177 Butty Winter 2006

The K&A Canal’s own award winning magazine

the

Butty No.177 Winter 2006 ÂŁ2.50

Funding cuts threaten canals

Canal du Nivernais twinning trip

More Ghostly goings-on along the canal Working to protect, to enhance and to promote The Kennet & Avon Canal

The Hocking Family at Crofton

The lost wharves of Bath Bar code

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Greenham Canal Services At Greenham Island Between Greenham Lock and Newbury Lock

Boat Services/Chandlery, Diesel, Pumpout, Calor Gas, Coal etc.

Souvenirs and ice cream

Tel: Val or Peter Taylor — 01635 31672 email: enquiries@canal-services.com Greenham Island

Newbury Boat Company Greenham Lock Cottage, Ampere Road, Newbury, RG14 5SN 2

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Butty

Cover photograph: Piling work at Semington

contents

The magazine for the Kennet & Avon Canal No.177 Winter 2006

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7 pages of K&A news

19

Twinning trip to the Canal du Nivernais

20

The K&A’s lost wharves — Broad Quay, Bath

22

A vistor’s view of the K&A

26

Jenny Saady an artist with a love of water

26

The Hocking family at Crofton

28

Ghostly tales from the canal

Picture by Bob Naylor The Trust and its aims The Kennet & Avon Canal Trust has three separate but complementary objectives: • To protect the newly restored Canal from neglect, abuse and inappropriate developments.

• To enhance the Canal, either by the direct application of Trust funds or, more likely, to unlock larger amounts through matched funding.

• To promote the Canal as a magnificent national amenity that is freely available for the enjoyment of all.

It was The Kennet & Avon Canal Trust (through its predecessor organisations) that fought successfully to save the Canal from formal abandonment in the mid-1950s. Through physical effort, innovative fund-raising and persistent political pressure, the Trust led the campaign that resulted in the Canal’s re-opening for through navigation in 1990 and the subsequent £30 million restoration project from 1996 to 2003. The Canal’s infrastructure is now in a condition that will support sustained operations for many decades ahead.

The Trust’s membership reflects the wide range of leisure activities –boating, walking, cycling, fishing, pursuit of wildlife and heritage interests – that the public can enjoy along the length of the 87 miles of Canal. Together, we are “The Friends of the Kennet and Avon”.

The Kennet & Avon Canal Trust Devizes Wharf Couch Lane Devizes Wiltshire SN10 1EB. 01380 721279 01380 727870 (fax) www.katrust.org President Sir Anthony Durant Vice Presidents Sir William Benyon Peter Collins Donald Collinson Michael Corfield The Rt Hon The Earl Jellicoe Michael Goodenough David Lamb Admiral Sir William O'Brien Philip Ogden Brian Oram Sir Frank Price Prunella Scales Sir John Smith Timothy West Chairman Brian Poulton Company Secretary Fleur de Rhé-Philipe Administrator Mo Crossley e-mail: asstadmin@btconnect.com Hon Treasurer John Heffer Hon Civil Engineer Michael Lee

Fleur de Rhé-Philipe Graeme Dewhirst Peter Dunn Bill Fisher John Forbes John Heffer Roger Hollands John Kirby Ray Knowles Michael Lee John Maciver Brian Poulton The Kennet & Avon Canal Trust (Enterprise) Ltd Directors Jill Allen Ken Allen Michael Davis Brian Poulton John Shaw Observers Jane Clements John Kirby Company Secretary Fleur de Rhé-Philipe Butty Editor Di Harris Pear Tree Studio High Street, Urchfont Devizes SN10 4QH 01380 840584 07711 367124 di@thebutty.co.uk Butty Editorial, Design & Layout Bob Naylor 07788 134901 bob@thebutty.co.uk

Museum Curator Warren Berry

For Advertising Contact Di Harris or Bob Naylor

Trust Council David Copley Michael Davis

Disclaimer Views expressed in The Butty are not necessarily

those of the Editor nor of the Trust.

Printers BAS Printers Premier Way Abbey Park Industrial Estate Romsey Hampshire SO51 9AQ 01794 834605 Contributions Articles and photographs are welcome. Please contact the Editor to discuss your ideas before submitting them. Whilst every care is taken with all material submitted, neither the Editor nor the publisher can take responsibility for loss or damage.

Registered Charity The Trust is a registered charity (No CC209206) and a company limited by guarantee registered in England (No 726331) at the above address. The Butty is published by The Kennet & Avon Canal Trust of the same address.

Data Protection Act The Trust is registered under the Data Protection Act 1984, reference SO46307X. Subject access requests should be directed to the Trust office in Devizes.

Plus regular features and branch news 4 Chairman’s report, 12 Marketing & Museum reports, 13 Enterprise Report, 14 Safety report, 15 Obituaries, 16 Cotswold Canals, 18 Wilts & Berks news, 24 Page for younger readers, 25 Wildlife, 29 Branch reports, 35 Reviews, 36 Letters to the Editor, 38 What’s on and Unclassified ads, 39 Crossword

Copy deadline for The Butty No 178, Spring 2007 18 January 2007

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Butty

No.177 Winter 2006

Chairman’s Report Hello to new staff Brian Poulton

I

As many of you will be aware, after a half-century of positive progress towards restoration and operational sustainability, the Kennet and Avon Canal is facing the threat of neglect and damage as a result of an iniquitous cut in Government funding for British Waterways.

The whole story of the Defra cuts and details of the growing protest movement are on Page 6, and I urge all our members to support the campaign, not least by writing to the Minister and the MPs. The iniquity lies in the fact that it was Defra’s failure to pay the English farmers their EU subsidies that led to a fine from the EU, a fine that the Treasury declined to pick up.

Defra have passed the ‘fine’ down to their agencies such as the EA and BW, and the maintenance and operation of our canals are therefore at risk.

Note that we could be facing a reduced grant-in-aid of similar magnitude for the next 5 years.

Please look at page 6 and see where you can add your voice to the protests.

Plaudit for Trust website It is not only our The Butty that is recognised for its excellence.

Waterways World magazine (Oct 2006) has recommended our www.katrust.org website and described it as an

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Farewell to John Heffer With the arrival of David Lindop, our long-serving Trust Treasurer John Heffer can at last step down from Council having given notice almost five years ago that he wished to! It is very much to John’s credit that, in his time, we have never fallen out with the Charity Commissioners, Company House or our auditors over the Trust’s accounts or accounting procedures. We are enormously grateful to him and wish him well in the years ahead.

Cruiseway Status still our goal BW have confirmed that they will continue to seek Cruiseway status for the K&A, despite the financial difficulties described above.

However, the decision is ultimately one for Ministers, and the very Ministers who have created the present financial difficulties are the same Ministers who could use the issue of financial sustainability as a reason to refuse the change of status.

I hope that, when we become aware of the timing of the formal Ministerial consideration, the Trust’s membership will help us mount a concerted campaign in support of reclassification and the formal completion of the K&A’s restoration.

Meanwhile, our lovely Canal is there for us all to enjoy. I wish you a splendid Christmas and a very happy 2007!

Brian Poulton, Chairman

Maxine and Nigel Hawkins take up their new posts in December

New face at Bradford on Avon tea room Paul Skelton, who earlier in the year helped out at Devizes, is now running our Tea Rooms at Bradford on Avon.

He’s been an instant “hit” there and he is developing the business with great enthusiasm and commitment.

Picture by Brian Poulton

Funding threat to canal

“exceptionally professional website”. We are indebted to Colin Harrison of the Kelston group for his magnificent design work. I’m delighted to report that the site received 31,650 ‘hits’ in its first 12 months on the Web.

Picture by Brian Poulton

had every confidence that it would happen… and it did! At the IWA National Rally at Beale Park in August, ‘The Butty’ was recognised as being the best canal trust or society magazine in the country and it duly collected the IWA/Waterways World ‘Tom Rolt’ Award.

Heartiest congratulations and thanks go to our Editor, Di Harris, for producing such a magnificent magazine and to the contributors and Branch correspondents who make it possible. Thanks also to Bob Naylor, for design, layout, news gathering and photography.

New shop manager and warden for Crofton

Goodbye Eliza

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he Trust was very sorry to hear that, as part of the restructuring of BW’s South West Regional Headquarters at Gloucester in the wake of the Defra cuts, Eliza Botham’s post as Service Manager was disestablished.

Eliza will be leaving BW in the New Year.

As Service Manager, Eliza was probably the person with whom the Trust had most contact.

She came to the South West Business Unit in late 2004, initially on a six-month secondment whist BW sought a successor to Mike Goodenough.

She had considerable experience with BW and moved to Gloucester from the position of Marketing and Communications Manager in the Midlands.

In due course, the post was made permanent... until the Defra cuts of this year forced BW to make savings in personnel ahead of maintenance.

I know I’m not alone in saying how sorry we are about

Eliza’s departure.

A warm and productive relationship had developed between her and the Trust based, I believe, on considerable mutual respect.

On her part, she respected the ‘nagging aunt’ role of the Trust, whilst we welcomed the way we were consulted over developments and brought into the picture early.

She would fight her corner at times, as we would expect; equally, though, she would listen to the Trust’s views and work them in if she could.

I particularly appreciated the way she would make every effort to address Branch meetings on such difficult topics as mooring abuse and water management.

She was a BW manager who cared for the service delivered to the ‘customers’ and she will be a hard act to follow.

We wish her well in whatever employment lies ahead of her and we thank her most sincerely for building and nurturing such a good relationship with the Trust.

Brian Poulton

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Butty NEWS

No.177 Winter 2006

Waterways funding crisis

by Eliza Botham, BW’s South West Service Manager, who lost her job in the shake-up following the Defra grant cuts

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s I write, news is breaking of the 180 redundancies in British Waterways.

Sadly, my post is one of them. I am pragmatic about it and understand that it is necessary to make cutbacks in order to meet the shortfall in funding, but sad that I and many of my colleagues and the waterways themselves will be facing an uncertain future this Christmas.

Grant cuts — the facts I am sure that you are now already aware that our grant for this year has been cut and Robin Evans, Chief Executive, has set out the exact position we now find ourselves in.

Our grant comes from both Defra and the Scottish Executive. This year we originally planned to receive £73.5m income. Of this £62.5m was to come from Defra and £10.9m from the Scottish Executive.

We earned the rest of our turnover or persuaded others (like local authorities) to make contributions. The grants from Defra and Scottish Executive were agreed with them last year. Robin is pleased to say that the Scottish Executive will be paying us the full amount agreed with them.

Regrettably Defra has told us they will not now be paying us the £62.5m. In March we were advised that our grant would be reduced by 5% (approximately £3.1m) this financial year.

We had some weeks’ prior notice of this possibility so we adjusted our budgets and reduced planned expenditure to accommodate this reduction.

The budgets given to every business unit and department within BW for this year therefore took account of the 5% cut.

Defra fined Unfortunately Defra’s financial position has worsened.

They have to pay a large fine to Europe for not making payments to farmers fast

enough and they are incurring substantial extra costs in overcoming the backlog of payments to farmers.

Their considerable difficulties have been reported in the newspapers.

The Treasury will not give Defra any extra funding so they have decided to impose further cuts across all Defra departments and sponsored organisations like BW. We have been told our grant was to be cut by a further 7% (£4.5m) with the possibility that another 2% cut (£1.5m) could be imposed in the autumn.

These cuts will continue for the next financial year.

Tony Hales, Chairman, and Robin Evans have been working hard to get Government to recognise the tremendous value they get from their grant to BW and not impose cuts on us.

Canals — a national asset We are maintaining a much valued national asset attracting 300m visits a year and we are acting as deliverer and catalyst for £6 billion of regeneration.

We are a very successful organisation and deserve to be properly funded and supported

by Government.

This is the message Tony and Robin gave recently to David Miliband, Secretary of State, and Barry Gardiner, Waterways Minister, in separate meetings with them both.

Meanwhile, Robin will continue to persuade Ministers and officials of our need to be properly funded through a long term contract.

He is also seeking greater clarity on Defra’s proposals for grant from 2008/9 onwards.

We are currently being told that the reduced grant we have for this year may remain at this lower level until 2011/12.

This would create extraordinary pressures on BW and would require some fundamental reassessment of our plans and programmes.

These cuts are a very substantial reduction in our income that are being imposed

in the middle of our financial year when a lot of expenditure is already committed.

As an immediate consequence we are reducing the major works budget by more than £5.5m.

This is highly undesirable and damaging in the medium to long terms.

Seeking funding We need to work really hard together to find additional net income or savings this year to allow us to reinstate the major works budget as soon as possible.

We are pleased to report that our earned income predictions for this year are now slightly higher after the first four months of trading.

This hopefully means that we can replace some of the money lost through grant with our own generated income, if our commercial activity continues at this level.

We will not however be able to replace it all and therefore reductions in expenditure are required.

We are unable to commit more than 95% of our current funding this year to prepare for a possible further cut.

We are also aware that our funding will not recover form these levels before 2011 and in all likelihood ever.

In order to plan for these cuts, it is very likely that there will be a 30% increase in licence fees over the next 2/3 years.

Closures There is also a significant possibility that some planned restorations will now not go ahead, simply because we cannot afford to increase the network when the existing network is under funded and the real possibility that some waterways may have to be closed.

Important messages can be taken from this unsatisfactory situation and BW’s strategy of developing our own commercial income and reducing our dependency on grant is now

essential.

All the indications are that Defra will be seeking to reduce the grant even more in future years.

So growing our own income and securing grant through a seven year contract is the right way to go.

BW will redouble its efforts to become more efficient.

We have made a start, particularly through New Ways of Working requiring smaller offices, but we need to do much, much more. BW intends to make savings by buying all our supplies through national contracts rather than local suppliers, and cut down on travel and meeting expenses.

We will continue to do things that contribute to making the waterways safe and secure, earning more money or increasing the number of visitors.

Cruiseway Status BW has decided that it will continue to seek Cruiseway status for the K&A despite the financial situation it is currently facing.

In planning its response to the Defra cuts, BW has restated its commitment to its vision of a more self-sufficient BW managing expanded, vibrant waterways.

Cruiseway status for the K&A is part of the vision and BW will vigorously make the case for it despite the cuts.

BW will now be preparing a revised and updated case but will need all the help of the supporters of the K&A in achieving the change.

I hope that you will continue to work with my colleagues during the coming months and years in order to deliver a safe and secure network of waterways for the future. I know that many of you have contributed so much to the restoration of the Kennet & Avon Canal and now your support will be greatly appreciated.

I would also like to add my personal thanks to those of you who have worked closely with me during the past two years.

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Butty NEWS

SAVE OUR WATERWAYS K&A users join the campaign

No.177 Winter 2006

BW electricity bill The electricity bill for BW last year was £350,000 — mostly for back-pumping.

Theale bogus BW bridge rep BW said that the local resident claiming to be official representative for the Theale Swing Bridge has no connection with BW and any representative of BW will wear uniform or carry ID.

A

s we went to press, plans were well advanced for demonstrations against BW’s funding cuts.

Rallies are planned for Devizes Wharf, Pewsey Wharf and Bradford on Avon. And Burfield Island Boat Club are planning an event in Reading.

Early Day Motion

This is part of a national campaign run by Save Our Waterways and supported by waterways organisations and boat clubs.

The rallies on the K&A are being supported by all users of the canal including anglers, walkers and canoeists.

Parliamentary Waterways Group member Charlotte Atkins MP, member for Staffordshire Moorlands, tabled an Early Day Motion calling on government to reinstate the cuts imposed upon BW and to ensure longterm funding is guaranteed.

MPs signed — and not signed

Jane Austen for sale

Weed boat BW say that the reed harvester that broke down when it arrived on the K&A last year from the Bridgewater and Taunton Canal will not be returning.

Contractors will be brought in to cut reeds on the K&A.

Sign the petition

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Trust members collected signatures for a petition along the canal — David Dimbleby, who was filming on the Caen Hill flight has the campaign explained to him by Elaine Kirby.

British Waterways remove unlicensed boats

A

lmost £80,000 of unpaid fees have been recovered in BW's clampdown on licence evasion between January and October this year.

Patrol officers checked 1955 boats and 191 boats have now been licensed following patrol contact.

There are still 71 unlicensed boats on the K&A and these are being pursued.

Five boats have been removed from the canal so far and a further 33 boats are under threat of removal.

Three continuous cruising licences have been revoked because the owners have not complied with BW’s guidelines.

Another five are currently under consideration and have been asked to supply evidence of compliance.

Picture by British Waterways

The ‘Save our Waterways’ petition calls on Parliament to solve the immediate problems caused by BW’s funding cuts and to ensure long-term funding is guaranteed.

The petition will be delivered to Parliament at the end of February.

‘SOW’ petition forms are available for signing at all Trust premises and several other businesses along the canal.

You can also download a copy from the website at www.saveourwaterways.org.uk

Picture by Bob Naylor

The historic stern paddle wheeler ‘Jane Austen’ that carried many passengers along the then weedy length of the K&A Canal from Bath to Bathampton from 1968 to 1982, is ‘For sale’ at Portavon Marina, Keynsham.

Converted from a trip boat to residential use in 1983, she spent some years in Bristol City docks before moving to Keynsham.

Of the seven MPs with constituencies along the canal, three have signed. Richard Benyon (Con, Newbury), Michael Ancram (Con, Devizes) and Don Foster (Lib Dem, Bath) have signed. Other MP’s have written to the Minister including Dan Norris (Lab, Wansdyke) who has not signed because he holds a parliamentary office but his office says he ‘is not unsympathetic’ to the EDM. Conservative MPs Robert Wilson (Reading East) and Andrew Murrison (Westbury) have both declined to sign the EDM because it has tax implications.

A former liveaboard boat removed from the K&A at Bradford on Avon by British Waterways who say that the owner has recently been jailed for drug dealing.

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Butty NEWS

No.177 Winter 2006

A barge too far

by Bob Naylor

A

new boatowner’s nightmare ordeal — trapped for six hours under a road bridge near Devizes — has prompted British Waterways to review their published dimensions for boats that can use the Kennet & Avon Canal.

Chris Evans had his new solarpowered, wide beam catamaran, ‘Solaris’, built by RLL Boats at Keynsham, to the maximum dimensions that the Waterscape website and the charts for the Kennet & Avon Canal said could navigate the canal.

Chris said, “We had her built 13 ft wide with a draught of 2ft 9ins which we thought would give us plenty of margin for error and we made the pontoons of the catamaran so that they could be flooded so that she would sit lower in the water to get under some of the

lower bridges”.

They set off from Keynsham to take the boat to Maidenhead on the River Thames.

“We had great journey from Keynsham to Bath — it was when started up the Bath locks things got interesting and, although we didn’t get stuck, we touched the bottom regularly.

“All went reasonably well until we got to Hilperton where we ran aground”.

Spencer Collins of The Boatyard, Hilperton, said’ “They were stuck fast for some time and eventually they managed to

Solaris, dwarfing narrowboats at Hilperton before being craned out at Widbrook Marina, Bradford on Avon to complete its journey to Maidenhead by road.

Picture by Bob Naylor

move enough to let other boats get by. We wondered how they were going to fare when they got to the bridge at Hilperton Marsh and — sure enough — they got stuck under the bridge and had to bend down the controls levers before they were able to scrape under it.” “ We finally met our Waterloo at Martinslade Road Bridge near Devizes” said Chris, “after being stuck there for almost six hours we realised that we would have to admit defeat.”

When they finally got free they headed back to Bradford on Avon where they were

craned out and taken to Maidenhead by lorry.

Chris Evans praised BW staff for their help during the journey. and said, “We loved the Kennet and Avon and we were surprised at how receptive canal people are to new ideas.

We would love to come back, but not on this boat. It was a great disappointment that we had to abandon the trip.”

Lucy Poulton of BW said, “We will conduct a thorough review of our published information, specifically looking at dimensions.”

HAMS TRANSPORT HOPTON INDUSTRIAL ESTATE, DEVIZES, WILTS

With flatbeds up to 60’ we can safely transport your narrowboats and wide beams throughout the UK 01380 726837 www.hams-transport.co.uk

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Butty NEWS

No.177 Winter 2006

Tom Rolt Award

Pay & Display at all BW car parks

by Bob Naylor

Picture by Elaine Kirby

A

Bristol Harbour Festival Next year’s festival will be held on 28th-29th July. Moorings are limited to 250 so early booking is advised for visiting craft.

For more information contact Bristol City Council, Harbour Office, Underfall Road, Bristol BS1 6XO Tel: 0117 9031484

Western end lock repairs

BW workboats on visitor moorings

The parking meter at Pewsey Wharf — still out of action

with BW moorings on the canal.

Susie Mercer, Leisure Services Development Manager, British Waterways South West, rejected calls for all licence holders to be issued with a permit and said, “The boat licence fee pays for the right to keep a boat on the water and use the navigation.

“Additional benefits such as parking have always been allied to the mooring fee and not to the licence fee.”

Other people can buy a permit for all car parks along a given waterway for £175 a year.

She went on to say, “We do not believe that the introduction of charging will deter visitors.

“Anecdotal evidence suggests that by introducing a charge we will create a better turnover of space availability, especially during the summer months, that will increase casual visitors to the canals.”

Picture by Bob Naylor

Keynsham Lock re-opened in mid-October after emergency repairs. It failed just 6 weeks before it was due to be replaced.

Scheduled work on Kelston Lock was postponed because of the emergency work on Caen Hill Lock 40.

Picture by Bob Naylor

Butty Editor Di Harris recieves the Tom Rolt Award for the best Canal Society magazine from Waterways World Technical Editor Graham Booth at the IWA National Rally at Beale Park in August.

ll BW car parks in the South West Region are to be made Pay & Display and the charges standardised following a 2-week consultation with some canal users.

BW had 19 responses from a document sent to 500 boaters in the region.

Of these, 2 were supportive and 3 asked what effect it would have on specific locations.

On the strength of this, BW intend to implement the scheme and to put the management in the hands of a specialist contractor who will be responsible for servicing the machines and clamping cars that overstay or do not have a valid ticket.

At the Canal Users Forum in Devizes in October John Arthurs of Newbury asked, “How much revenue does BW get from the parking meters in use at the moment?”

Paul Griffin of BW said “We cannot give out that information because it would put our operatives at risk.”

It was pointed out from the floor that the machine at Pewsey had been out of order for most of the 3 months or more that it has been installed and the ticket machine at the Caen Hill car park is vandalised and emptied almost as soon as it gets any money in it.

BW say that they will issue a permit valid for all of their car parks on the K&A to customers

Caen Hill car parking meter — vandalised yet again

Picture by Bob Naylor

Dismay at BW pump-out price hike

T Three months on... and patrol launch ‘Ranger’ and tug ‘Burland’ are still on the visitor moorings at Semington.

Chief Executive Robin Evans said at BW's Annual Meeting in Birmingham in October, "I am as irritated as you by our workboats being moored on visitor moorings..."

8

he cost of BW pump-out cards has risen from £6.30 to £12.10.

“The increase is due to the increased price British Waterways pays to the electricity suppliers,” Claims BW, “British Waterways is not adding any mark-up on this amount.”

The cost of electricity to BW has risen from 4.2p to 7.8p per kilowatt hour.

Said a disgruntled boater, “Justifying almost doubling the price of a pump-out because a

unit of electricity has gone up a few pence makes no sense — the extra charge would buy enough electricity to run Blackpool illuminations.”

Trust stops selling cards The K&A Canal Trust shops and tea rooms have stopped selling the pump-out cards.

Ken Allen, the Managing Director of K&A Trust Enterprise, said, “We, and many other traders on the

canal have stopped selling BW pump-out cards because along with the price rise they have reduced our commission on sales to less than 30p.

“This would mean that we would make a loss on credit card or cheque sales.”

At the K&A Partnership meeting in November members of the K&A Trade Association tackled BW South West General Manager, Ian Jarvis, over the matter and he promised to assess the situation and report back to them.

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Butty NEWS

No.177 Winter 2006

Caen Hill Flight — ‘fragile handle with care’

by Bob Naylor

M

ystery still surrounds the circumstances that led to a 5-week stoppage during what should have been a peak time for the Caen Hill Flight — but there is general agreement that all is not well with many of the locks on the flight.

Picture by Bob Naylor

BW’s South West Operations Manager John Ward told the User’s Group meeting that Lock 40’s new gates cost £25,000.

The total cost was £40,000 and BW is not able to claim against anyone.

When the flight re-opened, BW had lock keepers supervising passage through Lock 38 — and a few weeks later another stoppage was announced — this time for 10 days for those gates to be replaced.

The K&A Canal Trust Hon Engineer, Mike Lee said, “The Caen Hill gates were made between 1987 and 1989 and fitted by early 1990 — just in time for the Queen’s visit.

“There were a number of deficiencies, some poor quality oak being the main one and the fitting of straps instead of steel

Press reports that the lock was rammed by a ‘mystery hit and run boater’ and damaged beyond repair have been dismissed by canal users.

At the K&A Users Forum in Devizes in October, Steve Rudd who was on a boat that was at the bottom of the flight at the time of the stoppage said, “We looked at the lock immediately after the stoppage and we could see no evidence of impact by a vessel.

“The lock gates were rotten and would have failed without being hit by a boat.”

After the stoppage was announced BW mounted a rescue mission to crane out 6 stranded boats and take them by lorry to Bradford on Avon.

Some hireboats stayed and operated from Devizes until the flight re-opened.

Boat collect on Devizes Wharf waiting for the flight to re-open

“It is a case of treat the gates with care and try to ensure that other users do the same”, he concluded.

caps on the mitre posts; a recipe for the start of rot.

“The normal life of a pair of timber gates is about 25 years.

“Unfortunately the Caen Hill bottom gates and all the Crofton Flight gates will not last that long as serious rot is developing in the timber and they will all need replacing within the next 2-3 years.

“There are many other gates which also need replacing, but hopefully over a longer time span.

“We could reduce the risk of gate failure by more careful boat handling

A BW workboat in Lock 40 pictured shortly after the flight was closed

Appliance sales & installations

Bring your boat up to Boat Safety Scheme standards Repairs, servicing and installation

Picture by Bob Naylor

CATLEYS CALOR GAS CENTRE

Picture by Bob Naylor

Picture by Mike Lang

The rotten mitre post top on Lock 40

Rotten tops and water leaking through the middle of a mitre post on Lock 28 by Upper Foxhangers Bridge in the Devizes Flight

The Barge Inn Honeystreet Historic Canalside Inn

serving home cooked food from noon — 2.30pm and 7 — 9pm

Real Ales Campsite Marquee for parties

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Telephone 01380 727266

Crop circle venue with notice boards

www.the-barge-inn.com

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Butty NEWS

No.177 Winter 2006

Paddle gear fact finding trip

by Eliza Botham

Left, members of the team of testers

P

Picture by Brian Poullton

A lock on the Caen Hill flight, showing the mis-alignment problem

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and supervisors as well as Brian Poulton and other senior Trust representatives).

Feedback from customers about the locks was also made available, although I think it would be fair to say that the feedback was inconclusive.

Having experienced the full variety of mechanisms that are subject to the on-going public consultation exercise, everyone agreed that the gate paddles at Bull’s Lock were the easiest to use.

Analysis of the set-up at each lock revealed that the key factor at Bull’s Lock lay in the alignment of the paddle rods and the drive rods connecting the gearbox to the rack and pinion block.

On the Caen Hill locks, for example, the balance beams are set at an angle.

This means that the drive rods, which lie parallel to the balance beam, are not making the ideal 90° angle with the vertical rods down to the paddles, thereby causing the

Below, Bull’s Lock — the easiest to use — setting the standard for the canal

moving parts to ‘grate’ during operation.

At Bull’s Lock, however, the rack and pinion block is chocked up by three inches or so, and the paddle rods and drive rods are at right angles.

This allows the gearing to run freely and makes operation much more efficient.

At the time of the visit, British Waterways had not used the Trust’s donation of £2,500 on new hardware for inclusion in the public consultation exercise.

As a result of the visit and our conclusions, the Trust has asked BW to convert another western-end lock to the ‘Bull’s Lock standard’ and it has been

Picture by Brian Poullton

addle gearing along the K&A was tested in August

by BW staff and members of the Kennet & Avon Canal Trust.

The locks visited were Aldermaston, Bull’s, Hampstead, Kintbury, Wootton Rivers, Ham and locks on the Caen Hill flight.

At each site the locks were used by members of the group (including the SW General Manager, Operations Manager

agreed that Lock 47 (near Prison Bridge, Devizes) will be modified to enable further consultation to take place.

The Trust has asked that the public consultation period be extended and BW have agree.

As a result of the unplanned stoppage at Kelston Lock, work to carry out the conversion has been delayed, but BW engineers will keep the Trust informed on progress.

the

Butty NEWS

No.177 Winter 2006

A vision for Newbury Wharf West Berkshire Council has unveiled its ‘new vision’ proposals for Newbury Wharf that are part of a major revamp of Newbury Town Centre.

The Wharf development will include an arts pavilion, canalside flats, boat moorings in a new basin with a pub and restaurant.

Public consultation on the Wharf proposals will begin in January.

New life for Gertrude Hungerford marina work to begin

Picture by British Waterways

B

G

ertrude, a historic wooden working narrowboat was abandoned and lay partially sunk near West Mills in Newbury. She was recently severely damaged by fire and was removed from the K&A by British Waterways.

She was sympathetically dismantled by specialist contractors on behalf of BW at a cost of £8,000 observed by a member of the Wooden Canal Boat Society.

BW approached the Society in their search for a new home for the vessel. WCBC have recovered a significant part of the craft and aim to restore and build a second Gertrude.

BW has statutory power to remove any boat at the owner’s expense that is sunk, stranded, abandoned or unlawfully moored on British Waterways’ land after giving at least 28 days notice.

uilding of a controversial 120-boat marina development on the site of a former pig-farm at High Close Farm, between Froxfield and Hungerford, is to start before the existing planning consent expires in March 2007.

Owners, St Modwen Developments, who bought the site in 2003, intend to begin work on the marina basin first and then move on to develop the hotel, pub, restaurant, craft units and heritage centre in the complex.

Rob Skelston, the Senior Development Manager for St Modwen Developments, said, “The pig farm on the site is a significant eyesore with no

amenity value”.

“We have the full support of British Waterways and West Berks Council for this project and it will bring great benefit to Hungerford and the local area.”

We expect the marina to be a popular venue for boaters and people travelling along the A4” Planning permission was finally granted in 2004 after more than a decade of objections by local residents to previous applications.

Local pressure group, The Friends of Freeman’s Marsh, have objected to the plans on the grounds of environmental impact.

Finally... beware the ‘animal of fear’

D

i Harris was asked to talk to the Chamber of Tourism in Vermanton on the Canal de Nivernais about boating in the UK and specifically about ‘pump-out toilets’ which will be required in France in 2007.

An internet search about French ‘pump-outs’ produced the following Google ‘autotranslation’ which told her all she needed to know — and more!

“I have a manual toilet with the small lever in top to send to water of rinsage.

“When I put the lever in

position ‘rinsage’ it becomes very ‘hard’, and the results are not famous.

“I have never opened the animal of fear, finding itself without toilet — and one takes water with the sink meanwhile.

“Did somebody here already mention the ‘joker valve’, I would like to find plans, to see where could be the sore.

“Is a blow returned worth the sorrow to change some parts ‘sensitive’ on a pump which is probably 20 years old?”

11

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Butty

No.177 Winter 2006

Marketing

Museum news

by John Kirby

by Warren Berry

Marketing & Membership Director

Museum Curator

Reflecting on a successful year

Museum accreditation work continues

A

I

t this time of the year one tends to look back and reflect on the year that has just gone.

2006 has been an encouraging year for new membership, with recruitment drives taking place along the length of the canal.

We started at Brassknocker Basin in May then Thatcham Nature reserve, next came Reading Water Fest followed by Newbury Water Festival.

At the end of August we had three days at the IWA boat Festival at Beale Park, where over 60,000 people passed the Trust gazebo by the main entrance, many coming in to talk to the volunteers — meeting old friends and wishing us well in our efforts to protect, enhance and promote the K&A canal.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the Reading and Newbury branch members who attended Beale Park for their help, we could not have done it with out you.

Branches have been organising their own events too, all of which help to recruit new members to the Trust and keep our name in the public eye — well done everyone.

At this time of the year we think of gifts for Christmas, so why not buy and encourage your friends to buy a membership gift voucher in the new presentation card.

This is a gift that will last for a whole year and give the holder free entrance to Crofton, Claverton and the Trust

Museum plus editions of The Butty posted to them.

We are currently planning the new trust leaflets for next year.

Over the last few years they have played a major part in the promotion of the Trust and the K&A Canal.

These leaflets go to seven counties along the full length of the Canal from Bristol to Reading.

The leaflets not only promote Trust attractions like the pumping stations and museum, but also the three trip boats run by our volunteers on behalf of Enterprise, the Trust’s trading arm - and a great job they do too.

The display stands — after several years of hard work — are now definitely showing their age.

In 2007 we will have new display units in the corporate scheme.

We are planning a corporate advertising and marketing programme for next year to link in with Enterprise’s new and exciting campaigns, in order to maximise our impact on the public along with the new corporate membership scheme.

So, one way or another, it’s going to be an exciting year for the Trust.

n the last Butty I briefly mentioned the work museum staff are carrying out with respect to museum accreditation.

The museum is already registered and museum accreditation should be seen as the next and hopefully final stage through which we must pass to ensure that the museum becomes nationally accredited.

Accreditation is designed to help museums achieve a

certain national standard in management and operational arrangements and to assist in promoting the best in museum practice.

It is possible that a registered museum that failed to achieve accreditation would also lose its registration status.

Keeping museum exhibits clean

T

he condition and structure of the Wharf Centre building that houses the Museum is such that, irrespective of regular and efficient office cleaning operations, dust, insects, and dirt particles consistently penetrate display cases and alight on artefacts on open display.

I have been advised that dust of this type contains many pollutants as well as material such as fragments of human skin and hair which can provide food for pest insects.

Dust also contains spores that, once settled, can develop into a mould or fungal infestation.

Dirt acts as a poultice that holds atmospheric moisture and pollutants against the surface of an object encouraging corrosion of metal parts and the chemical deterioration of others.

Our Curatorial Advisors at

Wiltshire County Council have advised that we should be removing such contamination at regular intervals by targeted deep cleaning using nationally accepted standards and procedures and I have agreed that in the first instance this work should be built into the annual Conservation Plan for 2007.

In future years it may be necessary for this cleaning work to be carried out in-house although that is likely to create some further resource problems.

Bespoke narrowboats. . .Your inspiration + Our Craftsmen = Complete satisfaction

12

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Butty

No.177 Winter 2006

K&A Canal Trust Enterprise

S

ince my appointment towards the end of July, I’ve spent quite a bit of time travelling the length and breadth of our 90-odd miles long “organisation” trying to get to know as many people as possible as I get to grips with our business.

If I haven’t made it to anyone’s specific area of interest yet, please accept my apologies; I’ll be there as soon as I can.

To try to make amends for any gaps and, as communication is important in an organisation like ours, I thought it might be appropriate to try to let the Editor have a brief bulletin on our activities for each issue of the Butty.

So here goes with my first attempt.

My canal background I’ve been involved with the Canals and boating for well over 30 years, having first explored the Oxford Canal on a hire boat holiday organised by some friends back in the early 70s.

From this beginning has developed a great love for our canal system and its heritage along with the sense of need to protect all this for future generations to enjoy.

As a result I have been involved over the years with many voluntary bodies of varying sizes working to protect our heritage, operating visitor centres, operating trip boats, running festivals and so on.

Hence, it was an honour and delight to be offered the opportunity of joining the K&A Canal Trust to run its trading company after recently moving back to the area where I grew up as a boy.

Jill and I now live in Aldermaston, alongside the canal.

Today this is a thriving waterway, a far cry from the derelict state it was in when I used to play along the overgrown towpath as a boy.

Enough about me, what you really want to know is what’s been happening within Enterprise in recent weeks.

New staff join the team Firstly we have two new members of staff on the Team: Paul Skelton, well known to some of you as a volunteer at Devizes is now running our Tea Rooms at Bradford on Avon.

He’s been an instant “hit” with the customers and volunteers alike and is developing the business there with great enthusiasm and commitment.

A little behind him in the game but only because she and her husband, Nigel, have had a well-deserved holiday in Australia before joining us, is Maxine Hawkins, our new manager at Crofton.

Maxine comes from a large corporate organisation but was responsible for their visitor centres, education and marketing.

We are very much looking forward to putting our development plans into place at Crofton and, with Maxine’s enthusiastic approach, to significantly increasing the amount of business we do at that fabulous location.

Our two new recruits join Jane Clements’ Commercial Operations Team and with existing members, Heather, Tracy and Wendy we now have a formidable group of people to drive forward our business, with your help as volunteers, to earn

by MD Ken Allen

an increasing amount of money for the work of the Trust at this important time of cuts in the BW Grant and the impact this may have.

Communication In an organisation like ours with a long length of waterway and activities going on at several locations it is important for everyone to feel that they are part of one big family.

Hence we are doing all we can to improve communications and visibility of staff, board members and other officials across the entire network within which we operate.

Devizes trip boat The other piece of news is that we are progressing on the acquisition of a fourth trip boat, to be based at Devizes, namely Kenavon Venture, which has been operated from the wharf

by Ian Sharp for many years.

We hope to have the boat operating in “our colours” from the beginning of 2007.

The most profitable aspect of our operation is the boat section and its associated trading, so the extension in the size of our fleet is important.

We’ll be promoting the fleet as well as individual boats in 2007 and focussing on increasing the trade we generate from the operation of the fleet.

Is there a Doctor in the Trust?

W

ith ever increasing regulation, the number of medical examinations that our boat crews have to go through is rising dramatically and the cost of these examinations is rising as well.

This has a negative impact on the income generated by our boat fleet and, hence, for the work of the Trust. With the potential addition of an extra boat to our fleet, this cost will rise even further.

Is there a retired (or, perhaps, not yet retired) GP out there who is supportive

of the Trust’s achievements and objectives and who would be prepared to become Medical Officer for the Trust/Enterprise Ltd and carry out the required medical examinations for us.

Obviously this would be a voluntary role (though, perhaps with a small honorarium) but, in keeping with our normal modus operandum, we would obviously cover expenses for this activity.

Would anyone interested please contact me through the office in Devizes.

Cashing in on catering The next most profitable aspect of our work is our catering.

Hence, it will not come as a surprise that we will also be focussing on developing our catering operation throughout 2007 by extending the service we offer at existing locations, starting up catering at Devizes and providing more of the catering for our boats ourselves, so as to enhance the level of profit we make for funds for the Trust.

Organisational efficiency Going on in the background, the Finance and Administration section that Jill, our Finance Director, runs with Helen, her assistant, is hard at work bringing all of our processes up to date, introducing efficiency improvements and cost reductions, all designed to allow our customer-facing staff/volunteers and support personnel to do their job more effectively with regard to income generation.

Thank you one and all Finally, as we put our plans in place for 2007, can I, on behalf of the Enterprise Board, formally thank all of our volunteers in the shops/tea rooms and on the boats or wherever you are involved, our supporters and our staff for all of the hard work and effort through 2006; it is very much appreciated.

In the next issue I’ll talk more about our exciting plans for next year as we look forward to a successful 2007.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year - remember most of our shops and tea rooms will be open over the Christmas holiday period, so please call in when you’re out with family or friends along the canal.

13

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Butty

No.177 Winter 2006

Safety matters

by Ben Woodman The Trust Safety Adviser

Innocent — until proven guilty

E

ven if we’ve never been in a courtroom, we know that phrase — the great umbrella of law in our country protects the innocent party.

If a person is accused of a crime, then he has to be proved guilty ‘beyond all reasonable doubt’, before he or she is punished. That’s pretty reassuring.

Now here’s something I bet you didn’t know — health and safety law works the other way around!

There are many and various responsibilities under the Health and Safety at Work Act, but the most important is for an

employer, and other persons in charge, to take (so far as is reasonably practicable), care for the health and safety of employees and ‘other persons’.

That provision of the law applies to the K&A Canal Trust, and covers staff, volunteers, and all the visitors to our various attractions.

So far so good. We know what we’re about; we’ve got a safety adviser and a safety committee and all our machinery is well guarded.

If anything goes wrong and someone gets hurt, we know we’re in the clear don’t we?

Well, no actually, and here’s

the other way around bit:Section 40 of the Health and Safety at Work Act says in effect that if we’re accused of not taking sufficient care, ‘It shall be for the accused to prove the case’.

In other words, the accused employer, the K&A Canal Trust for instance, would have to prove its own innocence!

That’s why we carry out safety audits, safety inspections, risk assessments and all the other paraphernalia

of a safety management system, and record it all.

The most important role of a proper safety management system is to protect our visitors and ourselves from harm.

The second most important is to be able to prove that the system works, and that we have indeed taken all reasonable precautions.

And if the question is ever asked, we must also be able to prove it!

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Amazing industrial archaeology in a rural setting

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Shop open over Christmas see website for details

1812 Boulton & Watt and 1846 Harvey beam engines regularly steamed from hand stoked, coal fired Lancashire Boiler A fascinating place to visit for families,or anyone interested in the history of the Kennet & Avon Canal, or our industrial past.

Also a delightful place to stop for an ice cream or a cup of tea.

Why not time your visit to see it in steam

Crofton Pumping Station, Crofton, Marlborough, Wilts SN8 3DW Tel: 01672 870300

www.croftonbeamengines.org 14

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Butty

No.177 Winter 2006

Obituaries Peggy Bennett 1918–2006

P

eggy Eileen Grey was born and raised in East Ham, daughter of a cabinet maker, Her working life began with a job on a newspaper, before she turned to teaching.

She met and married Leslie Bennett (it is said that the meeting took place in true Hollywood style – under the station clock).

The marriage lasted over 50 years and produced two sons, Brian and Peter, and later a grandson Zak (Boo to his friends).

After the war the couple set up home in Bristol where Les worked for the Bristol Omnibus company and Peg continued teaching.

When Les retired, they moved to Bradford on Avon and became active in the social life of the town.

Peggy joined the bowls club and they both began their long association with the K&A Canal.

Les worked on restoring the canal and nb Ladywood, whilst Peg, as chair of the ladies’ section of the West Wilts Branch, was tireless in her

effort to raise funds.

She organised branch outings and providing refreshments, which led to her running the canal shop at Bradford on Avon for many years, something she kept up after Les’ death.

She only stopped when ill health took its toll and she was forced to retire.

She was also a stalwart member of the Butty stuffing team.

The two most memorable occasions in her long association with the canal were

her two meetings with royalty.

The first was in 1990 when she and Les were presented to the Queen on the occasion of the re-opening in a ceremony held on the Caen Hill Flight.

Her second brush with royalty came when she met Prince Charles when he opened Bradford on Avon’s new canal shop in May 2003.

Peggy was an honorary life member of the Trust and she will be sorely missed.

PE

Edgar Pallant 1918–2006

E

dgar Pallant, a man of many parts and long time member of the Trust, sadly passed away at the end of October.

Edgar started his boating as a youngster sailing in Chichester Harbour.

In 1939 he became a Sapper in the Royal Engineers, clearing mines for the 8th Army in the desert, later serving in Italy.

He landed in France on D Day, was severely wounded soon after and evacuated to England for surgery.

In Bradford Hospital he met a nurse, Vera, who became his wife after he had completed his army service in the Far East.

After the war he went into business building houses.

Transferring his boating interests from the sea to inland waterways, Edgar became

heavily involved with restoration on the Basingstoke & K&A canals.

Ever resourceful he enrolled WRNS from the training ship HMS Dauntless at Burghfield into the working parties, working closely with Cyril Rogers the BW Section Inspector.

Edgar was a founder member of Burghfield Island Boat Club and had a cruiser ‘Halkyon’.

His building skills later enabled him to build his next boat ‘Icebird’ out of concrete!

Not content with this he became volunteer K&A Warden of Burghfield Lock in the days when the head of navigation was at Tyle Mill.

He could be seen for many years moored at the lock, mowing the grass accompanied by his dog.

Edgar was Commodore of BIBC in 1978 and 1979, where he and Vera were enthusiastic and much loved members.

When the K&A was finally reopened, Edgar, this time in his (steel) narrowboat ‘Waverley Drake’ was one of the first boats through the ‘Berkshire Blockage’ making it to Caen Hill for the Royal Reopening.

One of Edgar’s proudest moments was when he received the ‘John Gould Award’ at the end of 1999 in recognition of “his outstanding service to the Kennet & Avon Canal.”

Mindful of his wartime experience, he devoted many years to running Farnham’s Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal — and he was made a life member of the branch.

A regular participant in Reading Water Fest, Edgar

several times invited local British Legion members on board ‘Waverley Drake’ to proudly display their Standard in the Boat Parade.

My abiding memory of Edgar is of ‘A Boater with a Legion Badge, a Boat and a Dog’. It is fitting that Edgar’s last parade was attended by a Legion Standard Bearer and a Piper.

MW

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To visit by canal look for our sign at Hilperton Marsh Farm (Bridge 165) our yard is in the farm buildings

Tel/Fax: 01225 775100 www.mp-steelcraft.co.uk 15

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Butty

No.177 Winter 2006

Cotswold Canals — restoration update by Jack Telling Following HSE investigation of death of volunteer — restoration work resumes.

F

ollowing the tragic incident involving Annette Greenslade in late July, the Trust decided to suspend virtually all its activities pending a report from the Health & Safety Executive (HSE).

In early September the Trust received a letter from HSE indicating that it had concluded its investigation and ‘would not be taking further enforcement action at this time’.

There was agreement between HSE and the Trust that generally our volunteers are conscientious in their work and considered health and safety in their approach.

It was also agreed, however, that we needed to review our procedures and practices.

These include a review of risk assessments and method statements, more effective dissemination of health and safety information, formalised induction of new volunteers and appointment and training of team leaders.

In addition to the above we must also ensure the use of buoyancy aids for all waterside working and there

must also be a review of working agreements with BW. The various aspects of our work are being reviewed one by one and over the past few weeks activities have gradually re-started.

We have now reached the point at which the only activities barred to our volunteers concern those which would be undertaken on land owned or leased by BW (unless supervised by BW or an accredited volunteer group such as BTCV or WRG).

This is a temporary situation pending an agreement on volunteer working with BW that is being drawn up nationally.

It is expected that agreement will be reached before the year end.

The Trust is indebted to Keith Lloyd (Director responsible for Health & Safety) who has played a very significant role in ensuring that Health & Safety policies and procedures were substantially in place before the accident and in taking appropriate action to re-start volunteer activities quickly.

Restoration Work — Phase 1

W

ork has now started on fully restoring the 6-mile length of the Stroudwater and Thames & Severn Canals between The Ocean, Stonehouse and Brimscombe Port.

Initially work will be concentrated at 3 locations and

it is good to report that volunteers from the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers (BTCV) and Waterways Recovery Group (WRG) are involved (these groups have long standing agreements with BW).

The Lawns – Cainscross

B

efore Christmas work will start on a pond and land adjacent to the canal.

The general idea is to reed filter the Ruscombe Brook before it enters the canal above Dudbridge Lock.

The pond (through which the Brook flows) will be part dredged, with the dredged material being kept on site behind hazel faggots.

Selected trees will be thinned to allow light into the pond area to promote reed growth.

Both the Lawns project and the removal of infill from the canal between Oil Mills and Ryeford are being part funded through the EU inter-regional program for North West Europe (INTERREG lllB).

The funding has been made

available through a partnership known as TRUST (Transformation of Rural and Urban Spatial Structures) which brings together five innovative projects, all of which use water in one way or another and meet the three project themes of “multi-functional use of water space”, “innovative and improved water management” and “public participation.”

BW (lead partner for the restoration of the Cotswold Canals) is a member of TRUST. The other four partners are Schieland Water Board (Netherlands), Glasgow City Council (UK), POM – WestVlaanderen (Belgium) and Provincie Noord-Holland (Netherlands).

Financing a major canal restoration is a complex matter!

Goughs Orchard Lock — West of Brimscombe Port

I

n mid October volunteers from WRG undertook clearance work in the vicinity of Goughs Orchard Lock.

Several selected trees were removed together with large tracts of scrub which were obstructing the lock chamber and proposed canal channel.

Restoration of the lock is expected to take about 18 months and there are many ways in which volunteers can be involved. Richard Harrison, the Volunteer Coordinator for the Partnership, has confirmed

that WRG will be encouraging involvement and help from local volunteers and will be working closely with the Cotswold Canals Trust.

A range of free training courses are available including heritage masonry and brickworking so that volunteers have the skills to ensure that the appropriate standards of work are met.

For further information contact Richard by e-mail: Richard.Harrison@britishwaterw ays.co.uk or on 01452 318501

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Oil Mills — Ebley

S

troud District Council have given planning consent for the opening up of 650 metres of canal between Oil Mills Bridge and Ryeford Double Lock and the reconstruction of Oil Mills Bridge.

16

BTCV volunteers have cleared access to the site and land adjacent to the towpath.

Contractors will be employed early in 2007 for excavation and bridge work.

Telephone: Bristol (0117) 9353233 Mobile: 07792 108854 Keeping cool

the

Butty

No. 177 Winter 2006

Trees, bats and tunnel trips

The Big Lottery

O

n behalf of the Restoration Partnership, BW has formally accepted the Big Lottery’s offer of £250,000 of development funding towards work required to produce a detailed bid for £16 million to restore the Stroudwater Navigation from Saul Junction to the Ocean, Stonehouse (Phase 1b).

It is also hoped that the

£250,000 will be matched by other cash and ‘in kind’ contributions and the Cotswold Canals Trust has already set aside £50,000.

The final bid must be presented by May 2007 and the Big Lottery is expected to announce in August which 4 or 5 projects, of the 28 being considered, are successful.

Claverton Pumping Station

Claverton Pumping Station is a waterwheel powered beam engine built in 1813 to raise water from the river Avon to the Kennet and Avon Canal. It has been restored by volunteers and is now open to the public.

When a canal channel has been narrowed or neglected for 40 years or more, some trees, which have grown over that time, will need to be removed or reduced in order to create a navigable channel.

Although removal and trimming will be kept to a minimum there is the possibility that some trees have become bat roosts.

All bat roosts are protected by law and breaches of the legislation are punishable by fines of up to £5,000 per bat and up to 6 months imprisonment.

Not surprisingly, therefore, an inspection has been undertaken to identify those trees that will need to be felled or trimmed and which carry a risk of bat roosts being

present.

If roosts are present a licensed bat worker will have to be on site.

Whilst on the subject of bats, at a meeting facilitated by Clare Guy, BW Ecologist, the Trust has reached agreement, in principle, with English Nature to resume boat trips into the eastern portal of Sapperton Tunnel.

It will be necessary for the Trust to appoint a Team Leader who will be trained and licensed to undertake activities in the vicinity of bats.

We will also produce a brochure, which will give information regarding bats and their habitats.

If all goes well it is hoped that trips will begin in January 2007.

Open days 2007 We open on the 8th of April and are then open on every Sunday, Wednesday and Saturday until the 21st October.

www.cotswoldcanals.com www.cotswoldcanalsproject.org/default.asp?pid=2 www.britishwaterways.co.uk/cotswolds Or contact Jack Telling on 01453 825709 or 07785 330489 (mobile)

Please note that the Saturdays are a new day for us at Claverton.

Running days April 8th & 9th May 7th, 27th & 28th June 10th & 24th July 8th & 22nd August 12th, 26th & 27th September 9th & 23rd October 21st

Claverton is five miles south of Bath off the A36 Warminster Road, 400 yards down Ferry Lane across the uncontrolled level crossing. The pump is approximately 25 minutes walk from Dundas Aqueduct. Free admission for children under 16 (must be accompanied by an adult)

Phone: (01225) 483001 Email: enquiries@claverton.org www.claverton.org

17

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Butty

No. 177 Winter 2006

Wilts & Berks Canal Trust update by Challenor Chute

Jubilee Jubilation!

Boats at the new entrance to the Wilts & Berks Canal Picture by D Small WBCT Archivistm at Abingdon

O

n the Friday before the grand opening of the Thames Jubilee Junction at Abingdon, I took the opportunity after a meeting to walk on down to the site of the new cut.

There greeted me several remnants of the hard-working working parties, and a sight that was breathtaking.

An eery silence had descended after months of intensive labour, a state of readiness, all tidied up, with the last bits of brushwork applied to the canvas so to speak.

All waiting for the curtains to go up on a glittering stage with the assembled cast and audience on the day itself. And what a day!

Superb achievement This superb achievement for the Trust, WRG and the contractors came after years of excellent partnership work and was truly a landmark occasion in the history of the Wilts & Berks.

Foxhangers Marine

All who were present will remember it for years to come.

Lotto Life So in our Plan to re-open major junctions and re-connections, Abingdon is one flagship project. Cricklade – the Thames and the Cotswolds is another.

Anyone who has been involved with Lottery bids will know how they take over your life.

Our £15m project, the Cricklade Country Way, has reached the final stages. We heard the joyful news midAugust.

We now have £250k plus other match funding to develop all schemes and work up our final bid to submit by end May 2007.

Daunting but do-able Daunting but do-able. We are engrossed in commissioning numerous reports and appointing fresh staff to manage the process.

Modern narrowboat hire fleet all built

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Tel: 01380 828795 www.foxhangers.co.uk 18

Presently we are undertaking Community Consultation exercises, a Canal Water Resource report, Land Assembly, Environmental Impact Assessment, Risk management, Steam Railway feasibility report – Earth Fire and Water says it all!

our canal.

Promotion of these benefits can only reinforce the strong sense of pride and identity we already have with our waterway.

I am confident that over the next 12 months we will see the Wilts & Berks making further splendid gains.

Challenges

The K&A Junction

While we do have an experienced and confident team, and new faces to assist coming on line, none of us under-estimate the challenging period ahead.

The first signs from the Community Consultation which culminated in a very successful public meeting at Cricklade show positive support for the project (30% returns from the leaflet survey predicted which is much higher than usual).

Of course every major scheme has its detractors, but we have sound economic, social and environmental evidence of the benefits a restored canal will bring to communities along the route of

Another champagne moment beckons over the horizon. As our present report from consultants Black & Veatch unfolds with the new route through Melksham to the junction, we shall need all the support from K&A Canal Trust members and BW, of course, to get it right.

We are already in close discussion with BW to consider arrangements for the construction and proposed moorings up the W&B. We shall seek early discussions with K&A colleagues in this respect too.

The finished report (December) will be widely circulated to all parties.

the

Butty

No. 177 Winter 2006

Canal du Nivernais twinning trip Pictures by Bob Naylor

‘Biggles’ follows us as we head south from Clamecy

T

he K&A Canal Trust were hosts to visitors from our twinned French waterway, last year — this year it was our turn to sample the hospitality of Les Amis du Canal du Nivernais.

In September six members made the trip to Vermanton, about 130 miles South East of Paris in the Burgundy region, to begin a memorable trip.

From the moment we arrived on the canal we discovered a world where hospitality is the order of the day.

As soon as we had we completed the paper-work and been shown over ‘Papa Leslie’, we were whisked off to a reception and wine tasting in the cellar of a local wine merchant.

There we met members of Les Amis and John Best, an English pilot who has swopped helicopter flying for travelling around Europe on his boat ‘Biggles’.

He and his crew were to be our ‘nanny boat’ for the trip, making sure that we kept to

schedule so that we were in the right places at the right time for the hospitality that was laid on during our one-way trip to Marigny-sur-Yonne.

By the end of just a short week it felt as though we had been away a month — was it that we fitted so much in or that it was all so relaxing?

The pace of life on the Canal du Nivernais seems even slower than it does on English canals.

Perhaps that’s because cruising has to be timed to fit in with the working hours of the lock-keepers — and everything stops for an hour for lunch, so there is no choice but to moor up and tuck into fresh bread and cheese.

Or maybe it’s because the canal is remarkably quiet.

Although the Nivernais is the second most popular canal in France it is relatively empty of boats compared with the K&A. In Clamecy we visited the Flottage museum to discover how the Nivernais supplied Paris with fire wood from the

On board ‘Papa Leslie’ after the BBQ at Chevroches

Morvan forest. Later that evening, after trying our hand at boules, we were entertained to a BBQ at the Marie in Chevroches — ending with impromptu session of English and French songs followed by a candle-lit procession back to our boat.

We finished with a trip up to the summit above the Saady flight going through tunnels that once housed resistance fighters and then out to the dramatic Etage Baye, a huge lake that supplies the canal with water.

After a meal in Corbigny and a visit to Chateau it was time to say goodbye to our hosts — until the next time we meet.

From left, Philippe Bénard, Bob Patey, Nigel Williams and Catherine Best at the Chevroches BBQ

After our trip to the canal summit, we had a farewell meal with Les Amis before our return to England

Negotiating one of the lift bridges typical of the waterway

Nigel Williams and Di Harris present pictures of the Kennet & Avon Canal to Philippe Bénard

Our boat the ‘Papa Leslie, left, passing through the beautiful Bergundy countryside.

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No. 177 Winter 2006

Bath’s lost wharves Warren Burry looks at one of Bath’s many wharves in the third in our series on the lost wharves of the Kennet & Avon Canal

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he twenty first century visitor to Bath would undoubtedly be impressed with its architecture and its spacious parades, crescents, and gardens.

From these it is not difficult to appreciate the city’s general sense of history.

Pleasant walks along the River Avon also abound, but now give no impression that, alongside the splendour of its Georgian past, Bath was once a hive of industry and that national and local economics — together with intense trade activity on the river — were all instrumental in creating a significant inland port within the city boundaries.

Central to this activity were the wharves on which loading and unloading of barges and boats took place, and where carriers, traders and suppliers located their businesses and sometimes lived.

There were at least 19 wharves in existence in the city when the Avon Navigation, and later the K&A Canal Companies,

were proprietors of the navigation.

Some of the wharves were more important than others and this article, the latest in our lost wharves series, considers

the history of one extremely important wharf, which was owned firstly by the proprietors of the Avon Navigation.

building within the confines of Bath itself.

The first of these structures formed a large quay just downstream from the Bath Old Bridge.

Initially known simply as the Quay and later as Broad Quay, this wharf was constructed on the city side of the river and was completed in 1729.

Writing soon after its construction, John Wood observed that the quay consisted of a large terrace extending for 483 ft in length by 97 ft in breadth.

For the following 200 years this large quay, which in its heyday boasted at least four cranes and associated loading/unloading areas, was the focus of industrial activity in Bath giving better access to the industrial and commercial part of the city than any other location.

In addition, as the quay was down river from Bath Old Bridge, coastal trading craft that could not easily lower their masts were able to use the quay’s facilities.

This restriction to sailing vessels did not of course apply to Severn trows, which could swiftly lower their sailing gear,

Broad Quay Whilst small private wharves and landing stages may well have existed at numerous locations along the river between Bristol and Bath, it was only when work to create the Avon Navigation had been completed that the navigation company started major wharf

Bath was an important inland port and the active wharves. These have all but gone a wharehouses little evidence rema A Trow at Broad Quay using loading planks

1888 OS map of Bath showing Broad and Narrow (New) Quays

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Commerce slip under the bridge, and raise their masts again to manoeuvre themselves to other wharves upstream.

and its Narrow Quay extension centred around Avon and Milk Streets, an area once described as being one of:

Expansion

“...filth, squalor, and

As trade increased more space was required and the quay was extended downriver to cover the area known as New Quay, or Narrow Quay as it was later called.

However, there were problems with this part of the quay complex as it was prone to flooding and this often adversely affected trading at the site.

The businesses operated from the quay complex thrived or declined in response to demand and differing trading practices, and the use to which buildings and warehouses were put also changed accordingly.

The hinterland of Broad Quay

demoralisation, where poverty and crime lurk in miserable companionship, and where by a perversion of language, they may be said to enjoy a kind of sanctuary free from the intrusion of respectability�

Whilst this view clearly contains some bias, it also contains elements of truth for, like all 18th and 19th century port areas, life was hard for those that lived and worked in the vicinity, and their social standing would have been very low.

In addition to general poverty, low quality housing, frequent flooding and the fact that the river was used to

Broad Quay today Picture by Warren Burryn

e city had 19 or more and apart from a few ains of them.

Narrowboats at Broad Quay

dispose of city sewage, effluent from industrial processes, and waste products from the slaughterhouse, would have meant that living conditions in the area were dismal to say the least, and public health was a major, but sometimes conveniently forgotten problem.

Economic decline By the early 1900s the Broad Quay complex had become a mere shadow of its former self although corn merchants still operated from there.

Most of the few carriers still left trading on the river took advantage of the newer Midland Railway wharf that was situated lower down the river near Green Park station, as this wharf was much more convenient to use.

The Old Bath Bridge was eventually demolished to make way for an improved road bridge and new traffic system.

Both Broad and Narrow Quays met the same fate and have now become riverside walkways and grassed areas.

In a similar way the narrow streets and buildings behind the quays have in the main also disappeared, to be replaced by Avon Street car park.

When it was an active wharf, Broad Quay supported many businesses: malt houses, brewers, corn factors, brass foundries, timber yards, boat builders, stone yards, shop fitting works, corset factory, cabinet works, iron works, engineering works, carriage works, dye works, slate works, slaughterhouses, stables and carriage/cart parking, carriers

The area also supported a number of ancillary trades: blacksmiths rope and canvass makers a spectacle maker distilling works felt making grocers greengrocers Post Office public houses and other establishments that sold liqueur

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No. 177 Winter 2006

A visitor’s view

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his summer we crossed the K&A from Bristol to Reading on our way to ‘The National’ on the Thames at Beale Park in August, and we appreciated the ‘Boating Guide’ that you had inserted into the boaters ‘info pack’.

Also I believe that you inserted a letter or card asking for feed-back; however, I appear to have mislaid it – hence this letter.

This was our first return visit since ‘discovering’ the K&A in 1993 and 1994, and we viewed it with mixed feelings.

Linear moorings Our biggest disappointment was the eastward spread of linear moorings — both formal and informal — from their original confines around Bath.

It’s a difficult problem to solve, and we can’t offer a solution, but for visitors (boaters and towpath walkers) it takes the gloss off what should be a fantastic experience in a beautiful part of the country.

It also presents problems for visitors to Pewsey.

Paddle gear ‘tinkering’ Another disappointment was to experience the ‘tinkering’ with paddle gear.

I have no wish to be associated with any ‘bandwagon’; my comments here are personal – based on more than 7,300 lock transits around all parts of our inland waterway network over the last 30 years or more.

Leaving aside the aesthetic arguments, I have two concerns about the extra reduction gear.

First [in general – but particularly on the gate paddles] the gearing is now too low.

Ian Fletcher of Long Itchington, Warwickshire wrote this letter to BW Service Manager Eliza Botham, after his trip this summer

Low gearing dangers I thought that the dangers of excessively low gearing had been recognised by BW some years ago, when they instigated a policy of discontinuing the further installation of the hydraulic ‘granny gear’, and its progressive replacement in areas where it had been fitted, with something safer and more appropriate.

Compared with what happened at Gargrave, a few odd strains and sprains from a rack & pinnion (probably by unfit or ill-advised novices) are small beer indeed.

I will agree that some of the ground-paddles were not particularly easy – but it is, afterall, canal gear not a computer keyboard; however, the fitting of reduction boxes by their very constitution reverses the direction of operation, and I found on at least one ground paddle (west side somewhere before Caen Hill) where the spindle was parallel to the bank my ‘pull and push strokes’ were reversed.

This meant that I had to lean far forward for the up-pull and the ergonomic benefit of the lower gearing was completely cancelled out by the ‘poorposture’ position and therefore potential for causing back problems.

Rack pawls While on the west side another hazard that I noticed at some locks was the propensity for the pawls not to engage in the racks.

In fact this is potentially a double hazard because either they could drop out of control

with the windlass giving you anything between a rapped knuckle and a broken wrist, or seeing the problem you could be tempted to fix it by getting your fingers in the way while trying to position the ‘tongue’ within the teeth of the pinnion.

From memory the problem was greatest around Seend and Semington, and also at least one on the Caen Hill flight The problem was due to wear or distortion on the ‘tongue’ of the hinged pawl.

Surprisingly most of the suspect ones seemed relatively new, and my guess is that they had been gas-cut from a fairly low-tensile steel - because some of those that looked much older showed far less sign of wear.

not so much a problem, more a niggle - was the inaccuracies on the enamel signs at refuse points telling us where the next one was located.

For example at Seend your sign says that its 2 hours on to Sells Green and 2 hrs back to Semington whereas your boating guide (and also my log) says that its only one hour on to Sells Green and 2 hours back will take you to Hilperton – virtually double the lock mileage from Seend to Semington.

An even worse example is at Pewsey Wharf where the sign told us it was 3 hours back to Honeystreet whereas page 39 of your guide and my experience showed me that it had only taken an hour.

Steel plates

Pontoons

The final hazard that I noticed when coming down the east side was that between Kintbury and Newbury – from memory between locks 79 & 84 – some of the top gates were potentially dangerous.

The large steel plates – of the order of a metre square and approx 10 mm thick that ‘squared up’ the gates [probably also designed as ‘rubbing plates’ to prevent stem-post or fender ‘hang-up’] were only held on in some cases by a single screw.

These plates - weighing perhaps 60-70 kg – must be near to shearing such screws.

If the final screw holding the plate did shear – or get pulled out - this plate could adopt ‘guillotine-mode’ and do untold damage.

To finish on something more positive, you must be congratulated for providing a series of pontoons at the western end [Hanham, Keynsham etc] – they were greatly appreciated.

We also liked the idea of more informal moorings in the middle of nowhere with short lengths of mown towpath and no notices.

Inaccurate signs Another thing that we noticed –

Safety issues It does not allow a rapid dropping of the paddles at time of crisis. If you look back through BW’s own incident/safety records over the last 30 years, the only ones that count are the drownings and near-drownings that could possibly have been stopped by more prompt action.

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Of the four pieces of information shown on these two pictures two are wrong — and one is very wrong. To license payers and tax-payers the tragedy is that someone has been paid to produce them.

Swing bridge landings But perhaps the best innovation in the 12 years since we were last ‘down your way’ was the new off-side landings for operating some of the swingbridges – brilliant.

Please ‘sell’ the idea to your colleagues elsewhere around the system – particularly on the Leeds & Liverpool.

Overall you may find this letter a little depressing – but it’s straight, and simply reports how we found things. Please believe that it is well meant, because we know that the only way that we can improve things [in terms of both safety and overall enjoyment] is by building on the positives and working to eliminate the negatives; in this respect I’m sure that we’re on the same side.

Good luck to you and your team in attempting to do a difficult job under less than ideal circumstances.

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The K&A Canal Trust magazine

the

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The Kennet & Avon Canal Trust now to help Protect, Enhance and Promote the waterway and you will get:

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A GEOprojects canal map of the Kennet & Avon Canal (and including the River Avon and Bristol Docks)

Please pay to Lloyds Bank plc, Devizes Wilts SN10 1JD (sort code 30-92-63) credit A/C No. 0441822 The Kennet & Avon Canal Trust the sum of £. . . . . . . On (date). . . . . . . . . .and the same sum on the same date each YEAR until further notice.

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If you pay by standing order you will also get a leather K&A wallet to keep your membership card in

Signature: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Date: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

You must pay an amount of Tax at least equal to the tax that the charity reclaims on Please post or fax this form to: The Membership Secretary, The Kennet & Avon Canal Trust, FREEPOST, Canal Centre, Couch Lane, Devizes, Wiltshire, SN10 1BR. Fax: 01380 727870

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No. 177 Winter 2006

Canals for kids with Terry Kemp

Kenny Annie

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e have brought Terry Kemp out of retirement and he has has brought Annie and Kenny Avon and his friends from the Mousehole Boat Company to join The Butty team. If you have any pictures, jokes, stories or poems send them to him at the Canal Centre in Devizes (the address is in the front of the magazine).

Canal Wordsearch Fourteen canal words are hidden in the puzzle.

They are arranged horizontally or vertically. Ring round each word that you can find

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“I don’t like getting my feet wet!”

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Waterways Wildlife

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Silhouetted trees against the dusky sky, Tearing the town in half.

A seagull flies by very high To the amber lit sky, Then gives a laugh.

Murky coloured river, A strange world of fuzzy quiver.

The moth eaten cloudy sky That is scattered across like dust, Where blotchy clouds softly fly.

The Moorhen he moorhen is a bird often seen wading in the reeds and waterside. If disturbed it will splash its way across the canal to hide.

Sometimes it will go below the surface of the water with only its beak above.

When it has built its nest, has laid its eggs or is raising its young, it is a brave and aggressive bird protecting its nest and the chicks.

Inspired by a night walk during a residential weekend at Braeside, Devizes in 2004

The moorhen chicks are the ‘scruffs’ of the waterways for they are a bundle of black untidy fluff whilst they are growing up. Scrabbling after their parents they are fun to watch.

Next to the banks is a patch of winter grass And by it, a snowdrop coloured swan, That glides along the bronzes, lamp lit river, With ripples drifting out of his feathers.

The bridge across the canal, Is fringed with wooden spears.

Swans and cygnets waddle across, They make nests with their sticks, Reeds and feathers.

They dream their dreams of flying, Until the ember, fire red sun arises.

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No. 177 Winter 2006

Threat to native crayfish

by Environment Agency Press Officer Chris Mitchell

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he native white-clawed crayfish (Austropotamobius pallipes) is under threat due to the introduction and the spread of alien species, particularly its American cousin, the signal crayfish (Pacifastacus leniusculus), which carries a fungal disease (Aphanomyces astaci) to which the native species has little or no immunity.

Couple this with the direct competition for food and habitats from the American invader, and the native crayfish is now a protected species.

Control or eradication of alien species has so far proved almost impossible. But research into new and more effective methods of removal is being carried out to find a solution and new byelaws will help by allowing authorised removal, which will increase control over movements.

American crayfish introduced In the 1970s the signal crayfish (Pacifastacus leniusculus) was introduced into southern England for aquaculture trials.

It was stocked into over 300 sites in Britain, although further illegal stockings and escapes into the wild have aided its spread.

It can become a nuisance to anglers because signal crayfish often take fishing baits — and their burrows can damage riverbanks.

The plague But the most significant threat to our native crayfish posed by signal crayfish is the fungal disease Aphanomyces astaci, commonly known as the crayfish plague, which has devastated native stocks in many parts of the country. It is carried by signal crayfish which are immune, and was first detected in the UK in the 1980s.

White-clawed crayfish infected by crayfish plague may show abnormal behaviour often appearing almost drunk.

The fungal spores of the plague can survive for up to 2 weeks in water, infiltrating the waterways, and can sometimes

be carried on fishing equipment and even wellington boots.

Responsible anglers Anglers therefore have a key role in helping to reduce the risk of spreading the disease by drying or disinfecting any boots or nets before moving between rivers.

It is also best to avoid fishing different rivers on the same day and using crayfish as bait is illegal.

There is currently no known method of eliminating crayfish plague once it has taken hold.

Curtailing the spread of signal crayfish in British waters remains the most sure-fire way to protect the remaining native white-clawed crayfish.

Signal crayfish are widespread throughout West Berkshire’s rivers and present a real problem for the Kennet, Lambourn and Pang.

And it’s not just the native crayfish who are at risk, as the signals’ spread harms several species of invertebrates and macrophytes causing problems for the fish population who normally feed on them.

The EA is working with other organisations including Natural England to try and combat the problem. The best approach for now is to contain the problem as much as possible, and the EA is working with local anglers so that they can play their part in the containment strategy.

Anglers who accidentally

American Signal Crayfish

catch crayfish using a rod and line are not committing an offence provided that they return the animals to the water where they caught them as quickly as possible. They will be committing an offence if they catch crayfish accidentally and then remove them.

Other challenges If the threat from American signal crayfish wasn’t enough, native crayfish also face further challenges from other invasive species which have been introduced to UK waters.

These include the narrow clawed crayfish from Turkey (Astacus leptodactylus), the noble crayfish (Astacus astacus), the red swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) and the spiny-cheek or striped crayfish (Orconectes limosus).

They are not currently widespread, but each pose a threat to the native species through carrying the crayfish plague or through competition for food and habitat.

Permission to trap But a new byelaw will help combat the spread of the signal

crayfish. It came into force in England & Wales in June 2005.

The new byelaw restricts accidental or deliberate transportation of alien crayfish and ‘crayfish plague’, whilst still allowing the legitimate trapping of the crustaceans.

Permission to trap crayfish will be dependant on the local situation — in particular the presence of the native white claw crayfish. Unless the trapping is done responsibly it could make the situation worse or even cause further spread.

Crayfish are trapped for several reasons, such as for conservation to re-establish native species in a particular area or to relocate them if work is taking place in their habitat.

Crayfish can also be trapped for scientific research, which may look into interactions between crayfish and other species in the wild, or investigations into methods of controlling the non-native species.

The byelaws are enforced through existing fisheries enforcement routes — either by reports of illegal trappings from the public or through routine fisheries enforcement patrols, and carry a maximum fine of £2,500.

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No. 177 Winter 2006

Jenny Saady

Inspired by our Waterways — Jenny Saady paints from her studio overlooking West Mills Wharf in Newbury

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enny has had a lifelong interest in drawing, but it was not until her daughter had difficulties with her A level art teacher at school that Jenny took her to evening art class to give a different input — Mum and daughter both came away with an A level.

Jenny has dipped into many genres of art including decorative art — and one Christmas she painted twenty two different wooden pieces as gifts for the family.

The next project was painting a mural all around her new grandson’s nursery based on original drawings of Pooh, Christopher Robin and other animals by EH Shepherd.

She tried canal art with roses and castles lessons from Ron Hough and Phil Speight and signwriting lessons from Tim Boyle of Newbury.

She painted the K&A panel in the Stone Building at Newbury.

Whilst teaching she wanted to help children to become more proficient in handwriting and subsequently developed an interest in italic writing and eventually had tuition in calligraphy which culminated in her scribing the Declaration of Gratitude that was presented to the Queen and now rests in the Trust Museum.

While she was teaching there wasn’t much time for her to practise her art but she had a few lessons in watercolour painting in her last couple of

Burghfield Island Kennet & Avon Canal

Newbury Wharf

Church Lock a la Piper

Camp Hill Lock mooring

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years as headteacher from Bill Newton Taylor, a successful artist in the Marlow area.

After retirement she moved to Newbury and started to exhibit successfully in local exhibitions.

She had lessons in using pastel with Christopher Assheton Stones and water colour lessons with Ron Cosford the artist in Residence for Henley Royal Regatta. Then a day course in painting at Reading Museum during a John Piper exhibition led to a slightly different flavour for some paintings that followed.

Jenny was delighted to be asked to paint a scene to be made into a Christmas card to be sold for K&A Canal Trust funds for the years 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005 and happily donated these paintings to the Trust along with a painting that was made into a Trust postcard.

For the last four years, she has been doing life drawing to improve her drawing skills further and continues to attend workshops in this subject.

There is no shortage of material for painting, as Jenny

travels the canals and rivers with her husband, David, on their narrowboat, ‘Roman Lady’, during the spring and summer months.

Wherever the boat happens to be moored each evening, the view nearby is the subject for the next sketch, whether industrial archeology or glorious country views. Each season’s cruising results in a full sketchbook with lots of ideas for future paintings, with the back-up of photographs for extra information.

Commissions have been taken to paint local country houses and this is a real joy. It combines her real love of painting buildings and the landscape.

Of course, if those buildings happen to be beside water, it is the best of all possible worlds.

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No. 177 Winter 2006

Hockings at Crofton

by C Ian Broom

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wo families descended from a man who worked at Crofton when steam provided the power to keep the canal in water met for the first time at the pumping station in June. Neither knew of the others existence but their family history researches had brought them both to Crofton and to the realisation that they shared a common ancestry.

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Muriel Haile had found that It was a very moving her Great Great Grandfather experience to see the cottage was called Thomas Hocking where their Great and she was a direct Grandmothers had been born descendent of his daughter and brought up.

Catherine who had married in Catherine and Louisa would Norfolk. have been nine and seven, Sean Stanton found when the broad gauge that he too was track was driven descended from through the site.

Thomas Hocking Sean, an engineer, and his Great found it Grandmother wonderfully was Louisa — strange to be Catherine’s standing at the sister who had engine controls gone into as his Great service in Great Grandfather Norfolk, as a had done 160 cook — and years ago. married Thomas Muriel Kerry, an under brought with her ck a d copies of family ing gardener.

II with his The two families photographs; this one finally met in Great Bedwyn shows Thomas Hocking II with on Sunday, 25th June 2006, his daughter, Louisa. and they went to see the Sean was thrilled to have graves of the two Thomas found new relations and, as Hockings and of Mary, the Muriel’s daughter, Penny, said, younger Thomas’s wife at St “I had to scrape my mother off Mary’s Church in the village. the ceiling she was so excited”.

They then came to Crofton The day ended with to see where their ancestors promises to return and we look had lived and worked. forward to seeing them again.

From left, Samuel Kerry, Louisa Kerry (Hocking),Florrance Kerry John Hocking and Fredrick Kerry. Samuel was Sean Stanton,s Grandfather and John was brother to Thomas Hocking jnr. (date not known)

On 5th July 1846, Henry Hoskins, working for Thomas Blackwell, The Canal Superintendent, wrote to Messrs Harvey of Hayle in Cornwall.

T

homas Hocking and William Locket came to drive Crofton's newly installed Sims Combined Cylinders Engine that had been built by Harveys.

The 1851 census records them both living at Crofton with their families, having been born in Cornwall.

Thomas Hocking was born in Phillack, Cornwall, in 1818 and had married his first cousin, Mary Williams in 1839.

As his father was also called Thomas and he named his son Thomas, I will refer to them as Thomas I, II and III. By the time they came to Crofton they had four children, the eldest of whom was Thomas II, born in 1840.

Five further children were born at Crofton and the two youngest sisters, Catherine and Louis, play an important role in bringing the story up to date.

Thomas Hocking lll went to work at the GWR works in Swindon but came back to Crofton when his father was ill.

He was appointed as Engineman at Crofton when his father died in 1864.

Eventful times Thomas lll died in 1904 in rather dramatic circumstances — his body was found by the roadside by his daughter Esther the morning after he had set off to walk to Grafton.

The Hockings would have lived through some major events at Crofton and it could have been Thomas 11 who was driving the Sims engine when it suffered a catastrophic failure soon after it had been installed in 1846.

This must have been a truly frightening experience when the pump plunger came crashing down.

The GWR took over the canal in 1852 and no doubt brought in new officials and working practices to Crofton.

In 1862 the whole character of Crofton changed for the Hocking family when the Berks and Hants Extension Railway was built.

It sliced right through the site and cut the engine house off from the canal, save for a small tunnel under the track.

Thomas Hocking ll, like his father, had to contend with an engine failure in1896, followed by the rebuild, but he died before the major restoration work took place between 1905 and 1917.

Leaving Crofton The grave stones of Thomas 11 and Thomas 111 and his wife Mary are in Great Bedwyn church yard.

Thomas ll’s wife, Mary, was buried in Norfolk and the tragic tale surrounding her and the family was typical of the times.

Catherine, one of Mary's daughters had married in Norfolk and had had four children.

The youngest died aged only one month, followed seven weeks later by her husband in October 1884.

Mary moved to Norfolk to help Catherine with the children but died in 1891.

The whole series of events proved too much for Catherine and she was committed to an asylum in Colchester where she died in 1916.

The three remaning children were cared for by their Aunt Emily (another of Thomas 11’s daughters - living In Scotland).

The death of Thomas lll marked the end of the Hocking connection with Crofton.

I am indebted to Muriel Haile and Sean Stanton for their family history research that made it possible to tell this story.

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Butty

No. 177 Winter 2006

Trust building ghosts Who is Tracy’s guardian angel?

T

he ‘Woman in the Stone Building’ in Newbury was first seen in April 2006 by Café volunteer Jean Webb when she was listening to a speaker at a Newbury Branch talk.

She caught sight of the woman in her 40s standing next to shop manager Tracy Perriman and appearing to listen to the talk. ‘Who is that?’ she asked Tracy – but Tracy could see nobody.

She can feel her though, and has often sensed her in the building, sometimes upstairs, sometimes downstairs. And other people have noticed a beautiful sweet smell, describing it like an old fashioned scented garden.

Footsteps have been heard

too, but though people have gone upstairs to check, no one is known to have seen the woman apart from Jean.

Jean, who also volunteers on the Rose of Hungerford, described the apparition as wearing a long black skirt, white high-necked blouse with mutton sleeves and blond-grey hair pulled tightly back from her face. “She has such a lovely, soft face and a calming aura.

But once or twice I know she’s been unhappy about something because the smell changes to something much less pleasant.”

Jean has seen her several times — often she’ll stand in the upstairs room and look out of the window across to where the basin used to be.

At other times — particularly when Tracy is worried or upset by something — she will be standing by her side as though she’s protecting her.

And Tracy can definitely feel her – she is certain that somebody is protecting and helping her while she’s in the shop.

“From the moment I first set foot in the building I noticed

that it had a wonderful feeling.

And I always feels safe and protected, particularly if I’m on my own.”

Jean has only had one similar experience before — when she saw her mother who had died some years earlier.

But she has seen this woman in the black skirt several times now, and she is certain that nothing dreadful happened to her.

She has a romantic notion that ‘the woman in the Stone Building’ stands waiting at the window looking and waiting for her sweetheart to return from a trip.

But who could she have been? And who was she waiting for?

Devizes Canal Centre’s spirits with moustache and bonnet

N

ot everyone sees things that go bump in the night, but at the Canal Centre at Devizes Wharf things are different.

For around ten years the meeting room has been home to an evening group of spiritual healers.

They claim they have helper friends from what many would call ‘the other side’ or the ‘spirit side’.

Those with the ability to sense or know of unexplained things claim to have seen old healers who have made quick visits - and they name Ron, Derrick and Les. Both Trust administrator Mo Crossley and shop volunteer

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David Bartlet have experienced strange “goings on” in the building.

David often senses a presence in the museum and feels there may be a spirit presence in the mannequin.

Mo meanwhile often has the feeling of being watched by an elderly man with a moustache who likes to follow her up the stairs and stare at her while she walks across the meeting room. He seems mischievous rather than worrying.

On one occasion Mo passed through the room and a chair fell over.

It was not stacked or broken and it fell in the middle of the room as Mo reached the far

end of the room.

She has also heard at least three ladies’ voices outside the cloakroom.

They were chatting and giggling and she thought they were visitors waiting to use the facilities. She was somewhat unnerved to discover there was no-one there!

One dark winter night, the TV programme ‘Derek Acorah’s Ghost Towns’ paid a visit.

The atmosphere was electric and after calling on any spirit persons to make themselves known, they heard various strange noises.

Then, suddenly, Mo was startled. She had been touched on the side of the neck. Though

she wasn’t certain - it felt like a moustache!

As the night drew on, the face of a young woman in a bonnet appeared and moved across the room slowly before pausing then disappearing.

Everyone in the room saw the same thing. Was it Victoria, the spirit David senses in the mannequin?

Since the TV programme was shown, many visitors have come specifically to see for themselves.

Two ladies came from America after seeing the programme on TV in the States. They were not disappointed.

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No. 177 Winter 2006

pleased to hear that plans for the 2007 Festival are already underway.

We are still negotiating the date (watch this space) but have agreed to make ‘Youth’ the focus of the Festival.

Reading Mike Wyatt 0118 9427708

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anal restoration with a difference — this time, the garden at the Visitor Centre at Aldermaston.

No, not BW, nor even a Trust member, but a lady from Newbury who has no garden and volunteered to look after the ‘Shop Garden’.

A very big thank you to Mary Hubbard for all her hard work, and to Trust Member Jenny Saady who persuaded her to volunteer, and helped in the work also.

Mary has further plans for next year, and also hopes to sell plants through the shop as well, with the proceeds being re-invested in the garden.

Bristol trip Canal Boating with a difference — this time in Bristol Harbour.

Branch members embarked on the ‘Matthew’, the replica of the ship that John Cabot sailed from Bristol on his voyage to discover Newfoundland in 1497.

The vessel is very authentic, but John Cabot might have been rather mystified by the computer-controlled hydraulic drive connecting the diesel engine to the propellers.

Newbury Festival

The Aldermaston Visitor Centre garden tended by Mary Hubbard

have the following scheduled for 2007.

Friday 26 January — Brian Eighteen returns by popular request, this time to tell us about ‘Watermills on the Kennet’.

Friday 23 February — speaker still awaiting confirmation.

Mid March — Branch Dinner.

Date & location to be confirmed.

Friday 30 March — Branch AGM (hopefully very short) followed by Alan Copeland, the celebrated photographer on ‘Curiosities in the Chilterns’.

New blood We have vacancies on the committee for some new blood, and in particular we are looking for some one (not necessarily a committee member) who would act as ‘Speaker Secretary’ and set up the programme of talks from September 2007 onwards.

Planning watch The Matthew in Bristol Harbour

Aldermaston BBQ Rather more down to earth, we enjoyed a BBQ in the grounds of the Aldermaston Visitor Centre in late September, fortunately not requiring the vast array of tentage we had erected.

A big thank you to all who helped, particularly to Jenny Cann’s family who cooked our supper, and to the crew of ‘Sonoma’ moored outside, who provided ‘bacon butties’ for the gang that arrived on Sunday morning to strike the tents.

Our winter meetings have resumed back in Turnhams Farm Hall, Tilehurst, and we

On the business side, the committee have spent much time examining Planning Applications for the Waste Disposal site at Burghfield — application rejected but going to appeal — and the vast housing development (7500 houses) scheduled for The Thames Valley Park in the land between the canal and the M4.

Members have also given up considerable time to assist at the Visitor Centre and to crew ‘Rose’.

Grant cut protest We have also boosted the Post Office profits by writing letters to 19 MPs who are on the All Party Waterways Committee and to 3 Riparian MPs, urging them to protest against the

recent major reduction in BW grant that will cause 180 redundancies in BW staff, and will be a have a colossal effect on the K&A and all other canals.

Newbury Julie Dean 01962 883939

A

s the end of the year approaches, Newbury Branch is well into its season of monthly illustrated talks. Held on the last Wednesday of every month — all are welcome at 7.45 in the Stone Building.

Have Boat: Will Travel The first talk of 2007 will be ‘Have Boat: Will Travel’ by David Saady. This promises to be a most interesting talk so please come along; meet up with old friends, make some new ones, and join in the fun of Val’s monthly raffle!

We all enjoyed the Newbury Waterways Festival — remember that glorious summer day in July? You will be

We want to concentrate on involving the young people of Newbury in the Festival — to stimulate their interest in the canal and to get them afloat.

We have lots of ideas on how we are going to make this happen and it promises to be a very exciting venture.

Of course, the Festival continues to be for people of all ages but if we can get our young people engaged, the long-term future of our canal will be in safe hands.

Town centre revamp affects shop trade The shop continues to suffer from the presence, just outside its door, of a secure contractor compound related to the revamping of the town centre.

Despite the fence being moved back, the shop suffers from noise and dust — and frequently has large lorries blocking out the shop as machinery is loaded or unloaded.

The result has been low trading as customers have been unable to see the shop, or have been put off coming in.

This is very disappointing.

Although work stopped in November, it is expected to resume in January.

We hope all will be resolved by the time the shop re-opens in February..

ALL-ABOARD MARINE SERVICES & NEWBURY DRY DOCK

All boat maintenance services Boat Safety Examinations Anywhere on the K&A and Thames

Tel: 01635 37606 Mobile: 07940 583361 & 07703 235779

Corgi Reg: 189616

GREENHAM LOCK COTTAGE, AMPERE ROAD, NEWBURY RG14 5SN

www.aamarine.co.uk

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Butty BRANCH REPORTS Hungerford Richard Snook 01635 253446

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ban. I do not deliberately set out to embarrass BW on this issue but feel that, having had to field numerous phone calls from members of the public upon this issue, something has to be said.

Santa trips By the time you read this we will be well into the Santa trip season, which has all the signs of being very well supported yet again.

We hope we will be able to follow this year’s success with an even better 2008.

Looking even further forward, the Annual General Meeting of the Hungerford Branch will be on Friday 11th May aboard the ‘Rose of Hungerford’ to which all branch members are cordially invited.

BW tap water wastage It is 183 days since I first reported the leaking water point at the Hungerford insanitary station to British Waterways. I have, of course, reported it several times since at fairly regular intervals as have many others.

I am at last pleased to report that the supply was turned off just a few days ago.

It has now been repaired and is back in working order.

It is a shame that BW took so long to get around to repairing the fault and wasted some quarter of a million litres of expensive mains water during a time when most of Thames Water’s customers were experiencing a hosepipe

Crofton Ray Knowles 01672 851639

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nce again there is good news and bad news so I will start with the bad which some of you will already know.

On the evening of Friday 28th July, our Warden and his wife, Alan and Catriona Flaherty, ‘did a runner’ 3 months after taking up the job.

When we came in for the July steaming at 8.30 on Saturday morning the station was still locked up and had not been cleaned.

They had taken only that which was their’s — the cash was locked in the safe and balanced to the last penny and the cottage had been cleaned.

The Tutti Pole

by the South side of Hungerford Bridge

Enjoy the relaxed atmosphere of our Tea Room/Restaurant and Patio Area seating up to 50

Morning Coffee • Luncheon • Afternoon Tea Roast Sunday Lunch • Home made fare a speciality Monday – Friday 9am – 5.30pm • Saturday & Sunday 9am – 6pm The Tutti Pole, 3 High Street, Hungerford RG17 0DN Telephone: 01488 682515 30

Picture by John Kirby

s I write this report in early Autumn we, at the Hungerford Branch, can feel justly contented with a wellexecuted Summer season.

Public trip numbers for August were at an all time high, whilst overall charter numbers were also well up with 19 charters in September alone.

Should have been more, but two were cancelled at the very last minute due to inclement weather.

This all adds up to a very successful season which, of course, could not have been possible without the not insubstantial input from our cheerful and reliable band of volunteers.

No. 177 Winter 2006

David Dimbleby with Ray Knowles at Crofton during filming for the BBC series ‘How We Built Britain’ which will be aired in Spring 2007

But their unpaid utility bills caused a lot of admin work when they came to light.

There was no forwarding address or phone number and their mobile number was unobtainable.

Closed for the summer The worst thing was that we had to close the pumping station to visitors, except for steaming weekends, as we did not have enough volunteers to cover Sundays let alone the other 6 days of the week, so there has been a considerable loss of income for August and September.

New Warden Now for the good news… At the time of writing this we have just appointed a new Warden, Nigel Hawkins, who will start work on Friday 1st December.

There is a new arrangement regarding staffing whereby Enterprise will supply Crofton with shop and café staff so the Warden is the one who has to live in the cottage — as it happens, his wife Maxine came top in her interview for Retail/Catering Manager.

Our nextdoor neighbour Rosemary has very kindly arranged for her gardener to mow the grass outside the cottage and car park whilst our volunteers do the grounds, which take 3 man-days a week.

Gwen and Eddie from the village have volunteered to open and close the car park daily.

The visitor numbers for the

July steaming weekend were very good.

Ethel Giles visits The August steaming brought our annual visit from Ethel Giles who brought fresh supplies of her book Crofton In The Twenties, which is still a ‘nice little earner’ for us.

She came with her very supportive family and was in her usual good form.

We took her round the empty cottage, her childhood home, and as usual learnt some more about it and her life there.

It has of course, been altered quite a lot but Peggy paddled in the feeder as usual.

Ash pit fire Another summer event was a fire in the ash pit, which we were unable to put out so we called the brigade who spent 3 hours and 3,000 gallons of water to make it safe.

Water shortage curbs pumping At the September steaming I was asked by British Waterways to pump for only half an hour in the morning and afternoon on both days as there was a water shortage.

I protested that it was not worth steaming under those conditions and we eventually settled for alternate 1 hour on and off throughout the day with a careful eye to be kept on the water level in the engine pound.

The stairs down to the tunnel seemed to get longer as

the

Butty BRANCH REPORTS the day went on. The weather was wet, exceedingly so, for parts of both days but we had very good-humoured visitors especially when we were standing in the rain talking about a water shortage.

Christmas opening Ken Allen, the new MD of Enterprise, wants to try and get some of the summer losses back so he has asked Maxine to see about opening over the Christmas/New Year period on an experimental basis, but not all of the pumping station will be open due to Health & Safety regulations and winter maintenance — watch the website and local press.

Winter work schedule The winter work is on schedule and this year’s big job is the 10-year boiler test, which involves stripping down all the boiler fittings and the doing a hydraulic test to 40psi — twice our operating pressure.

No. 177 Winter 2006

Currently there is not much room to move in the boiler house as it is full of scaffolding and insulation bricks.

Last, but by no means least, we have received a delightful email from Donna Hurley in the

BBC visit On Tuesday 3rd October, we spent all afternoon with a special steaming for the BBC 1 series ‘How We Built Britain’ to be presented by David Dimbleby and due for transmission in Spring 2007.

Then on Monday 30th October at the early hour of 7.30am, David Dimbleby and the full crew arrived and started 3 hours of filming down the well and in the boiler house and on the driving platform area. The programme is due to start at Easter on Sundays at 9 pm for six 1-hour episodes. Ours is called ‘Georgian Buildings in the West’.

New Branch Secretary I

am very pleased to say that Pamela Weeks has volunteered to be Branch Secretary and has already taken a very firm grip of the backlog of admin work.

United States which I reproduce here with her full permission:-

Hello!

I am writing to tell you that I have thoroughly enjoyed perusing your site! Believe it or not, I found it quite by accident! While conducting a search on another, totally unrelated topic, (the Rose Theatre!) I ended up at a site dealing in paper models named Heritage Models who, of course, have a model of The Crofton Pumping Station and also a link to your site.

Well, I suddenly found myself reading about Cornish boilers, condenser tanks, launders, steam engines, beam engines, a leat, and the Marquis of Ailesbury! I have never been so entertained or enthralled by a site! I found myself going from one section to another without pause!

I would like to compliment the author (or authors) on the eloquent, yet easily understood explanations and descriptions of the processes and inner-workings of the Crofton Pumping Station. I can honestly say, that before last night, I had never even heard of a leat, and could not have told you the difference between a beam engine and a car engine. Quite frankly, before I came across your site I didn’t even know there was such a thing as a beam engine! At least now I know that I can’t fit a beam engine in my car... but I might be able to fit a car inside a beam engine... would a Mini fit? hmmm...

In closing, I would like to thank you very much for the tour and the education! If I ever get to your wonderful country, I do hope you don’t mind if I drop in for a spell! All I’ll have to remember is: T up, S up, S down, W up, T down, W down — check all set!

Sincerely, Donna Hurley Valatie, NY, US

The Kennet & Avon Canal Trust Public Trip Boats • 3 boats • 3 locations • public trips • special charters •

‘Rose of Hungerford’ Operating from just off the High Street in Hungerford With a seating capacity of 50, ‘Rose’ is a comfortable well-equipped widebeam boat.

Public trips: • Every Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holiday from Easter until October – 2.30pm: 2.5 hours • Every Wednesday from June until September – 2.30pm: 2.5 hours • Every Wednesday during July and August – 11.30am: 1.5 hours • Every Sunday during August – 11.30am: 1.5 hours • Special Santa Trips at Christmas Charter trips available for all your special occasions Wheelchair/disabled access Booking Manager: 01488 683389

‘Protect Enhance Promote’

‘Barbara McLellan’

‘Jubilee’

Operating from Bradford on Avon Wharf Cottage The Barbara McLellan is a 65-ft purpose-built wide-beam boat capable of seating 51 passengers.

Public trips: • From May to September–11.30am: I hour trip to Meadows Bridge, Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holidays • From June to mid-September – 4.30pm: I hour trip to Widbrook, Saturday and Sunday • Special trips, including cream teas, Bath, Autumn Tints, Christmas Santa Trips

Operating from Brassknocker Basin, opposite Viaduct Inn, Limpley Stoke, A36 East of Bath ‘Jubilee’ is a converted traditional narrowboat with a 30-seat capacity.

Brassknocker Wharf has ample car parking.

Charter trips: for 1 to 5 hours or a whole day.

Wheelchair/disabled access Wharf shop and tea-room Boat tickets, gifts, books and refreshments Booking Manager: 01225 775326

Public trips: • Sundays and Bank Holidays from Easter until October 12.00 – 2.00pm Cruise to Claverton and return 2.30pm – 5.45pm Cruise to Avoncliff stopping for 30 minutes and return • From June to September inclusive Tuesdays 2.30pm – 5.45pm Avoncliff and return Thursdays 2.30pm – 5.45pm Bathampton and return Charter trips Booking Manager: 01749 850169

All boats are well equipped to provide a range of refreshments and they have licensed bars.

They also have a public address system or will accept your own sound system.

General enquiries 01380 721279

real at! a y o j n E e family tr 31

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Butty BRANCH REPORTS

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Devizes Roger Hollands 01249 6509521

Lengthsman’s report The response from boaters to give their thoughts and photos on the state of the canal (good and bad) along the Devizes patch has been first class.

Pewsey Wharf, Devizes Boat Club, Wilts & Berks and Kennet & Avon Canal Trust members

Picture by Roger Hollands

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ur winter program kicked off with a talk on the Dorset & Somerset Canal

by Derrick Hunt the Chairman of the D&S Society.

For a canal that was never finished, Derrick, through 20 years of research, has amassed a huge amount of documents and artefacts.

Next April we hope to arrange a field trip to see for ourselves some of the intriguing remains he has discovered.

Please register your interest by contacting Alice or myself.

Derrick Hunt, Chairman of the Dorset & Somerset Canal Society, demonstrated his inovative mobile PA system at his talk in September.

have all responded, and I am in the process of collating their responses into a single document that will be submitted to BW. This ‘book’ will provide a snapshot of how BW’s customers perceive the state of the Canal.

Canal Centre refurbishment Funding for the wharf refurbishment has now been sorted and work has started.

A few more helpers would be appreciated, especially someone with a van or trailer who can take to the dump all those items in the stores ‘that might come in handy one day’ but never have.

A list of the work that needs to be done has been produced.

Most of the work can be done single-handed with basic DIY skills.

Please contact Mo at the Wharf Office if you can help.

Special arrangements have been put in place for Santa to be available aboard the Kenavon Venture on our annual Christmas cruises.

Book early to avoid disappointment by giving Jane Clements a ring on 01380 729489.

The branch AGM for next year will be on Saturday 31st March at 7.30 and it is my intention to formally retire as Chairman at this event.

None of the committee wishes to take on this role, so new blood is needed.

The Branch constitution requires the chair to be elected from the committee so new branch members most welcome who would like to fill this role… step forward!

West Wilts John Maciver 01225 812225 Boat builders and repairers Bespoke built narrow and wide beam boats

Holiday hire 2-12 berth Full weeks and short breaks 2 fully equipped and built for disabled use

Full mechanical and electrical services Break down service Agents for Shire and Beta engines Mastervolt energy shop 3M thinsulate insulation Webasto heaters

Quality work by quality craftsman Reading Marine Company Ltd Aldermaston Wharf, Padworth, Reading RG7 4JS 0118 9713666

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T

he weather was kind to us and the crowd turned out for another successful Wharf Show.

Music by ‘Starry Eyes’ set the mood for the event, as they kept us entertained all day — they had some potential superstars in their line-up!

The free boat trips on Barbara McLellan were very

popular; for most, it was their first trip on the boat and, for others it was their first experience on a canal.

Everyone was most impressed and, judging by the demand for trip leaflets, we will be welcoming them back very soon.

The free canoe rides by The Family Adventure Store, Hilperton, were also a big success.

Boat parade The Boat Parade, judged by the BOA Mayor Peter Leach, Mrs Peggy Leach and Mrs Brenda Parry, was entertaining and the highlight of the day.

The prize winners were: Redwing Cup for Best Overall — Bozhinar, Giles Harvey; K&A Canal Trust Trophy for Best Dressed Crew — Poshratz, Robert Francis; Dodwell Cup for Best Handled Boat — Barbara McLellan, helmed by trainee skipper Gill Milner.

A special prize for The Most Entertaining (or was it most Outrageous?) Boat Display was awarded to Roger ‘Steamboat’ Davis in his steam-driven boat Twyte.

Thanks go to everyone who helped out with all the stalls, and crewed the boat.

The Tea Room was particularly busy and Mo Bennie along with her hard-worked volunteers are to be congratulated on their fine efforts.

Sincere thanks go to Andrew Cox who organised the whole event and also to John Shirley who contributed significantly throughout.

Finally, thank you to Sally Boats who generously allowed the use of the Wharf Building area on the opposite side of the cut.

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Butty BRANCH REPORTS

No. 177 Winter 2006

however, just recently Paul Skelton (not Paul S from Bridport!) has been appointed as the new manager.

Carol Service Trip Picture by Robert Francis

We now look forward to the Carol Service trip to Dundas on 2nd December, our highly acclaimed Santa Trips/Charters and, on 13th January 07, our annual dinner at Cumberwell Park, organised by Dave Jupp.

Boats on the wharf at Bradford on Avon for the Wharf Show.

Barbara Mac

Tea Room

‘Barbara McLellan’ has been very busy with capacity passenger loads on some of the Public Trips.

We have also been running two or more charter trips in a day. This demand, plus our sellout Special Trips, have placed great demands on the volunteer crews; however, it’s thanks to their dedication and support, and the unstinting endeavours of the Crew Managers, Dave Jupp and Chris Poulter, that we have been able to meet that challenge.

The Tea Room has also been extremely busy due to its everincreasing popularity; Mo Bennie and her band of willing volunteers have done a super job throughout.

However, Mo resigned at the end of August and we thank her for all the effort she put into the job as Shop Manager; this was a blow to everyone but we wish her well in the future.

In the interim, Dave & Margaret Jupp and Keith & Stella Scott-Green have opened the shop when they could;

The AGM is planned for 10th February 07 and, as a number of committee members have reached their full term of office, we are seeking fresh ideas and new blood to make up a new committee.

There are quite a number of readers out there who have an awful lot to offer the Branch; I should be grateful if you contacted me or any committee member and offered your services and skills.

New Boatmasters and crew for the Barbara Mac

Picture by Helen Mangune

New Boatmasters, from left to right, Keith Vickery, Gill Milner, Tony Neal, Chris Corr and Eric Doel.

F

ive trainee boatmasters, under the tutelage of Geoff Olver, and assisted by Grant Milner successfully passed their MCA examination at the end of October — welcome aboard!

Additionally, new

volunteers have been trained by a small team headed by John Shirley and, after on-the-job training, quite a number of the new recruits are now fully fledged crew members; well done everyone.

David Owen & Co Chartered Accountants and Registered Auditors 17 Market Place Devizes Wiltshire 01380 722211

126 High Street Marlborough Wiltshire 01672 512163

Auditors to The Kennet & Avon Canal Trust 33

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No. 177 Winter 2006

Claverton Pete Dunn 01761 432811

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s we were not able to run this season, we expected our visitor numbers to be down this year as most people would prefer to see the Pump in action.

Despite this, I am happy that we have still attracted a reasonably good flow of visitors.

Most of them have shown a lot of interest in our repairs and they have been able to see the working parties hard at it on every other Sunday throughout the Summer.

Sluice repairs The sluice repairs are progressing at a rapid pace now.

One half is complete and is working well; the second half is almost complete.

There are still a few jobs to be tidied up before we remove the temporary dam completely after a test run and we are also carrying out the normal winter maintenance alongside the sluice repair.

It will be nice to have a more normal running season again next year.

Roy Hawkins — a tribute I have to report the sad death of Roy Hawkins after a long bravely fought illness.

Roy was involved with Claverton for many years and was coincidently Maintenance Co-ordinator during the last time the sluices were partially rebuilt in 1992 and 1993. He was a first class engineer in the true sense of the word. He will be remembered at Claverton for many years to come.

Burbage Crane Next year we are planning to make a start on the Burbage Crane reconstruction.

Agreements are being drawn up this autumn with its owners The Crown Estates — with a view to start dismantling on site in March.

This will be an interesting project and we will be giving

34

regular updates in forthcoming Buttys.

If there is anyone who wants to become involved, please get in touch.

We will be happy to see any new volunteers, whether they want to get involved with the Pumping Station or concentrate just on the Crane.

If you think you’d enjoy it, get in touch.

Bath & Bristol Mike Davis 01225 448576

A

t our recent Branch Committee Meeting, we enjoyed a presentation on the planned developments at the Holburne Museum from the Director, Dr Alexander Sturgis.

Their theme is being expanded to interpreting the building in its natural landscape setting, including the Kennet & Avon Canal, Brunel’s Great Western Railway, the Sydney Gardens Vauxhall and the Pulteney Bathwick Estate.

Holburne plans The plans for the extension of the building itself are magnificent.

Since we moved our Trip Boat ‘Jubilee’ to Brassknocker Basin and closed the Shop at Top Lock, the Trust has had no presence in Bath, which is a major shortcoming as Bath is so important in the life and history of the Canal.

The developments at the Holburne now provide us with the opportunity to rectify this.

Little Venice The physical junction between the Canal and Bath is at Thimble Mill, at the bottom of the Widcombe Flight, but the cultural junction is at Bath’s “Little Venice” in Sydney Gardens, adjacent to the Holburne.

Local residents and tourists will be able to walk down Great Pulteney Street from the city centre and they will be there, and the local Council are keen to encourage this.

Trust role We have a significant role to play in helping the Holburne to

present the Canal, as part of their overall offering.

The ground floor, including that part of the extension, will be cosmopolitan with free entry, and the presentation of the Canal will be merged in with the other elements described above rather than being a discrete area.

The walls of the ground floor extension, at the rear of the existing Georgian Building, will be glass and will open out to the Gardens.

We do not anticipate that there will be many Canal artefacts included; we will rely mainly on photographs and textual explanations, especially of the Bath end of the Canal, and hope to replicate the Interactive Computer-driven Screen from our Museum in Devizes.

New trip boat for Bath?

The artefact is the Canal itself and the challenge of Visitor Management is to draw people out of the Museum and up through the Gardens to “Little Venice” (and vice versa).

We may locate a small trip boat there and Cycle Hire and we will also promote the Bath walks that include the Canal.

Vision of Bath This all fits in admirably with the Vision of Bath, which will be the driving force behind future City Plans. This identifies Bath as a City of Leisure and Health, the unifying theme being Water. The core of this will be the River Avon, and there is an east-west Arc of Culture which hinges on the Holburne at the eastern end. This ties in the Canal neatly with the main theme.

Bi-centenary The developments should be completed by 2010, which is also the bi-Centenary of achieving the throughNavigation of the original Canal construction, when the Widcombe Flight was completed and there was a grand Event staged there with fireworks.

Maybe we will be able to repeat the Event in these circumstances?

Winter events We have two Branch Winter Meetings — on Tuesday, 20th February, the subject will be “The Trust and Enterprise”.

As a member of Trust Council and a Director of our trading arm — Enterprise — I will talk about the way we work together for the good of the K&A. The meeting is at 7.30 pm in St Mary’s Church Hall, Bathwick.

This meeting is being held on Shrove Tuesday, so pancakes will be served with coffee.

On Tuesday, 27th March, our annual Branch AGM will be followed by a Presentation by Michael Lee of his recent trip along the Gota Canal in Sweden, which connects the North Sea (Skaggerak) at Gothenburg with the Baltic Sea at Stockholm.

This is regarded as a National Treasure and is looked after as such.

Both Meetings will be at St Mary’s Church Hall, Bathwick, at 7.30 pm.

We hope to see many Members there and please bring your friends.

The Hall has been refurbished and we can look forward to two pleasant and interesting evenings

Stop at the one-stop service

HONEYSTREET Visit our Wharf on the Long Pound by Honeystreet Bridge for diesel, Calor Gas & coal water & 240 volt electrics overnight moorings pump-out & ‘Porta Potti’ disposal

Gibson’s Boat Services Telephone 01672 851232

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Butty

No. 177 Winter 2006

Reviews

Leonard Pearcey Non-technical book reviews

A Boy Off The Bank

By Geoffrey Lewis First published in 2006 by SGM Publishing ISBN 0-9545624-6-1 222 pages. £7.99 soft cover

The Maggie Kelly

By Marjorie Dunn First published in 2000 by The Hallamshire Press ISBN 1 8747 18 58 X 240 pages. £7.95 soft cover

I

T

n my very first review in these pages, I welcomed this writer’s Starlight (now being adapted for television) with phrases like ‘wonderful evocation of boyhood’, ‘manages to convey family life and the working life of the canal without seeming to stint either’, and ‘a feel-good book with a poignancy warning’.

Sorry to be unoriginal, but ‘ditto’.

His latest book is the story of 10-year-old Michael who tries to escape his drunken father, uncaring mother and the loss of his beloved dog by committing suicide.

‘But all does not go according to plan…’ Once again the research has been painstaking and the wartime period feel seems just right.

I have only one quarrel, and that is with the writing of the dialect/dialogue of the canal folk. Phrases like ‘Oi’ll spell yer in a whoile, h’okay?’ need translating, and when they go on for several pages, well, it interrupts what I referred to last time as the author’s beautiful and convincing flow. But it’s worth persevering.

Tim Wheeldon Technical book reviews

The Inland Waterways Association

by David Blagrove Published in 2006 by Tempus Publishing Ltd ISBN: 0752431587 128 pages. £12.99 Soft Cover I hope there are not many readers of The Butty who are not familiar with the name of David Blagrove.

He is one of the stalwarts of the waterways — living alongside the Grand Union at Stoke Bruerne and having being involved in practically everything to do with the saving and restoration of the canal system.

He can also write in an attractive, easy-to-read manner. This, his ninth book, is an exciting photo journey through the story of the IWA. Like Peter Lindley-Jones’ account of the restoration of the K&A, David Blagrove’s view of the national scene shows what a monumental struggle against overwhelming odds it was.

I imagine that most members of the Trust are also IWA members and we do need reminding of what was done for our benefit. David is thorough in his appreciation of the personalities involved to whom we all owe an enormous debt of gratitude.

The photos in this book (fittingly all black & white and including a goodly number of the K&A) highlight the highs and the lows of the painful years cumulating in the growing — but still insecure — network we have today. A piece of social history.

he second review for this issue takes us even further back in time, almost 100 years in fact, to 1851.

Painstaking research here too, with The Sheffield Knife Book, The Sheffield & Tinsley Canal, Memories of the Sheffield & South Yorkshire Navigation, and the catalogue of The Great Exhibition all recommended for further reading.

That, together with the cover photograph of a keel (sadly not credited), will give you the background to this journey along the canals and rivers between Sheffield and Kingston-upon-Hull.

After the death of his father, Michael, with the help of his sister, struggles to take over the running of the keel (the Maggie Kelly of the title), but their future looks bleak as trade on the canals gradually declines. Until they meet an unusual man and his remarkable family…

The Kennet & Avon Towpath Guide

by Nick Corble Published in 2006 by Tempus Publishing Ltd ISBN: 0752437631 192 pages £12.99 Soft Cover

H

onest Guv, I don’t go looking for mistakes on purpose like — it’s just that they seem to jump out at me.

A guide packed so full of information as this is almost bound to have the odd typo, but it is sad when you find the “Local Newspaper Syndrome” so prominent.

By this I mean that something you know about is inaccurate which makes you wonder about the rest.

So when you find, quote “NOTE: Cyclists need a permit from British Waterways... “or “... .the Romans arrived (in Bath) in AD4-f3. “and discover that the day-boat hire business at Limpley Stoke has the web address of another company… oh dear!

But I mustn’t be so negative must I? This is the most deeply researched book about the K&A since Niall Allsop’s much lamented guide.

There is really an enormous amount of information here but it’s not so much of a cruising guide (the binding doesn’t lend itself to being flattened out) as a book you read before you cruise (or walk, or cycle, or horse ride) and then impress your companions with your breadth of knowledge (the history sections are particularly good). There are some excellent colour photos — some quite unusual — and loads of other pictures and maps throughout the book. So if you’re not a boring old pedant like me — read it.

Books reviewed in The Butty are normally available from the Trust shop on Devizes Wharf or through other Trust shops.

If it is not convenient to visit in person you can use our mail order service by telephoning 01380 729489.

35

the

Butty Letters to the Editor

No. 177 Winter 2006

ANSWERS ON A POSTCARD! Letters on any subject related to the canal are welcome. We want to encourage debate about canal issues. This is your forum to voice Editor, Di Harris your views. Requests for anonymity will be honoured, but no letter will be published unless it arrives with contact details.

Letters should be not more than 300 words and may be edited for reasons of space or clarity. Send letters to the Editor: contact details on page 3.

SECOND TIME ROUND

F

or the record, the Tom Rolt Award 2006 won by The Butty is the second time the magazine has won this award.

The first occasion was in 1994 when I collected the

Award on behalf of the Trust at the IWA’s National Festival & Boat Show held at Walthamstow on the river Stort.

David Harris, London Editor The Butty 1991-94

PEWSEY WHARF PARKING CHARGES

W

ith reference to the Autumn edition of The Butty and the report that BW have installed Pay and Display parking at Pewsey Wharf at the request of Graham Lee who runs The Waterfront Inn at the wharf in property leased from BW. How short sighted can both Mr Lee and BW be? Surely the intention of the canal is to provide a leisure location, which can be enjoyed by all.

Charging for people to park their cars is counter productive to all concerned.

This charge can only have a detrimental effect to both Mr Lee and also the Boatman’s Rest, which also runs a business on the wharf.

People will not pay to park their cars to drink a pint of beer or eat a breakfast or drink a cup of tea.

The charge of £1.00 for 2 hours at Pewsey is twice the cost of parking at Aldermaston.

How does BW work out the cost of parking? Surely the sites are no different.

Both are tarmac surfaces and used by the public for canal-side pursuits.

On a day in September 2006 whilst visiting Aldermaston the payment machine was not working.

36

Jude Argent with the mystery haul from the canal

T

his mystery item got stuck round our prop as we went through Allington Swing Bridge earlier this autumn — and stopped our engine dead.

We spent the next 40 minutes removing it from our prop and dragging it out

Picture by Eric Argent

through the weed hatch.

Can any one identify the object? It looked like horse hair to us.

Eric and Jude Argent nb Joseph

Susie Mercer, Leisure Services Development Manager, British Waterways South West replies I would like to know under what legislation these charges are imposed and what happens to the money collected.

Does it all go on paying a cut to the person BW employs to empty the parking machines?

What happens when someone does not pay or overstays his period?

Is BW going to spend more of our licence fees paying for the relevant police checks and training for wheel clampers operators, as under current legislation all enforcers have to be licensed by government?

What happens next?

Payment for use of mooring spaces, payment for use of locks?

Has BW thought this one out? In a time when costs are going up and grants going down — this charging could have a serious detrimental effect on business along the canal and end up in their tenants going out of business leading to more derelict sites along the canal — or is this what they are hoping and in the long term they the plan to sell these historic sites off as building plots?

Tony Earl nb Bertha

T

he parking charges at Pewsey are different to those at Aldermaston.

This was because Pewsey was set up at rates that we felt to be fair in today’s market, but did not wish to simultaneously change the Aldermaston car park as Pewsey was a trial for a larger, canal-wide scheme.

There is a new car parking system coming into force in December 2006 – which was announced at the User Forum on 24th October — which will set out the new system and charges.

Charges will be uniform across the car parks on the Kennet & Avon Canal.

Although we do not expect the introduction of parking charges to be popular with everybody, it is essential that British Waterways realises its income-generating potential in all areas.

This is clearly set out in British Waterways Vision in ‘Our Plan for the Future’.

Car park charges are now levied by almost all ‘open space’ leisure providers (eg The National Trust, National Parks) and the majority of people are happy to make a contribution to the upkeep of these national assets.

British Waterways is able to charge for parking on its land

via its bye-laws.

The Kennet & Avon Canal Public Transport and Visitor Management Strategy, produced to complement the HLF Conservation Plan, recommended that consideration should be given to charging for parking, both to generate additional revenue to maintain the car parks and towpaths and also to encourage greater use of public transport, transport sharing and the use of cycles.

The new car parking system that is referred to above will be managed by a very well respected parking management company.

This company holds all the necessary accreditations pertinent to this work.

Enforcement will be through a Fixed Penalty system, rather than clamping.

We do not anticipate that the introduction of charging will be detrimental to the number of visitors to the canal. This has not been our experience at other locations either within the South West or across the wider BW network.

We are working closely with businesses situated adjacent to our car parks to ensure that charging does not have a negative impact on their sustainability.

the

Butty Letters to the Editor

No. 177 Winter 2006

BW REFUSE TO GRANT NEW END OF GARDEN MOORINGS ON THE K&A

PLEA FOR QUIET CANALS

I

C

n December 2005, we bought a property in Devizes with canal frontage between Locks 47 and 48 at Caen Hill.

We applied to BW for an end of garden mooring for our 35’ narrowboat which has been rejected on the grounds that “protection of the offside bank is of major priority in line with the Kennet & Avon Conservation Plan.”

We have now exhausted the BW complaints procedure and our only recourse is to the Waterways Ombudsman.

BW tells us that 12 people have been refused moorings and a “significant number (unrecorded)” have enquired about a mooring since the introduction of the new BW moorings strategy in 2005.

Whilst we are all in favour of conservation, we consider that current BW strategy is

fundamentally flawed and nothing in the Conservation Plan, which we have studied, changes this view.

We would be very keen to hear from anyone who has applied to, or approached, BW for a mooring since 2005 and been refused in the hope that there are enough people out there to contest the arbitrary BW approach.

We would also like to hear from anyone who may have been fortunate enough to have been granted permission for a mooring recently, for example where a mooring place already existed following a change of house ownership.

We can be contacted at Caen House, 21/22 Bath Road, Devizes, Wiltshire SN10 2AU

Mike & Lesley Chandler Devizes

ould we make a modest suggestion to British Waterways, which might help canal-side communities ease the problems of generator and engine noise and exhaust pollution from some moored boats.

In our part of Wiltshire the local council marked out some country roads as “quiet lanes” simply to remind drivers to keep disturbance from traffic to a minimum.

We wonder if British Waterways might consider designating stretches of the K&A and other waterways as “quiet canals”.

This would simply be a reminder that the stretch of canal in question, usually in residential areas, is sensitive

to sound and disturbance.

We would hope that most boaters would then be aware and would be happy to co-operate.

Some may feel there are too many signs already but “quiet canals” would need to be modestly sign posted and cost little money.

Noise is increasingly recognised as polluting (even the rail companies have “quiet carriages” nowadays).

As two canal-side residents (one of us also a boat owner) we feel “quiet canals” could make a real difference to everyone’s enjoyment.

Robert CarpenterTurner and Charles Reiss, Honeystreet

YOUR MOORING MAY BE SHORT LIVED

H

ow long do you think BW might go on allowing you to have a mooring?

If you were to move house, do you think that the mooring is a significant part of the value of your property and do you think BW would transfer it to a new owner?

The answers, it appears, are far from positive and likely unpredictable, illogical and even involving corporate dishonesty.

I bought a property at Kingsmanor Wharf, Devizes.

There was an existing “End of Garden” mooring in place.

Application to BW for a continuation was rejected. Over the next year BW provided a series of arguments to justify their decision. There were two which were consistent.

Firstly, there was a claim of bank instability as there had been a slip some 50m away.

The argument put was that the properties 10 m or so from the water’s edge had been built around 15 years ago and the bank was “made up” land and unstable. But the slip occurred just a couple of years ago — shortly after the canal was dredged using a dropped clam bucket. The slip was nonexistent at the top of the bank and the fence erected by the builders at the top of the bank 15 years ago appeared to be in

the same line as when first put there with all the posts vertical.

The slip was greatest from below the water line!

Secondly, BW consistently argued that it was “policy” not to allow new moorings on the off-side (opposite the towpath) bank. Looking up the policy, that was the documentary case — such a policy was written at the time of agreements to fund the dredging.

BW’s web site make it clear they are looking to build marinas — holding at least a hundred boats each.

As far as I can honestly make it, those are the facts.

Oh, just one other thing. The whole matter was put to the Waterways Ombudsman who also rejected my request for a mooring.

JUDGEMENTS AND OPINIONS The slip came from below the water line with the banktop remaining intact. You don’t have to be a qualified and experienced field engineer (which I am), it is just common sense to conclude that this slip was not an inherent instability in the bank but of careless dredging. To suggest otherwise is either technical incompetence or corporate dishonesty (or both).

Consider the question of “policy”. The policy in writing says “new moorings” will be presumed against. Well, I quoted two new mooring within a few hundred meters and this was not, repeat not, a new mooring. Refusal on these grounds was, again, corporate dishonesty. It is interesting to note that the Ombudsman accepted that “the policy had been updated by BW”. I presume especially for my benefit. Shame on the lot of you.

Consider BW’s website and the “at least a hundred boats”.

Well, on a fine day in Spring, a significant number would emerge from such a site at a single point”. From an ecological point of view, maximising the traffic at a point would maximise environmental impact. So BW is either professionally incompetent or again guilty of corporate dishonesty. I favour definitely both here. There is a better alternative; have small, farmbased marinas every 3 or 4 miles and spread the traffic to minimise environmental damage.

I suspect that BW has a hidden agenda and thinks it can raise more money from large marinas and fancies itself as property developers rather than

optimising the amenity of the canal for those people who wish to live along the canal, maintain its banks and really cherish it (well, some of us do!).

CONCLUSIONS I really do find BW environmentally incompetent and, frankly, dishonest. They are certainly unhelpful and waste their resources on wandering around with rather silly and inconsistent argument.

Shame on BW and on the Ombudsman. By the way, I was brought up to believe that the purpose of government in a democracy was to serve the people, not the other way round. We, the people, own BW and pay all their salaries. I am getting very fed up with government departments, QUANGOES, Agencies and other bodies spending our money being, apparently, not answerable to anyone.

Now, if you think your mooring is secure long term, even if you sell the property — do nothing. If there is a niggling doubt in your mind, write to BW asking for the facts, long term.

Go on — it’s your waterway, too.

Bill Butterworth Devizes 37

the

Butty

No. 177 Winter 2006

What’s On Diary January Saturday 13th Devizes Branch, the ever-popular “I’ve Survived Christmas” party.

Canal Centre, Devizes Wharf.

Contact Alice on 01380 724701 or alicebf2@aol.com Saturday 13th West Wilts Branch, Annual Dinner, Cumberwell Park, Bradford On Avon, 7 pm for 7.30 pm. Please append your names to the list in Crew Room, and complete the menu selection sheet and return with cheque to Dave Jupp asap.

Friday 19th IWA Avon & Wiltshire Branch, 2007 Branch Dinner, The Terrace Room, Bristol Golf Club, Almondsbury, 7 pm for 7.30pm.

Tickets from Geoff Harman on 0117 9623812 Friday 26th Reading Branch, ‘Watermills on the Kennet’, talk by Brian Eighteen, Turnhams Farm Hall, Tilehurst, 7.30pm for 8.00pm Wednesday 31st Newbury Branch, ‘Have boat: will travel II’, illustrated talk by David Saady. 7.45pm, The Stone Building, Newbury Wharf

February Saturday 10th West Wilts Branch, AGM, The Holy Trinity Church, Church St, Bradford On Avon, 7.30 pm.

Tuesday 13th K&A Canal Users Group, Canal Centre, Devizes Wharf, 7.30pm

Items for the agenda to be sent 2 weeks before the meeting to Gail.WILKES@britishwaterways. co.uk" Saturday 17th Devizes Branch, evening of Canal Crafts including a demonstration of fender-making, painting canalware, making a canalwoman’s bonnet, pottery and crochet. Canal Centre, Devizes Wharf, 7.30pm.

Admission £1.00. This event is open to the public.

Tuesday 20th Bath Branch, ‘The Trust and Enterprise’, Trust Council member and Enterprise Board member Michael Davis explores the relationship between The Kennet & Avon Canal Trust and our trading arm, Enterprise.30 pm, St Mary’s Church Hall, Bathwick.

Friday 23rd Reading Branch, Architecture of the Greek Island of Tinos, by Derek Cann, Turnhams Farm Hall, Tilehurst, 7.30pm for 8.00pm Wednesday 28th Newbury Branch, ‘The Dorset & Somerset Canal’, illustrated talk

by Derrick Hunt. 7.45pm, The Stone Building, Newbury Wharf

March

Mid March Reading Branch, Branch Dinner, date & location tbc. For Further information ring Mike Wyatt 0118 942 7708 Thursday 15th IWA Avon & Wiltshire Branch, “Fruit flies like bananas” by Steve Hayward, The Civic Centre, Station Road, Wootton Bassett, Nr Swindon. Contact Geoff Harman on 0117 9623812 Tuesday 27th Bath Branch, Branch AGM, followed by Presentation of the Swedish Gota Canal by Michael Lee, 7.30 pm, at St Mary’s Church Hall, Bathwick.

Wednesday 28st Newbury Branch, ‘Waterways past & present, illustrated talk Derek Pratt. 7.45pm, The Stone Building, Newbury Wharf Friday 30th Reading Branch, Branch AGM (hopefully very short) followed by ‘Curiosities in the Chilterns’, Alan Copeland, the celebrated photographer, Turnhams Farm Hall, Tilehurst, 7.30pm for 8.00pm start Saturday 31st Devizes Branch, Canal Clear-Up. Much more fun than it sounds!

Meet 10.00am at the Wharf.

Equipment provided. Bring gloves.

Saturday 31st Devizes Branch, Branch AGM followed by a talk on the birdlife of the Vale of Pewsey, Canal Centre, Devizes Wharf.

April Wednesday 25st Newbury Branch, AGM and ‘Wey & Arun Canal restoration update’,

by Jim Phillips OBE. 7.45pm, The Stone Building, Newbury Wharf

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Boat Trips

NW & J

Briggs

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www.kennetcruises.co.uk

the

Butty

No. 177 Winter 2006

PRIZE CROSSWORD The prize for the winner of this crossword will be a video from the Trust’s Shop. Two runners-up will get £10 voucher to be used in the shop. Send your entries with your name and address to: Prize Crossword, Kennet & Avon Canal Trust, Canal Centre, Couch Lane, Devizes SN10 1EB before 1st February 2007. Photocopies will be accepted.

The Butty Prize Crossword No 177 Name . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Address . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..................................... ..................................... .....................................

Across 1.

Colourless pachyderm is an unwanted possession. (5,8) 8.

Bound over but conceals release. (4) 9.

Proclaiming bar fish surrounds one call for silence. (10) 10. Ocean’s awful place for conch, perhaps. (8) 11. Sickness of boy in spring month. (6) 13. Incite dust car to change into shade of yellow. (3,7) 16. Amphibious exemplar of inebriation. (4) 17. Zeus’s wife resides within another area. (4) 18. Dirty powder covers the covers. (10) 20. Moves very slowly to islands. (6) 22. Gave an undertaking to correct dim prose. (8) 24. Noticed cricketer’s side when time of departure from duty was registered. (7,3) 26. Singer on a frolic? (4) 27. Finish for woollen garment? It’ll cover suture. (7,6)

Butty Crossword 175 Solution

Down 1.

Plant providing medicinal oil has seasonal colour. (11) 2.

Pop stars perhaps – they’re certainly improbably solid. (5) 3.

Stated that former wife ironed clothes. (9) 4.

Boil ale energetically for plant. (7) 5.

Wilde’s fictional governess can split light. (5) 6.

Tree fair shows silver white hair. (3-6).

7.

Can reversed unit reveal element. (3) 12. Feathers near ground? It’s practical. (4-2-5) 14. Tea, tea, tea dance! (3-3-3) 15. Disconcert old man initially with convulsion after pop party. (9) 19. Drink, drink! It’s a prop. (7) 21. Address is South Hill. (5) 23. Pastel nib used in reverse reveals bay. (5) 25. Scientists’ workplace is initially like airless box. (3)

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Dorset & Somerset Canal “The Canal that never was”. A talk on the D&SC “Friends, foes, families, feuds, finance & failure”. Derrick Hunt 01225 863066

Roses & Castles Painting courses at Devizes Wharf Canal Centre. 1-day course (£35).

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For more details and dates, contact: 01793 615898 (evenings) or email spengi@ntlworld.com

Unclassified ads are free for members of The Kennet & Avon Canal Trust for up to 30 words subject to available space 39

Mail Order Form Please send me Notelets

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K&A Videos

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K&A Canal videos

A Boy off the Bank . . . . . . £9.95 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

The IWA . . . . . . . . . . . . . £15.00 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

The K&A Towpath Guide. . £15.00 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Canal maps Timeline Swindon/Devizes . £7.04 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

OS Swindon/Devizes . . . . . £8.05 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Maps

Geoprojects K&A map . . . . £5.50 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Bookmarks Leather K&A bookmarks . . £5.50 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (state colour)

Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Leather bookmarks

All prices include P&P and VAT if applicable Delivery address Name. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Address . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ......................................... ......................................... .........................................

Post code . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

I enclose cheque/PO (payable to Kennet & Avon Canal Trust (Enterprise) Ltd. Please debit my Mastercard/Visa/Switch/Delta/Maestro

K&A Canal Cross stitch sampler

Card No: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Expiry date: . . . . . . . . . . . . / ....................

Switch issue number: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Security code: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Signature of cardholder. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Or phone 01380 729489 (office hours) with your credit card details Name. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Address . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Postcode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Please allow 28 days for delivery Send your completed order to:

Kennet & Avon Canal Trust (Enterprise) Ltd Canal Centre, Couch Lane, Devizes, Wiltshire SN10 1EB

Canal books These books are reveiwed on page 35 of this issue of The Butty

Comprehensive book list available (please send SAE)