Byfleet Boat Club

Happy New Year,

Following an appeal from NABO and IWA I wrote to my MP ahead of the interparliamentary debate on funding of the waterways. Part of my letter is reproduced here:

“As a boat owner on the River Wey, I feel it is vital that the waterways in public ownership managed by the EA and CRT receive adequate financial support. Since the pandemic we have seen a huge increase in the use of the waterways in Surrey for such outdoor activities as walking, running, cycling, fishing, sailing, canoeing, paddleboarding as well as boating. The benefits are obvious.

However, the inactivity of the EA (as well as their management of The Thames waterways) has led to the deterioration of our local waterways, for example in the proliferation of invasive species on the River Wey. (see front cover) All the amenities offered by the Waterways are now under threat. Please will you raise this with the DEFRA Minister with responsibility for the inland waterways, Rebecca Pow MP, as a matter of urgency, an d bring to her attention all the benefits of the waterways mentioned above as reasons why the inland waterways in general, and CRT in particular, should continue to receive funding from government into the future”.

The result? Rebecca Pow, recently re app ointed as the DEFRA Minister with responsibility for waterways in England and Wales, responded to the debate, but was unable to confirm any timescale for the announcement of DEFRA’s review into CRT’s funding, saying only that “the outcomes… will be announc ed forthwith”

Mike Chamberlain, Editor of By The Wey

Chichester Ship Canal Trust

Preparing contributions for the newsletter has given us the opportunity to reflect on our bicentenary anniversary year. What a year of celebration, community and partnership, and we finished on a high with Christmas illuminations and a full schedule of ev er-popular Father Christmas trips. We received such wonderful feedback all through the year, due to the hard work of all volunteers and small staff team. We’d like to thank every single person, however you were involved, who made 2022 such a success. 2022 really helped to raise our profile as a key organisation in the cultural and heritage sector in the city, with many people discovering us for the first time. Partnerships created will continue to flourish through 2023. A couple of my personal highlights are our recent invitation to join the newly formed Chichester Family Arts Network, and our registration as a “Warm Space”, for any member of the community.

We have welcomed many new members and volunteers through 2022, and are very grateful for their support. 2022 has been our year of "returning to normality" after the pandemic, and it is pleasing to say that the finances of both Trust and Trading support that. Our shoreside operations continue to thrive. Our sales from the café, licences, and rowboats, are 10% higher than 2021, and a fantastic 25% above 2019. We continue to be a popular outdoor destination for refreshment and exercise in Chichester and surrounds.

Trip boat operations were the most constrained area of our busine ss over the last couple of years; however, we are now well on the way to returning to previous levels of customer demand and activity levels, including the ever -popular Father Christmas trips. Sales in 2022 were more than double the previous year, and at about 70% of 2019.

In 2022, we completed the latest phase of canal banks restoration, utilising the funds raised for that sole purpose in the successful 2020/21 campaign. This means that all of the Trust funds at the end of 2022 are "unrestricted", and available for other canal projects. The Trustees and Trading Directors are working closely together to determine the best use of these funds. Our volunteers designed and installed a new sign on the bridge at Hunston, to raise awareness of the famous Turner image. Imagine our delight when that famous Turner image was returned to the city (for the first time in almost 200 years) as part of the Pallant House Gallery “Sussex Landscape” exhibition. The exhibition is open until 23rd April and is well worth a visit. As is the Exhibition at the Novium Museum on our 200 year history, open until 26th March. www.chichestercanal.org.uk

Photos Courtesy: Dave Standley

Kennet & Avon Canal News

Newbury Branch

In Newbury preparations for the 2023 boating season are well underway. As always, new volunteer crew for our tripboat Jubilee are welcome. If you are interested or would like to find out more - email us at jubilee@katrust.org.uk . Training will be in late March ready for the start of our trips on Easter Sunday 9 th April. Our public trips are on Saturdays and Sundays and Bank Holidays at 12 noon and 2pm from April to Oc tober; and on Thursdays at 2pm from April to September. We will also be running special themed trips. For further details and to book online please visit www.jubilee.katrust.org.uk. As well as our public trips, we offer private charter trips so get in touch if you would like your next party onboard Jubilee.

The Newbury Branch AGM will take place on 19th April at 7.30pm at the Stone Building in Newbury. Everyone is welcome to come along; you don’t have to be a member to attend. After the formal business, a local historian will give a talk about the history of the Kennet Navigation, which has its 300th anniversary this year. For further details contact Julian Foley newbury.chairman@katrust.org.uk .

Sarah Foley

Future Events

Sun 9th Apr: Start of new boating season.

Tues 19th Apr, 7.30pm: K&A (Newbury) AGM, Stone Building Newbury

Reading Branch

Chairman’s Report

Hello again, Wishing you an enjoyable new year. Hopefully you have had a great Christmas and have survived the frozen temperatures of the first couple weeks of the new year.

We had some heavy rain recently which has spilled over onto the water meadow and raised the levels of the waterway. Fobney lock was shut with water spilling over the top gates. The red boards were (Figuratively) up and the current certainly made it not sensible for boats. Many of the paths and walkways have become covered with a couple of inches of water, as you might expect across a water meadow. Shortly after we have seen the still water of the canal freeze over, and the ducks skidding about on the slippery surface. The thaw is now starting and we are beginning to see the early spring plants pushing thr ough as green growth; we have also had a couple of moles pushing up in the side of Southcote Lock. I am hoping to join the CRT walk along the Kennet out of Reading on the 2nd of February. I thought it would be a nice way to start the 300th Anniversary year of The Kennet Navigation. This was opened in 1723, long before John Rennie connected it to the Avon around a 100 years later.

We are beginning to plan for this year’s Water Fest on Saturday 10th June, and have contacted the Huntley Wharf Developers to make sure the walkway is going to be open so we can once again enjoy the Riverside Walk down to the Bel & the Dragon. We plan to have an exhibition in the Turbine House, and hopefully return of involvement from the restaurant once the pathway is open. And HOT OFF THE PRESS the Newbury Trip Boat Jubilee will be making a welcome return. If anyone is interested in being a passenger on the trip, to or from Newbury, contact me, and I will put you in touch with the boatmaster. We have spoken to the Waterways Poet Laureate Roy McFarland and hope that he will be at Water Fest. Watch this space!

We are looking to join Reading Rescue “River and Environmental Spaces Clean Up Event”, the Litter clearing exercise that has been dealing with rubbish along the waterway twice a year since 1989. This is being organised by Connect Reading info@connectreading.co.uk . Reading branch will join in with the use of Matilda Too to pick out the floating debris around Reading Town Centre. It’s also a great way of enhancing the s kills of the helm, manoeuvring the boat in ways that are different to the run of the mill trip route. We are looking to generate some interest in improving the access, environment, and facilities of the Kennet and Avon Canal, specifically, the first mile, from its confluence with the Thames up to County Lock. This section of the navigation comes under the auspices of two District councils (Reading & Wokingham) and two different water authorities (Environmental Agency for the Thames, and the Canal and River Trust).

Like many things that have multiple key players often the first step is left to the other parties. Historically The Kennet and Avon Canal Trust is the organisation who rallied, campaigned and worked to restore the waterway from being virtually abandoned to the active navigation it is today. We are looking to be the catalyst to get the navigation improved, appreciated and cared for in Reading.

At the moment boats (hire boats and private leisure boats), avoid Reading and move their holiday and business on to Henley, Pangbourne, Marlow etc... We have had discussions with the local hire boat company and three local marinas and believe Reading centre businesses are losing over 2 million pounds a y ear due to this at best indifferent, and at worst hostile reception of leisure boaters and canal users.

The recent Water Fest revealed that many of the councillors, including the Mayor, w ere not aware of the reputation and avoidance that the boating commu nity has around Reading.

We (KACT) Reading Branch have a new trip boat working over this first mile and have been amazed at the reception we have had from our passengers. Perhaps one of the more surprising perceptions has been that many believe that the waterway running from Blakes Lock through the Oracle to County Lock is The Thames!

Most large towns and Cities seem to welcome the boating community and the colour and vibrance...and revenue it tends to bring. This doesn't seem to be the case at the moment in Reading.

We are planning to use the trip boat to enable the councillors and other interested parties to experience this 1st mile in its current state and to spark the conversation as to how it can be improved. To paraphrase Daniel Defoe “Reading…on Kennet and oh so near the Thames” from “A tour thro' the whole island of Great Britain” - Daniel Defoe 1724.

We have a lot of activity at Aldermaston Wharf. The Trust has found a new team to operate the Tea Room. This is a new venture for Liz and Siobhan, who have a good background in catering, and have some great ideas to make an exc iting addition to the canal side. The plan is to open by April ready for the big test of the Easter bank holiday and the Devizes to Westminster canoe race. I think it will be well worth taking a trip down to the wharf.

At the same time as finding new operators for the tea room we have had the wash/toll house renovated by the specialist builders “Kingsmen construction” who have done some amazing work to renovate and repair the building , restoring the brick work, and the roof tiles and timbers. The building is now water tight and stable. The door and windows replaced or renovated. We are now working to provide information and displays to make the information centre a worthwhile destination. Canal and River Trust have offered to provide some of the arti facts that we are hoping to display and we are planning the visitor centre will be open in line with the tea room opening. Our branch meetings continue to be held on the Humber Barge at the Bel & the Dragon on the 3rd Tuesday of the month starting around 7 .30pm. We will also join up on a zoom session, so more distant folks can enjoy the discussions. We have a fantastic bunch of speakers lined up , we have Steve Bacon from the Wilts and Berks Canal Trust on the 21st March, a speaker from the Litchfield and Hatherton Canal Restoration Trust on 18th April, and Paul Fitt talking on the restoration of Nb Lancing on the 16th May. This will lead in to Water Fest celebrating 300 years of the Kennet Navigation, and the summer break. If you would be interested in attending, please contact me.

Keep well and look after each other.

Future Events

Graham Puddephatt

Entry donation to Meetings, including K&A members, £2.50 (to help with expenses). All meeting start at 7.30pm and further details can be found on the Website at www.katrust.org.uk

Tues 21st Mar: Steve Bacon from the Wilts and Berks Canal Trust.

Tues 18th Apr: A speaker from Lichfield & Hatherton Canal Restoration Trust

Tues 16th May: Paul Fitt talking on the restoration of NB Lancing

Crofton Beam Engines

End Of Season Message

Crofton Beam Engines and the pay and display car park are closed for the winter. We plan to open again for spring 2023, dates are to be confirmed, so keep an eye on social media and the website for updates. We will be carrying out essential winter maintenance during the closed season and will be open on some Saturdays for Winter Works Open Days. A chance to see what goes on behind the scenes over the winter period. We hope to see you there!

Please visit our website for up to date information on our Winte r Works Open Days: www.katrust.org.uk

Photo: Crofton Beam Engine Website

Maidenhead Waterways

It was with regret that we had to cancel at short notice our planned Waterways Family Fun Day on September 17th following Her Majesty’s passing. Fortunately , we have been able to set a new date for April 22nd, with our sponsors and most stalls and entertainers happy to roll over their bookings. With lots more space available from a road closure, we expect an even bigger event than the inaugural Waterways Fun Day, which celebrated completion of the first phase of the restored waterway. In December we made a further addition to our “fleet” of service boats, with the purchase of a new 3.9 m flat bottomed heavy duty aluminium work boat from Seastrike, complete with outboard. After problems with blanket weed during last summer’s heatwave, a removable bespoke weed rake was jointly designed by Seastrike and ourselves and is now able to be used on the new work boat to rake up excess weed whenever we want to, reducing the need for costly contractors. With the weed rake attached (pictured raised) it does remind me a bit of the Bond villain “Jaws”, but the new work boat is already proving invaluable for its space, stability and robustness. It is now in regular use by volunteers for clearing litter from the water, cutting back encroaching brambles and removing excess weed. May sees local elections in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead (and a Coronation..!!) so we are once again seeking support from all the main parties to continue to progress the waterways project when/if they are elected. A rather controversial new Borough Local Plan has just been adopted, which envisages M aidenhead taking c70% of all housing growth in the borough, leading to an increase of c40% in the town’s overall population. Significant parts of the Green Belt are being released to allow the scale of development planned. Realising in full the potential of the green and blue corridor that the waterway represents for Maidenhead’s growing population is now even more important, for the enjoyment, health and wellbeing of people and wildlife alike.

As part of our long term aspiration to connect the restored waterway to the Thames at Bray, we were delighted to host another weekend long visit this month (January) from the BITM (Bit in the Middle) branch of the IWA’s Waterway Recovery Group. Fourteen volunteers drawn from all over the SE, with Tirfor winches and chainsaws spent the weekend hauling out and cutting back fallen trees from Bray Cut which obstruct the public right of navigation and also aggravate flood risk. We plan to invite them again in the autumn, after the nesting season, to continue this important work.

Richard Davenport, Chair of the Trustees