing fleets.

In many places, some remote, the limited quantities of fuel used by recreational craft do not warrant the cost of installing additional equipment to supply white diesel for the recreational boating sector.

If the Government removes the entitlement to use red diesel from most sectors from April 2022 and white diesel is consequently made as widely available as red diesel is now, then the supply of fuel will not be affected.

The RYA will be responding to this call for evidence and urges users of diesel-propelled craft, particularly private pleasure craft, and those involved in the supply of fuel to UK craft to participate in the consultation.

British Marine is also encouraging its members to visit

a dedicated red diesel page on its website for more information on the survey which it is looking to publish. It will also be consulting its members and issuing a survey to help inform its response to HMRC’s consultation.

BM’s website states: “We will consult on the cost differential between red and white diesel, the continued use of the 60:40 split and the impact of the changes on suppliers. We will also continue to work closely with Government departments to ensure that members have all the appropriate guidance they need to understand the new requirements.

“We have, for some time, expected to see this, so it hasn’t come as a shock, and there would still seem to be a lot of consultation going on. So if you want to get involved and have an input to the way forward visit the websites of the various organisations and look for the links to the red diesel pages.”

To have your say on the future of red diesel, visit: https://www. gov.uk/government/consultations/consultation-on-reformsto-the-tax-treatment-of-red-diesel-and-other-rebated-fuels The consultation closes at 11.45pm on October 1, 2020.

To read more about the RYA’s lobbying developments with red diesel, go to: https://www.rya.org.uk/knowledge-advice/ current-affairs/Pages/red-diesel.aspx If you have any questions regarding red diesel or any other current affair issues you can visit the Current Affairs page: https://www.rya.org.uk/knowledge-advice/current-affairs/ Pages/hub.aspx on the RYA website or email cruising@rya. org.uk

Historic boats join national register TWO narrowboats are among vessels which have recently joined the National Historic Ships UK Register.

Wooden-hulled motor Beech, 72ft, was built

by Fellows, Morton & Clayton at Uxbridge in 1935 and was paired with butty Elsie while working for FMC. In 1962 she was bought by the Kennet Carrying Company and carried furniture between Shepperton and Shiplake on the River Thames.

Restoration was completed at Charity Dock in 1986 and the original semi-diesel Bolinder engine is now in the boat museum at Stoke Bruerne.

Horse-drawn 70.5ft narrowboat Mercury was built in 1926 for Midlands and Coast, the hull style having been copied from the FMC Josher boats previously built by Yarwoods.

After service with FMC and the Samuel Barlow Coal Company Ltd, Mercury was operated between 1970 and 1988 by Foxton Boat Services as a camper paired with Owl. She was then sold for use as a horse-drawn trip boat on the western end of the Kennet & Avon Canal before being converted to a liveaboard.

For further information see www. nationalhistoricships.org.uk

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Plan to create canalside community in north-west London

What is OPDC?

OPDC is a Mayoral Development Corporation established to oversee one of the largest Opportunity Areas, catalysed by HS2 and the Elizabeth Line. The regeneration of Old Oak, Park Royal and surrounding areas has the potential to deliver 25,500 new homes and 65,000 jobs over the next 30 years.

OPDC’s Canal Placemaking Study sets out a vision for the protection and enhancement of the Grand Union Canal in Old Oak and Park Royal. It was developed in partnership with the Canal & River Trust and the local community.

Harlesden Canalside is part of a suite of OPDC’s In the Making

projects funded through a £1.2 million grant from the Mayor of London’s Good Growth Fund aiming to deliver key elements of OPDC’s vision for the canal set out in the Canal Placemaking Study.

In addition, the following projects will be delivered with the funding: a) rebuilding a DDA-compliant towpath access ramp and adjacent public realm at Old Oak Lane; b) delivering wayfinding and interpretation along the canal in Old Oak and Park Royal; c) delivering biodiversity and wildlife improvement along the offside of the canal in Old Oak and Park Royal.

Boaters enjoying the Grand Union Canal. PHOTOS: OPDC THE Old Oak and Park Royal Development Corporation (OPDC), working in partnership with the London Borough of Brent and the Canal & River Trust, is planning improvements to the Grand Union Canal between Acton Lane and Steele Road.

Proposals are being created in close collaboration with local residents and will include outdoor ‘pop-up’ recreational, work and leisure facilities, as well as new public space to bring life to the canal and support for a wide range of business and community activities.

Ideas for future use include a workshop for boaters, a canoe club base, a community hub and outdoor cafe or market space.

OPDC has appointed specialist community and commercial space operator, 3Space, and architects, We Made That, to work with local people to scope and design the project which is part of a £1.2 million community investment, funded by the Mayor’s Good Growth Fund to bring forward a range of improvements to public spaces on the canal.

CRT’s London & South East regional director Ros Daniels said: “As people are looking more and more to green space to support their well-being, the value of London’s canals as places to relax and enjoy, and also as vibrant destinations, is to be celebrated.

“We know that people who spend

time by the canal are healthier and happier and we are excited to see how this canalside space will develop and come to life through the ideas of people who visit, live or work in Harlesden and Park Royal.”

OPDC’s chief executive, David Lunts said: “Covid-19 has shown us that public outdoor space in London is more precious than ever and our plans will enable people from Harlesden and beyond to enjoy the benefits of the canal.

“The idea for regenerating Harlesden Canalside came from the local community and we are now reaching out to local groups, residents, businesses and boaters to decide exactly how this space should take shape.”

Part of the regeneration area in Harlesden.

Due to Covid-19, OPDC has paused face-to-face engagement events and will be consulting on this project remotely until it’s safe to do otherwise.

More information will be available soon and representatives from 3Space will be reaching out to community

groups in due course to begin consultation. In the meantime, anyone who is a resident or represents a local business or community organisation and would like to be involved can contact OPDC by emailing info@opdc. london.gov.uk

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Plaque marks volunteering milestone

SWANSEA Canal Society volunteers have been rewarded for giving more than 50,000 hours of their time since 2012 with a commemorative plaque.

It was presented by Mark Evans, director of Glandwr Cymru, the Canal & River Trust in Wales, beside the canal recently.

Congratulating the society on this milestone, he said: “This is an amazing achievement and we are so grateful to the group for their hard work. They have a genuine love for the Swansea Canal and their dedicated commitment is pivotal in creating a bright future for both the canal and the area.

“We also commend them for their impact on the local community. The Swansea Canal Society is a shining example and here’s to many more hours of working with them!”

Swansea Canal Society is run by enthusiastic volunteers dedicated to maintaining, restoring and improving

the canal. The hours they generously give are spent in ‘hands-on’ tasks including clearing vegetation, litter picking and restoring the banks.

They also organise fundraising activities, are involved in tourism – including running a canoe and kayak hire service – and provide other local community groups the opportunity to get involved.

Society chairman Gordon Walker described their energy as boundless.

He added: “I am so pleased to be able to receive this plaque on behalf of the society’s fantastic volunteers. Of course, many recent activities have been curtailed – in fact, this presentation should have taken place on the day lockdown commenced – but we will soon be back firing on all cylinders.”

Earlier this year the society was honoured with the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, the highest award a voluntary group can receive in the UK.

The blankets being laid.

The stone-treated channel. PHOTOS: SUCS

Blistering pace at ‘Costa del Crickheath’

THE restoration of the Montgomery Canal at Crickheath continued at a ‘blistering pace’ as massive progress was again achieved in searing heat over the weekend of August 7-9.

The new working practice, which observes strict social distancing and sanitation practice, added an extra element of discomfort for the volunteers; however a sustained, focused three days resulted in another 120 metres of channel base being completed.

The channel was scraped out to the actual depth by one team, and this was firstly covered with a lining

textile blanket and another layer of geo-textile grid, to spread the pressure of the load of the machines.

This was then treated with a layer of stone.

There is now a hardcore base running along almost the entire length of the 320m channel which will be used as a road to transport the necessary materials needed to shape, line and block-pave it, to enable re-watering to take place in 2021, which will link the winding hole basin at Crickheath to the national canal network.

A second group stripped towpath

vegetation to enable two sections of newt fencing to be re-sited.

The third group stripped a 60m section of vegetation from the south side of the bridge at Crickheath to enable an ecological survey to take place and also reveal the state of the original wharf walls. This activity was necessary to begin planning for the next project, beyond 2021, once the re-watering has been achieved.

Work parties have been increased to two weekends per month to recover time lost due to Covid-19 and a terribly wet winter. Also see report of first weekend work party on page 11.

Lockdown restoration for former Lakeland water taxi

CANAL enthusiast Colin Ogden, not daunted by lockdown, decided to restore his vintage boat Whimbrel, a Windermere water taxi, built

by Sheppard’s in Bowness on Windermere.

Using all his skills he stripped down, restored every finest detail, rebuilt her,

painted and varnished and planned to launch her during August in Glasson Dock in memory of his wife Lynda, who died just over 12 months ago.

Welsh regional director Mark Evans presents the plaque at arm’s length to maintain social distancing to Gordon Walker, chairman of Swansea Canal Society. PHOTO: CANAL & RIVER TRUST

Joining a great clean-up in September EARLIER this year the Uppermill Community Action Network (UCAN) signed up to support and participate in the annual Keep Britain Tidy Great British Spring Clean which was due to take place in late March and early April.

With the Covid-19 virus, however, the national campaign was postponed in order to keep everyone safe and UCAN delayed its local work to reflect

that decision. The Keep Britain Tidy campaign is now back and encouraging the public and businesses to help pick up litter between September 11 and 27 to show support for the renamed event, the Great British September Clean.

UCAN sees the Great British September Clean as a fantastic opportunity for it to continue its work in helping to keep Uppermill litter-free.

While all UCAN group volunteering activity is still on hold by the Canal & River Trust (CRT) some UCAN members are expected to join the Great British September Clean around Uppermill, either individually or in groups of six people maximum for a socially distanced litter-pick.

If any readers would like to take part in the Great British September Clean, please see further details on the Keep Britain Tidy website.

UCAN is always pleased to welcome new members; anyone interested in joining when it is able to resume its voluntary work and who would like further information can contact Peter Killan 01457 878361, email peterkillan@hotmail.com

Whimbrel undergoing restoration for August launch. PHOTO SUPPLIED

The history of Ticklepenny Lock

Walkers and visitors can now learn more about the history of the Louth Canal thanks to a new interpretation board recently installed by members of the Louth Navigation Trust work team, pictured with the new board. The trust is planning to continue its Canal@250 celebrations at the Riverhead on September 12-13 with a kayak display, model boats and heritage walks.

PHOTO: LOUTH NAVIGATION TRUST

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Characters of the Cut

Alice Griffin meets a liveaboard family who, having home-schooled all their children, are now also nurturing their own home-grown produce.

The Mullers’ narrowboat Aldebaran has been their home for over 20 years.

Mullers Afloat Gordon and Bx Muller with their three children.

A FLIPPANT conversation at the Bristol Boat Show was Bx Muller’s first introduction to the world of living afloat.

Twenty-one years and three children later, Bx and family are a firm fixture on the Grand Union Canal. “Being newly married, I said to one of the Sea Otter exhibitors that it would be great to have a boat, but obviously I needed a house first.

He laughed and said ‘people do live on boats, you know’ and a whole new world opened up to me.”

Despite never having been on a narrowboat or canal before, six months after this conversation Bx and her husband Gordon placed a deposit on a Liverpool boat’s build slot. Their 45ft traditional, Aldebaran, remains their home to this day.

I asked Bx what it is she loves most about living on water: “It connects us with more people and opportunities than you could ever expect and it also allows us to observe and know the passing of time through the weather and seasons. We feel a part of everything.”

This outlook ties in perfectly with the Mullers’ philosophy on raising their family, which is centred on learning and life going hand-in-hand. All their children – ranging in age from nine to 17 – are home-educated and have been since birth.

Bx tells me: “In the beginning I wanted to give my son more time to be a child, more time

Alice Griffin and Bx Muller on the towpath. PHOTOS

SUPPLIED/ALICE GRIFFIN

to play and explore the world before formal education and so we decided to delay school until age seven.”

It was during this time that Bx began to ponder that if, as an adult, she could study for a BSc – what was stopping her children from doing whatever they wanted, when they wanted? “At that point we made a commitment to home education and didn’t consider school ever again.”

The Mullers’ approach to education is based around opening a door on to the world for their children. “We take into account each child's innate personality and talents and offer opportunities for growth.”

Talking to their kids, helping them find resources to support interests and keeping an eye on opportunities through the local and national home education community, are all important.

Bx told me: “I trust that they will be able to learn what they need to when the need arises and that frees me from the pressure of expectation, allowing me to be astonished by them.”

Greater freedom to move on the water is an added bonus of home education, so after several years putting down roots on a British Waterways towpath mooring, and following the birth of their second son, the Mullers decided to continuously cruise.

Bx tells me: “This was an amazing experience. Gordon worked less hours and we were able to spend lots of time with our new baby and his older sibling.”

This was to be their way of life for 10 years, during which time they welcomed a third child. Now, however, they find themselves back on a towpath mooring. “Reluctantly, last year we decided to take a permanent mooring when our eldest reached 17 and his life began to diverge from ours. He needed a base from which to travel to work, college and extend his social circle.”

This reluctant next step has brought unexpected growth though, with the addition of a local allotment. “My middle child loves nature and growing things, covering our roof with plants and flowers!

“When we moved to our new mooring we decided to prioritise finding a space where

he could expand this passion.”

Having received some of the bounty on my recent visit to the Mullers’ boat, I can personally vouch for this being a project that is developing well and perishables are certainly welcomed as space is short on board.

The Mullers appear to enjoy the challenge, though, of continued awareness of their usage. “Living on a narrowboat we can’t accumulate huge amounts of stuff and we have to consider our environmental impact – understanding that water and electricity are not infinite resources.”

With all the distractions, busyness and exhaustion of modern life, the Mullers’ approach – centred on freedom, connection and simplicity – could certainly appeal to many.

“Living simply gives me peace, space to breathe and time to waste,” says Bx and her absorption in the present moment, appreciating what and who is available within the local community, is inspiring.

When I ask about plans for the future, Bx’s reply of: “I’m living my best life now, so I don’t need to look too far forward,” feels characteristically comforting.

Instagram: @bxmuller Alice Griffin is a writer and long-time wanderer, currently spending time in the mountains of Central Portugal.

Instagram: alice_is_in_wanderland www.alicegriffin.co.uk

An allotment gives the Mullers more space to grow their own.

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Waterways charities benefit from CRT’s grants scheme

DONATIONS from hundreds of people to the Canal & River Trust’s appeal to support small waterway-based charities has enabled £31,500 in grants to be shared across 43 local charities.

As a result of the coronavirus pandemic, these charities based on inland waterways in England and Wales have seen their income drastically reduce, putting the services that they offer at risk.

They received grants ranging from £500-£1500.

CRT trustee and grants panel chairman Sue Wilkinson said: “These very local charities do invaluable work – providing people with opportunities in life where, and when, it is needed the most – from helping tackle loneliness and dementia, to supporting disadvantaged children and young people in many different communities across the country.

“We are very grateful to everyone who has contributed to the Waterways Charity Appeal.

It is thanks to you that we have been able to give some support to a number of small charities at this very difficult time. The trust is pleased to be able to match the personal contributions made.”

The appeal was supported by hundreds of donors with the Canal & River Trust match funding public donations – including the

trust’s chief executive, Richard Parry, who donated 20% of his salary for the first three months of the year.

Grants are going to the following charities: Angel Community Canal London Boat Trust Bedford and Milton Newport Pagnell Keynes Waterway Trust Birmingham a n d Birmingham Northamptonshire Guide Narrowboat Bury Water Meadows Bury Group Canal Connections CIC Leeds CanalAbility Harlow Chelmer Canal Trust Chelmsford Cotswold Boatmobility Stonehouse Crusader Community Northampton Boating Dartford Cambria Sea Dartford Scout Group Dockland Scout Project London East Manchester Manchester Community Boat Project Heulwen Trust Welshpool Hillingdon Narrowboats Uxbridge Association Humber Aid CIO Hull Islington Boat Club London Leeds & Liverpool Canal Skipton Society London Narrow Boat Braunston Project Merseyside Water Liverpool Rescue Northumberland Rivers Birkenhead Trust Overwater Wheelyboat Crewe Services Pocklington Canal Pocklington Amenity Society

Grants are going to the following charities: Shropshire Union Altrincham Flyboat Restoration Society Somali Community Leicester Parents Association Stourbridge Navigation Stourbridge Trust Sunbury and Walton Shepperton Unit 327 of the Sea Cadet Corps Swansea Canal Society Swansea Tameside Canal Boat Manchester Trust Thames and Kennet Mortimer, Berkshire Narrowboat Trust The Baldwin Trust S h e p s h e d , Leicestershire The Beatrice Charity Leek The Ethel Trust Sheffield The H a rg re a v e s Nuneaton Narrowboat Trust The Pirate Castle London The Stratford upon Avon Kenilworth Narrowboat Trust Petworth, W.Sussex The Wheelyboat Trust Truman Enterprise Walsall Narrowboat Trust Wakefield District Wakefield Scouts Water Adventure Centre Greater Manchester Waterways Experiences Hemel Hempstead Wildside Activity Centre Wolverhampton Wirral Community Newcastle Narrowboat Trust Worcester Birmingham Droitwich & Droitwich Canal Society

The Wheelyboat service at Overwater Marina. PHOTO SUPPLIED

The Baldwin Trust in Leicestershire is one of the charities to benefit from the scheme.PHOTO SUPPLIED

One of the community boats operated by the Heulwen Trust in Welshpool.PHOTO: JANET RICHARDSON

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Socially distanced work party success

The socially distanced work party briefing.

KINDER weather and a real desire to get on with matters in hand were the vital ingredients in a resumption of restoration of the Montgomery Canal at Crickheath, near Oswestry, following the enforced Covid19 lockdown.

Ideal ground conditions were a significant factor in ensuring that a tremendous amount was achieved over the weekend of July 24-26.

The process of getting back to work started in June when negotiations with the Canal & River Trust began. The Shropshire Union Canal Trust’s status as ‘contractors’ allowed the work to continue having met the necessary government directives for returning to work.

A risk assessment and method statement covered procedures to be adopted from leaving home to arrival at the site, and directives to be followed for working practices.

This was then emailed to all volunteers well before the work party, who signed to agree that the email had been read and understood.

The society’s welfare team then sourced and provided all

of the items needed to enable work to begin, such as sanitiser, masks and sterile gloves.

Volunteers were asked to bring their own refreshments and no overnight accommodation was provided.

Arrangements on site were very different. Two gazebos were erected to supplement the cover provided by the existing shelter and chairs were set out two metres apart to ensure that social distancing was in place.

Each volunteer selected a chair, which had been sanitised and only used that one throughout their time there.

Every day started with a briefing and people arriving after this were individually instructed. Tools needed were selected from the store as required and only used by that person. Any equipment that was returned was sprayed with disinfectant.

All machine operators only used the one allocated for the day and, again, this was disinfected before and after use. The wearing of masks became uncomfortable when working physically hard but the necessity was readily accepted.

Due to the enforced absence vegetation had rapidly grown around a drainage channel bordering the compound and also along the offside access bank. This resulted in a major brush-cutting exercise by one of the volunteer units.

A massive willow tree which had blown down blocking one of the access points had to be felled, cut into sections and removed, which provided another unit with a challenge.

On the channel itself a terrific transformation took place. One hundred metres were levelled down to the finished depth in the flat base, which was stabilised with grout, and both sloping sides were profiled to the specific angle. This resulted in an impressive transformation from an undulating depression into a sharply, precisely defined section of canal, which will be given a final grading prior to lining with waterproof layers and then covered with building blocks to weight these layers down and protect them later in the year.

Work parties have been increased to two weekends per month to recover time lost.

Wooden narrowboat on the road to restoration

On the way to a new home is historic narrowboat Conway pictured on the Leeds & Liverpool Canal in late July.

The wooden boat started life as a butty in 1910, being built for Thomas Clayton of Oldbury and becoming No 19 in the company’s fleet. It was sold to ICI in 1949 when it was shortened from its original 70ft length to 60ft and motorised with an engine. It was mainly used as a tanker carrying oil and chemicals.

Conway is pictured passing the disused outside locks at Appley Bridge on the way to Litherland where the plan is to restore it.

PHOTO: COLIN WAREING, COLIN AND CAROLE’S CREATIONS