IWA Waterways Magazine - Autumn 2023 - No 281

Issue 281 • Autumn 2023

waterways www.waterways.org.uk

Our waterways

in crisis Reduced Government funding threatens their future

Montgomery canal Another restoration milestone reached

New guides

Silver Propeller challenge

6 new locations to explore

Denver Crossing, Electric-drive narrowboats and River Parrett

PLUS

The benefits of our waterways

How they generate income and employment opportunities Cover-final.indd 14

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Autumn 2023 Contents

Issue 281 • Autumn 2023

waterways www.waterways.org.uk

Our waterways

in crisis

Montgomery canal

Silver Propeller challenge

Denver Crossing, Electric-drive narrowboats and River Parrett

Reduced Government funding threatens their future

Another restoration milestone reached

New guides

6 new locations to explore

9

p5 Welcome Les Etheridge (National Chair)

p6 message from our ceo Introducing Sarah Niblock

PLUS

p9 News Round up of all the happenings in the IWA and beyond

The benefits of our waterways

How they generate income and employment opportunities Cover-final.indd 14

18/07/2023 11:04

COVER PICTURE: Braunston Stop House on the Grand Union Canal.

p18 Waterways for Today Exploring their financial benefits and employment opportunities

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p22 Love Your Waterways We pay tribute to IWA campaigner Alison Smedley WATERWAYS EDITOR: Ross Stokes Tel: 01283 742962 E-mail: r.stokes@wwonline.co.uk

p25 Challenge at Yaxley Navigating the Middle Levels

ART EDITOR: Claire Davis ADVERTISEMENT MANAGER: Laura Smith Tel: 01283 742956 E-mail: l.smith@wwonline.co.uk

p26 Our waterways in crisis Join our Protect Our Waterways campaign

ADVERTISING DESIGN: Jo Ward ADVERTISING PRODUCTION: Samantha Furniss E-mail: s.furniss@wwonline.co.uk REPROGRAPHICS: Waterways World Ltd, 151 Station Street, Burton-on-Trent, Staffordshire, DE14 1BG. Printed in England by Warners (Midlands) PLC, Bourne, Lincs Articles may be reproduced provided permission is obtained and acknowledgement made.

ISSN 0969-0654 A non-profit distributing company limited by guarantee (612245), Registered as a Charity (No. 212342) Founded: 1946, Incorporated 1958 Registered Office: Unit 16B, Chiltern Court, Asheridge Road, Chesham, Buckinghamshire, HP5 2PX Tel: 01494 783453 E-mail: iwa@waterways.org.uk Website: www.waterways.org.uk National Chair - Les Etheridge Company Secretary – Vedy Reddy For press enquiries please contact: pressoffice@waterways.org.uk All IWA national and branch committee volunteers can be contacted by email: firstname.lastname@waterways.org.uk Nothing printed in Waterways may be construed as policy or an official announcement unless stated, otherwise IWA accepts no liability for any matter in the magazine. Although every care is taken with advertising matters no responsibility whatsoever can be accepted for any matter advertised. Where a photo credit includes a note such as CC-BY-SA, the image is made available under that Creative Commons licence; full details at www.creativecommons.org

Winter 2018 Contents-Final.indd 3

p30 Montgomery restoration Historic canal achieves another milestone

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p32 Branch Focus IWA activities in the West Country Seven reasons why your membership contribution is vital 1. IWA Canal Clean-ups led by our branches keep many waterways clear of debris 2. Restoration is kept high priority through funding for the Waterway Recovery Group 3. Over 10,000 days of volunteering each year will be supported with the right training, tools and materials

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4. IWA can campaign to defend the waterways from unwelcome development 5. We can pass on traditional skills and workbased experience for volunteering young people 6. We can lobby the Government and work with other organisations to repair, improve and protect our waterways heritage 7. Your voice is counted when IWA speaks up for all those who enjoy the country’s canals and rivers

IWA Waterways |

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Autumn 2023 17/07/2023 09:07

Welcome

from les etheridge, national chair

Protect Our Waterways Fund Britain's Waterways – a time for action My apologies for repeating some words from my last column when I said: “The formation of IWA provided the opportunity for people to come together and the vast support demonstrated to Government how many people cared! We need to do the same again so I appeal to everybody with an interest to support Protect Our Waterways so that we can prevent them falling once more into a sad state of decay and dereliction.”

Since I wrote these words, we have been establishing the Fund Britain’s Waterways (FBW) action group which is working to bring the entire waterways family together.

The sole purpose of FBW is to bring together the widest possible group of organisations and individuals, independent of navigation authorities, to campaign collectively for an increase in Government funding of Britain’s inland waterways to avert their decline, and to promote awareness of the huge economic, environmental and social well-being value they provide.

The response has been remarkable, despite initially only being trialled with a small number of organisations, and I am delighted that IWA is taking the lead in FBW by providing the secretariat, and I am honoured to be chairing the steering group. At the time of writing, over 50 organisations representing hundreds of thousands of people had signed up. I believe this

Autumn 2023 welcome-Final.indd 5

number will increase very quickly as we invite others to join us. Please let us know of any organisation you think we should invite by emailing info@ fundbritainswaterways.org.uk. The more organisations and people who support FBW, the more politicians will listen to us.

So what is FBW planning to do?

A number of funding campaign cruises are being planned, the first being on 12th-13th August around the Mailbox in Birmingham. We are working on getting television coverage for the event so that we can emphasise how the importance of waterways goes well beyond boaters. In addition, we are looking at a petition and other political activities. If there are actions you think we should be taking, please do tell us.

While the initial activities may look to be very focused on CRT navigations, FBW is much wider as all navigation authorities have major challenges exacerbated by inflation and the added risks and costs that climate change is creating.

IWA has long talked about Waterways for All and with the support of the waterways family through FBW, I believe the IWA Protect Our Waterways campaign can be successful. This will not be an easy or quick win. IWA has always been and continues to be a tenacious beast and this is a fight we simply cannot lose as we must Protect Our Waterways.

IWA Waterways |

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A message from the CEO, Sarah Niblock Hello, I’m Sarah and I am delighted to have joined IWA as your new CEO. Rather than type this introduction at a desk, I’m perched with a laptop beside the Caen Hill Locks in Wiltshire, while out on my morning walk on this sparkling summer’s day.

As many readers will know well, it’s an awe-inspiring monumental testament to the passion and determination of campaigners, the results of their endeavours enjoyed not only by boaters but by individuals and businesses far and wide.

The waterways renaissance has been one of the UK’s biggest success stories of the past 50 years on all levels. It is actually hard to find the words to express how devastated we feel and how fearful we are for the future in the wake of the Government’s decision to reduce its grant agreement with the Canal & River Trust.

It appears that ministers haven’t heeded their own Government’s data on the sheer scale of benefits offered by the waterways to our economy, ecology and wellness as set out in numerous reports.

I grew up on the Wirral peninsula surrounded on three sides by the Mersey, Dee and Liverpool Bay. As a reporter for the Liverpool Echo newspaper, I wrote about the development of the city’s Albert Dock from near dereliction to a thriving business, residential and leisure hub. To the south, Ellesmere Port Boat Museum was a magnet to me.

When work necessitated relocating to London, I knew I could only thrive on water so we bought a 40ft Springer, my metropolitan sanctuary.

Boating hasn’t been my only waterways pastime, though. I’ve run (sort of!) the Thames Path Ultramarathon, done a mindfulness weekend besides the Montgomery Canal, and watched wildlife on the Monmouthshire and Brecon.

None of that would have been possible without the work of IWA to bring many of these previously hidden places out of the shadows.

My mission now is to engage new members and supporters from across the spectrum of waterways users – which, let’s face it, means millions of ordinary people like us – to recognise this, join and lend their voices to our urgent campaigns.

I’m excited and hopeful that we can make an impact because of the phenomenal expertise, commitment and tenacity I’ve encountered among our volunteers within IWA. I am determined to use my skills, experience and collaborations to promote the incredible benefits of the waterways far and wide. Using my professional background, skillset and contacts, I want to inspire as many people as possible to join our mission – individuals, groups and businesses.

Outside of my part-time role at IWA, I’m a visiting professor in psychology and an advisor to Imperial College London’s Climate Cares research team.

I’ve been campaigning for more recognition of non-medicinal approaches to mental health and the well-evidenced benefits of blue and green spaces.

Hundreds of studies show that time near water – by rivers, canals, even park fountains – is more restorative than we ever thought possible. No wonder so many people are clamouring to live, work and play here – people who should be our members and donors.

It’s glaringly obvious that we face similar challenges to our predecessors decades before. The continued underfunding of the waterways belies a continued lack of understanding of their astonishing benefits – economic, ecological, societal and personal. But if we can hammer home the facts to parliamentarians and policymakers, backed by strong public support, then I am hopeful we can change hearts and minds.

As I look around at this iconic landmark on the Kennet & Avon, restored and reopened in 1990, I feel tremendous pride and a lot of responsibility in carrying the IWA torch forward, mindful of the dedication of countless officers and volunteers since 1946.

As one of our members put it so brilliantly, we have to protect the past to create a better future.

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“Hundreds of studies show that time near water – by rivers, canals, even park fountains – is more restorative than we ever thought possible.”

The Ashby Canal trail.

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17/07/2023 13:40

Waterways News

Government's Waterways Funding Cuts will hit UK Economy, Ecology and Health

Sue O'Hare

IWA is concerned about the thousands of jobs, health and well-being benefits and nature habitats that could be lost if our canals and rivers fall into disrepair due to Government funding cuts following an announcement from Defra in July.

Our volunteers stopped the canal network from being concreted over in the 1950s and, since then, have supported and helped the restoration of 500 miles of navigable waterways with the opportunity to transform another 500 miles.

It’s estimated that 80,000 jobs are directly connected to Britain’s waterways, from canalside cafés to major housing, sporting and leisure developments, which collectively contribute £1.5bn annually to the economy.

IWA issued a press release following the announcement and is now urging its members and supporters to write to their MPs to object to the Government’s announcement that it will reduce its maintenance and repair grant funding by more than £300m in real terms over the next decade.

Our National Chair, Les Etheridge, said: “Our waterways system is in very real danger of disappearing. If parts of the network fall into disrepair or close, this will be at the cost of the hundreds, if not thousands, of businesses that rely daily on waterways users.”

He emphasised that Defra has cut Canal & River Trust funding at a time when the bill for maintaining these precious assets is actually growing exponentially, not falling, due to climate change and inflation: “Adverse weather events such as hot dry spells and storms have already damaged heritage buildings and structures and resulted in alarming rises in fish deaths in canals, where still water is particularly vulnerable to oxygen depletion. At a time like this, the Government should be protecting nature and wildlife, not turning its back on it.”

Defra’s reduced grant allocation to Canal & River Trust has come in spite of much evidence accepted by the Government showing that blue-green spaces deliver substantial benefits to the economy, to individuals and communities, and to nature and biodiversity.

Our CEO, Professor Sarah Niblock, said: “We’re representing the needs of millions of people in the UK who rely on the waterways for their mental and physical health as well as for work, commuting and leisure. Among the people who will be worst hit by any decline will be those who are already most vulnerable such as those living in deprived areas, most of which have waterways running through them.

Lancaster Canal Old Tram Bridge, Preston,October 2022.

Autumn 2023 News-Final.indd 9

Newlay Lock, Leeds & Liverpool Canal.

CRT Closure notice, Dee Branch, April 2023.

In urban areas, the waterways offer some of the only glimpses of nature we get, as well as a space for different parts of the community to interact.”

The Environment Agency, which is funded mainly by Defra, received less than half the expected grant in aid funding which pays for their operational staff, maintenance work and major asset improvement or replacement projects.

Prof Niblock added: “Our inland waterways offer an incredible solution to many societal challenges – economic regeneration, addressing the mental-health crisis, building community cohesion as well as mitigating the effects of climate change. The cost-benefit analysis of investment is irrefutable but it’s as if the Government is now turning its back on this.”

All of Britain’s waterways require considerable investment to maintain but, with some canals dating back 250 years, ageing infrastructure and the growing impact of climate change will lead to increasing repair backlogs and inevitable closures of sections of the waterways.

Mr Etheridge said: “We’re already seeing increasing and extended levels of closures and each one of those impacts businesses relying on passing trade.”

The Defra offer of £400m over 10 years averages out as grant funding of £40m per year from 2028 to 2037, compared with the current £52.6m per year. At the level of spend on operating, maintaining and repairing waterways reported by CRT for 2021/22, IWA estimates that with an average grant reduction of £12.6m per year, the funding cuts would mean: • being unable to carry out winter maintenance on 586 miles of waterway; • being unable to operate, maintain and repair 156 miles of waterway; • that 50% of the spend on reservoirs will be unfunded.

Mr Etheridge said that the renaissance and popularity of the waterways is due in no small part to the work of tireless campaigners and volunteers over the past 75-plus years, but that could soon be consigned to history.

IWA is running a campaign, Protect Our Waterways, and is also a founding member of Fund Britain’s Waterways (FBW), a coalition of organisations representing hundreds of thousands of users and supporters of inland waterways. See page 27 to learn more.

IWA Waterways |

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Waterways News

Six new Silver Propeller locations added IWA’s Silver Propeller Challenge was set up to encourage visitors to the less well-used parts of the system, in boats of all sizes. To complete the challenge, visit 20 locations or more and then let us know.

This year, six new locations have been added, from Scotland to Kent, inviting exploration of some underused but fascinating corners of the waterways system.

Rutherglen Take an adventurous trip up the River Clyde and see Glasgow from a new angle, by boat or canoe, and enjoy spectacular views ‘doon the watter’. Although visiting leisure craft are scarce, the tidal river through the city is regularly used by members of the Rutherglen Cruising Club, many of whom moor up at the club moorings for the winter and head off down the Clyde for each summer spent along the west coast of Scotland.

The club was formed in the 1930s when the Old Pals Club and the Strathclyde Boat Club amalgamated. The club’s home moorings were next to a slaughterhouse on the riverbank near to where the Thomas Seath shipbuilding yard was located.

Access to the River Clyde from the connected Lowland Canal System is via Bowling, and then head upstream.

Stirling Take a scenic cruise along the River Forth and visit the historic city of Stirling by boat or canoe and enjoy the Scottish countryside and distant mountains. Visiting leisure craft are few and far between, but the brand-new mooring pontoon installed by Stirling Council is a popular spot for canoeing and other water sports. Access from the connected Lowland Canals for boaters would be by joining the tidal River Carron at the Kelpies, heading downstream for a short distance to meet the Firth of Forth at Grangemouth. From there it’s upstream via Kincardine and Alloa to Stirling. The river is tidal all the way.

The River Stour in Suffolk The River Stour in Suffolk is navigable from Cattawade near the Orwell Estuary to Brundon Mill, just upstream of Sudbury.

Except for the first ¾ mile below Sudbury, the river forms the county boundary between Suffolk and Essex, and was immortalised in the paintings of John Constable. Fifteen locks were built by the River Stour Navigation Co, but the waterway had largely fallen out of commercial use by the early 20th century. Restoration of the navigation was one of IWA’s earliest campaigns, leading to the formation of the River Stour Trust, which runs a high-profile campaign for restoration today.

Several locks have been restored and the whole navigation can be used by canoes and other light craft.

The Manchester Bolton & Bury Canal The Middlewood flight of locks, which connect the Manchester Bolton & Bury Canal to the upper River Irwell and thus to the rest of the connected navigable system, were restored and reopened in 2008 as part of a £600m large property development. However, due to an absence of water supply, the locks are not available for public access and the entrance off the Irwell has silted up. The upper River Irwell leads into the Manchester Ship Canal and can be accessed via Pomona Dock No 3 from the Bridgewater Canal. A photo of your craft anywhere on the upper River Irwell in the vicinity of Middlewood Locks and the entrance to the Manchester Bolton & Bury Canal would be evidence of your visit.

Thames & Medway Canal The Thames & Medway Canal sees few waterways visitors other than local paddlesports enthusiasts, ducks and volunteers from the Thames & Medway Canal Association who turn out on regular work parties to keep the waterway clean and accessible – so why not pay them a visit? The western side of the Thames & Medway Canal was opened between Gravesend and Higham in 1801 and continued in use until 1934, but the eastern end of the canal, mostly comprising Higham Tunnel, took longer to build and was sold to the railway company in 1846 and closed to navigation.

Ely Council responds to IWA call to relax mooring restrictions in extreme weather The small city of Ely with its shops, restaurants and cathedral, has long been a popular stopping point on the River Great Ouse. The East Cambridgeshire District Council enforces mooring time restrictions which in summer months ensure everyone gets a fair opportunity to moor for up to 48 hours. The district council issues fixed penalty notices to over-stayers. IWA pointed out that, when the river was frozen last winter, forcing boats to move was unreasonable and dangerous. The council has now agreed to relax mooring restrictions when it has a ‘severe weather protocol’ in place.

The Kentish River Stour There is a right of navigation on the Kentish River Stour to Canterbury. However, it is presently navigable only from the sea at Pegwell Bay to Fordwich. There are weirs a short distance above Fordwich Bridge which are remnants of old mills. It may be possible to canoe from Canterbury to Fordwich, but there is no official access or portage over the weirs. Fordwich is the location for your Silver Propeller visit, encouraging you to have a scenic cruise along the quiet Kent countryside.

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IWA waterways |

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Waterways News

Cavalcade celebrates

40th anniversary

The early bank holiday in May saw the 40th anniversary celebration of the annual Canalway Cavalcade festival taking place in Little Venice, London. Glorious weather on the opening day of Canalway Cavalcade 2023 saw over 8,000 visitors to the event with 120 boats shimmering in the Pool and along the Grand Union Canal. People from all walks of life came together to share their passion for waterways with narrowboats, both modern and historic, moored alongside wide-beam boats in the pool. Continuous cruisers, liveaboards, leisure boaters, locals and those from further afield gathered to highlight why it is so important that we ProtectOurWaterways at this time of urgent need.

The long weekend included a packed schedule as always with a unique selection of events and activities. Stallholders and food stands brought a variety of crafts and interest to the event this year, most being based locally to Little Venice.

Particular highlights included many regular attendees such as hand-woven baskets made by WoodWoolWillow, Peruvian delights by Inkas Craft, Handmade by Janet, and our regular Candle Powered Victorian Steamboats. Visitors were treated to many delicious treats too, including the vibrant Caribbean Hut, mouthwatering Mr Bombay and the delectable Greek Souvlaki. As with each year we also welcomed the everprofessional Jervis team and their real-ale bar, the perfect place to enjoy the afternoon in the sunshine.

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At 1.30pm on our first day, Libby Bradshaw, ceremonial & children’s activities manager, introduced the Lord Mayor of Westminster, Councillor Hamza Taouzzale, who welcomed everyone to the City of Westminster and thanked IWA for putting on the event. Richard Parry, Chief Executive of Canal & River Trust, followed with his thanks. Our National Chair, Les Etheridge, welcomed everyone to the event, paying special attention to the dedication of volunteers for organising it.

And finally Tom Claydon, Chair of the organising committee, thanked the volunteers, committee members and supporters while also encouraging attendees to volunteer for our 2024 event. Wrapping up the presentation, Libby asked Councillor Hamza Taouzzale to ring the bell to formally open the festival.

This was echoed by cheers around the pool, the ringing of bells and horns, and the start of the pageant.

In Rembrandt Gardens, children and adults alike were entertained by Punch and Judy, a circus workshop, and the legendary Alarum Theatre with pieces such as A Century of Boatwomen. Face-painting and plenty of learning and joviality took place in the marquee over the weekend. Sunday saw the wonderful Teddy Bears’ Picnic in the beautiful surrounds of the garden and the sun warmed the crowds almost the whole weekend. Other children and young people’s activities were led by the Pirate Castle from Camden, with paddlesports taking place across the 2023 Canalway Cavalcade weekend.

Autumn 2023 18/07/2023 16:11

Waterways News

2023 Awards

On Monday afternoon, the 2023 Canalway Cavalcade awards were presented by John Edmonds, Vice President of IWA London Region.

Marcus Boudier Trophy The best decorated privately entered boat award in Saturday’s themed pageant: Chedoona owned by Bob and Mary Metcalf.

Runner-up: Thyme owned by Elizabeth Jones.

The Ray Dunford Buckby Can Trophy The best decorated boat entered by a waterway or community group: Sola Gratia, steerer Tim Clarke.

The Cruise Electric Trophy The best illuminated boat in Sunday evening’s procession: Tros Yr Afon, steerer Phil Gaskell.

Runners-up: The Canal Dream Co and the Slash Arts team aboard 2 Crew and a Cockapoo, owned by Calum Henderson.

Tom Claydon, chair of the IWA Canalway Cavalcade Organising Committee:

“It’s wonderful to welcome everyone to the 40th Anniversary of IWA Canalway Cavalcade, an incredible milestone for this unique spectacle in the heart of London’s waterways. This event would not be possible without the 10,000 hours of dedicated volunteer time, and I thank each and every person for making this such a great success. Soon we start planning for 2024 and we need you to join us to make it happen!”

This year the evenings brought a vibrant celebration of boating too. Friday night was the regular quiz, a packed tent for our annual Martin Ludgate extravaganza – raising nearly £100 from the raffle for IWA. Saturday night saw the first variety night led by Mark Saxon, IWA’s Commercial Manager, welcoming 25 brilliant artists performing spoken word and live music.

On Sunday evening Craig Haslam once again excelled as Master of Ceremonies for the Procession of Illuminated Boats, where the boaters covered their craft with as many lights as would fit to the delight of hundreds of spectators standing on the Horse Bridge and around the pool. A particular highlight included the Canal Dream Co and Slash Arts aboard the Boat Fit Co wide-beam 2 Crew and A Cockapoo whose aweinspiring laser, light and interpretive movement display blew the spectators away.

We were delighted to welcome the Canal Dream Co for the second year, whose programme throughout the 2023 Canalway Cavalcade weekend thrilled everyone who saw their performances and we thank them so much for their participation.

Autumn 2023 News-Final.indd 13

The Graham Capelin Award For the best entry by a boater who has not previously taken part in either the Saturday pageant or illuminated boats: Badger owned by Naomi Goldsmith Dixon.

Runner-up: Lucky Chance owned by Chris Pratt.

The Westminster Trophy Donated by the City of Westminster for the winner of the Boat Handling Competition: Middlesex, steerer Robin Hendley.

Runner-up: Emu, steerer Ben Partridge.

The Roger Squires Trophy Presented by St Pancras Cruising Club in recognition of Roger’s 10 years as their Commodore, it is awarded to the best novice competitor in the Boat Handling Competition: Moonraker, steerer Daniel McKnight.

Runner-up: Badger, steered by Naomi Goldsmith Dixon.

The Mike Stevens Memorial Trophy Awarded to the “Best Boat” at Canalway Cavalcade, selected from all the boat entries at the event, it is awarded in recognition of Mike’s outstanding contribution to IWA and Canalway Cavalcade during his lifetime: Tugby owned by George Cutting.

The Idle Women Shield Sponsored by Jan Knox, proprietor of Canal Experience Training School, the shield was awarded to Freebird, steered by Cath Jennings.

Runner-up: Uplander II, steered by Sarah Honeysett.

The Vic Trott Memorial Trophy Awarded for the best Boaters’ Sunday Best costume. This year, it was awarded to the Moore family.

IWA Waterways |

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Waterways News

Festival of Water

Our annual Festival of Water is a fantastic opportunity to remind the public of everything IWA does and everything that only IWA can do for the waterways. It is due to take place on 26th-28th August at Pelsall on the Wyrley & Essington Canal near Walsall. We hope you will join us for a weekend of fun for all who love spending time by the water. Please also consider applying to join the committee that organises the event. Learn more: waterways.org.uk/festivalofwater.

IN MEMORIAM John Lord Earlier this year, John Lord – a member of IWA West Riding Branch – passed away. As well as being a stalwart member of the South Pennine Boat Club, John was also one of that band of people who helped set up and take down the IWA National Festival every August Bank Holiday. He attended the IWA Festival of Water in 2022 at Burton-on-Trent and, while he was unable to help, he enjoyed meeting up with old IWA friends.

His funeral was well attended, with a wonderful eulogy covering a life well lived.

Text to Give

Donating to IWA is easier than ever with the launch of our Text to Give service.

Text IWA to 70085 to donate £5 or scan the QR code. Making a donation will help to support the work we do to protect and restore the waterways. Your donations enable us to run major campaigns such as Protect Our Waterways. If you’d like to donate but don’t wish to hear more from us, text IWANOINFO instead.

Texts will cost the donation amount plus one standard network rate message.

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Canal Camps

Waterway Recovery Group started the 2023 season of Canal Camps by welcoming volunteers to camps on the Cotswold Canals in July. Volunteers spent time investigating the original structure of the part-demolished, and largely buried, Westfield Lock (now John Robinson Lock) and helped in restoring the original features of the lock.

Camps are due to take place in various locations across the country this summer including the Lichfield Canal, Lapal Canal, Louth Navigation and Neath Canal. Although these events are fully booked, we do hope you’ll consider joining us on a dig next year or attending a work party or weekend dig in the meantime.

We will soon be looking for trusts, societies and other waterways groups to host Canal Camps in 2024. Interested organisations should take the time to review our Guide to Hosting a Canal Camp ahead of the application deadline in September. This guide can be accessed on the IWA website here: waterways.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Guide-toHosting-a-Canal-Camp.pdf.

Autumn 2023 18/07/2023 16:11

Waterways News

New electric-drive narrowboat guide

Date Announced for AGM The IWA’s Annual General Meeting will be held on Saturday 23rd September 2023 at the Civic Hall, Stourport-on-Severn, Worcestershire DY13 8UJ. Further details, including the meeting agenda, will be confirmed in due course, posted on the IWA website and shared through the IWA Bulletin email as they become available.

Members will be able to attend the sessions remotely (a Zoom link will be available soon), as well as attending in person.

The Civic Stourport will be open to our members from 10am with refreshments available. At 10.30am, there will be a presentation on Protect Our Waterways – IWA’s campaign to secure the future of the inland waterways including our work in Fund Britain’s Waterways.

This will be followed by the formal AGM starting at 11.30am, and a presentation of the IWA National Awards.

There will then be an open session with the CEO and Trustees and an opportunity to ask questions.

A free lunch will be provided at 1pm, which must be booked in advance.

Programme The AGM is the formal part of the day-long Annual Members Meeting.

10am onwards: Hall opens for members. Teas and coffees available.

10.30am to 11.10am: Presentation on the Protect Our Waterways Campaign and Fund Britain’s Waterways 11.10am to 11.30am: Interval for teas and coffees 11.30am to 12.00noon: Annual General Meeting 12noon to 12.15pm: Presentation of National Awards 12.15pm to 1pm: Presentation by CEO followed by Q&A session 1pm to 1.45pm: Lunch (free of charge, but must be pre-booked) 1.45pm: Depart for Afternoon Guided Heritage Walk

AGM Papers Further details of the AGM, including the Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ending 31st December 2022, will be available nearer the time. Minutes of the 2022 AGM are available at waterways. org.uk/about-us/library

IWA has published a new guide: An Introduction to Electric-Drive Narrowboats.

The IWA believes that it is incumbent on the inland waterways community to make their contribution to a more sustainable environment and the IWA’s Sustainable Boating Group has been looking at how inland waterways leisure boating can become more sustainable since 2019. The group published its Vision Paper in 2020, covering propulsion, the existing fleet and domestic energy on boats.

“The IWA is delighted to see that an increasing number of new boats are now being built with some form of electric drive and most boat-builders are now offering electric drive options,” said Chair of the Sustainable Boating Group, Bowman Bradley.

“The technologies associated with this form of propulsion are not only unfamiliar to most boaters but are rapidly changing as electric road vehicle technologies develop.”

He said the new guide is not intended to be a ‘design and build’ manual for electric narrowboats but hopefully will help boaters who are not experts in the technologies to understand the issues involved and make appropriate decisions when specifying their new (or converted) boat, in consultation with their builder.

Malcolm Bridge, the principal author of the guide and a member of the Sustainable Boating Group, has owned an electric narrowboat for some years. The guide has been written in consultation with other electric boat owners and members of the group, who are all experienced boaters owning vessels ranging from historic ex-working boats to modern leisure craft.

The guide is available to download free of charge at waterways.org.uk/electric-boats The first full-sized inland craft to hit the waters of the River Derwent in Derby city centre for decades is the all-electric trip-boat Outram.

Outram was launched last October in preparation for the spring 2022 season.

AGM Agenda • Opening remarks and welcome • Review and approval of the minutes of the 63rd Annual General Meeting • Receipt of the Annual Report of the Trustees and Financial Statements for the year ending 31st December 2022 and the Report of the Auditors • Appointment of Trustees • Appointment of the Auditors

By Order of the Trustees Vedyamala Reddy, Company Secretary

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Waterways News

Canal through

Milton Keynes gets a spring clean

On Friday 21st and Saturday 22nd April, volunteers from the Milton Keynes Branch of the Inland Waterways Association organised a canal cleanup through Milton Keynes from Fenny Stratford to Wolverton. Finds included four shopping trolleys, five bicycles, an electric scooter, half a telegraph pole, a fridge, a solar panel, and a 20ft length of polythene sheet. The clean-up is held every year, helping to ensure that the canal through the city stays safe and attractive for all canal users, whether on the water or on the towpath. IWA volunteers were joined by staff and volunteers from Canal & River Trust (navigation authority for the Grand Union Canal), the Parks Trust (which cares for local parks, woodlands and lakes in Milton Keynes), Buckingham Canal Society (which is restoring the Buckingham Arm of the Grand Union), the Electra Community Boat team

(who run the new electric community boat in Milton Keynes), Oracle UK, and Wyvern Shipping Co (a hireboat operator which also provides sponsorship for the event).

CRT provided two boats: Claydon, a powered shallow-draught workboat suitable for collecting rubbish from the non-towpath side, and an unpowered boat – called a hopper – to receive all the rubbish.

The hopper was manned by a crew who used grappling hooks to trawl for submerged items, and was towed by Ocean Princess, skippered by James Griffin of Wyvern Shipping.

Buckingham Canal Society took its tug Shoveler and workboat Louise, with hydraulic grab, to assist the hopper crew with fallen trees and large items hauled from the water. James Griffin said: “Much of Friday was spent trimming overhanging branches and removing

trees that had fallen halfway across the canal. Buckingham Canal Society's workboat proved very useful in lifting the trees into the hopper. On Friday afternoon Louise burst a hydraulic hose but they quickly had it repaired. By the end of Saturday, the hopper was well full and we had to stack rubbish on the decks at both ends.”

The towpath party consisted mostly of Parks Trust volunteers, joined by contingents from the Electra Community Boat team and from Oracle UK, who all did a superb job. The towpath haul was light, as some canalside town and parish councils are now also holding litter picks.

The convoy was led by the tea boat (Diane and Andy Witts aboard Diandy), whose supplies of hot drinks and cakes were much appreciated by all.

Thanks for a job well done are due to all who took part in the clean-up, in whatever capacity.

IWA publishes new guide to Denver Crossing

Narrowboat Olive Emily.

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Like most rivers, the River Great Ouse flows into the sea. The main boundary between the non-tidal river and estuary is at Denver Sluice. The Middle Level is a series of drainage channels. To get from the non-tidal waters of the River Great Ouse to the Middle Level requires a short estuary crossing between Denver and Salter’s Lode Lock. For those who have not made this crossing before, it can be daunting. Chris Howes, author of the Imray guides to the Great Ouse and Fenland Waterways, IWA member and Eastern Region representative, has put together this very useful guide to navigating between the Middle Level and the Great Ouse.

In it you will find details of how to contact the lock-keepers at either end for the best times to cross, how the tides affect crossing and how to avoid the sand bar, as well as tips on equipment and checks to carry out before you make the crossing. View, download and print the guide on our website. waterways.org.uk/about-us/news/iwa-publishes-new-guide-tothe-denver-crossing

Autumn 2023 18/07/2023 16:31

Waterways News

Waterways the focus of

Chester festival The 2023 annual Chester Heritage Festival had a special focus on the city’s waterways and the Rows.

The IWA Chester & Merseyside Branch took an active part in the festival with committee member John Herson leading a fascinating walk around Chester's historic waterways. His commentary included a history of the waterways from their inception – and why Chester became an important Roman port – through the industrial ages and to the present day.

The canal walk along the Shropshire Union Canal, formerly the Chester Canal, passed the Northgate Locks and included the canal basin, Tower Wharf and Taylor's Boatyard. From here, the short Dee Branch Canal links the canal system to the tidal River Dee and the old Port of Chester. It is this part of Chester's waterways that formed the core of an application in April 2021 to have the city's waterways designated a ‘heritage port’.

The festival was held from Saturday 17th to Wednesday 28th June, with events including city walks, activities at Chester Cathedral, the Castle and New Chester Market, along with talks, films and online events.

NATIONAL LAUNCH OF HERITAGE HARBOURS A new status of Heritage Harbours has been launched to help safeguard the harbourside, buildings, facilities and businesses that are vital to support working maritime heritage vessels.

Supported by Maritime Heritage Trust, National Historic Ships UK and Historic England, local communities in each location are developing outline plans to maintain and enhance the historic port area, its environmental features and the facilities such as shipyards and dry docks which vessels need to operate.

The Heritage Harbour concept started in northern Europe as a way of providing free or low-cost mooring to historic vessels in exchange for public display. In the UK, the idea has evolved to include a wider range of local community links such as encouraging heritage skills, like wooden boatbuilding and cultural heritage activities, as well as maritime festivals and events which benefit traders and visitors.

However, there is an increasing threat across the UK maritime heritage sector through the loss of waterside buildings, businesses and facilities to unsympathetic new development which removes the water access and can destroy the historic character of a small port. Existing businesses often operate

Autumn 2023 News-Final.indd 17

on low margins and are increasingly vulnerable to redevelopment. The aim of Heritage Harbours is to achieve a balance, retaining the key features, improving public access, creating wider cultural and arts opportunities linked to maritime heritage and benefitting the local community.

While Heritage Harbours are not a legal designation, the National Working Group of Heritage Harbours, supported

by Maritime Heritage Trust, National Historic Ships UK and Historic England, has adopted criteria for schemes that are proposed and it is hoped that other locations will join the network.

Today, there are 10 Heritage Harbour and Heritage Inland Port locations around the country: Bristol, Buckler’s Hard, Chester, Exeter, Faversham and Oare Creek, Maldon and Heybridge, Sandwich, Shardlow, Stourport and Wells-next-the-Sea. Hannah Cunliffe, Director of National Historic Ships UK, said: “Historic vessels are important assets which bring great character and interest to our harbours and inland waterway ports, but they will only survive if the maritime infrastructure needed to service and maintain them is also preserved. NHS-UK supports the development of Heritage Harbours

in line with its Shipshape Network initiative, which promotes regeneration of traditional maritime skills and connects projects across the UK.” Ken Hamilton, National Listing Adviser for Historic England, added: “Historic England is keen to support local communities to help safeguard waterside historic features including working harbour facilities. We want to promote a better appreciation of maritime heritage and to encourage heritage-based regeneration and sustainable growth. We are working to provide practical help for this project by producing a toolkit of resources to help communities make the most of their maritime heritage.”

Hannah Hurford, Trustee of Maritime Heritage Trust, said: “New waterside development threatens many traditional ports and can easily squeeze out the traditional trades, workshops and slipways that are critical to operation of a historic vessel. This is short sighted; a lively waterfront can attract visitors, bring increased cultural activity with open days, activities and trails and help regenerate an area in a sympathetic, sustainable way. This, in turn, benefits vessels and can support the skills and volunteering which bring maritime heritage to life.”

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HIGHLIGHTING THE BENEFITS

WATERWAYS FOR TODAY BENEFITS 2 and 9 Continuing her series on the IWA’s Waterways for Today report, Alison Smedley looks at the economic and employment advantages that our waterways bring to local communities Benefit 2:

Increased spend in local economies Some 5,000 miles of waterways across England, Scotland and Wales provide a national infrastructure network that is proven to benefit Britain’s economy.

Boat-based tourism and leisure activities contribute £2.5bn to the UK economy each year, through local and often family-run waterway businesses.

The economy of a local area benefits still further, with people on day trips or boating holidays visiting pubs, cafés, shops and tourist attractions.

Improvements to navigable waterways and the restoration of up to 500 more miles offer significant potential for increasing this. A 2011 study found that even a rural canal with low boat numbers can create £93,000 per mile (£58,000 per km) of potential gain in benefits each year. This figure is even higher for an urban canal with high boat density, at £225,000 per mile (£140,000 per km).

Our waterways and their heritage are a huge draw for international tourism, and this is expected to recover with the relaxation of Covid travel restrictions.

Meanwhile, the popularity of boating holidays has increased since the pandemic, with people looking for something different to do on their UK-based vacations, and spending money in local areas in the process. These benefits can only be realised if waterways are well maintained and looked after. It is essential they receive adequate funding and investment from Government.

WATERWAYS FOR TODAY OVERVIEW OF THE 12 BENEFITS In this issue we explore two more of the 12 benefits outlined in the report, but here is a reminder of what they are.

The full report, available to download from IWA’s website, is being widely distributed to politicians, government departments, local authorities and funding bodies. It can be used as a tool for your local campaigns, with materials downloadable from the website including PDFs relating to each of the 12 benefits.

Economic 1. Contribute to economic recovery 2. Encourage increased spend in local communities 3. Facilitate savings to the NHS and social care budgets

Natural & Built Environment 4. Enhance and improve the natural environment 5. Protect heritage for future generations 6. Improve sustainability and help to combat climate change

Local Communities 7. Connect communities 8. Provide opportunities for education and young people 9. Create jobs, training and apprenticeships

Improving People's Lives 10. Encourage improved physical health 11. Improve mental health and well-being 12. Create better places to live

ALISON SMEDLEY

“We get about 2,000 boats a year now, which is fantastic.

They all spend money, which means well over £1m of additional spend in the area.”

Droitwich Canal Re-opening Event, 2011.

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Jack Hegarty, then Managing Director, Wychavon District Council (restoration of the Droitwich Canal)

Autumn 2023 18/07/2023 14:26

Waterways for Today

Facts & Stats

Lockside location key to cafe's success The Five Rise Café at Bingley, like many other waterside eateries, owes its success to its location. Situated at the top of the famous Bingley Five Rise Locks in West Yorkshire, the proximity of the Leeds & Liverpool Canal is what brings in the customers.

It is based in a historic stable building and sees visitors from all over the world mingling with locals over a cup of tea and a slice of homebaked cake.

Marcus Dearden, who runs the café with his wife and daughters, says the business has gone from strength to strength in the 11 years they have been managing it. When they first started it was only viable to open in summer, but they now operate all year round because of the number of cyclists and walkers using the towpath.

Marcus recalls that, in their first year, the canal and towpath were closed for repairs to the nearby lock flight. An open weekend held for people to visit the locks during the works saved the café – the number of visitors in that one weekend made up for those who couldn’t come while the canal towpath was closed. More recently, although 20 weeks of trading was lost due to Covid-19 lockdowns, the café made up for it thanks to the sheer numbers of visitors once they were able to reopen, with more and more people using the towpath and staying local. Marcus says the café, which employs four full-time and six part-time staff, just wouldn’t survive if it wasn’t for its canalside location.

Autumn 2023 WFT-Final.indd 19

n A 2011 report for Defra found that each mile of inland waterway contributes between £175,000 and £1,175,000 a year to the local economy. n Visitors on the Kennet & Avon Canal increased by 46 percent between 1995 and 2010, generating £42m direct expenditure in the local economy in 2009 (£55m including indirect spend). n Ten years after the reopening of the Rochdale Canal in 2002, a study found that between 3.5m and 4m visitors were spending around £18m a year. n The Huddersfield Narrow Canal, reopened in 2001, was receiving between 2m and 2.5m visits each year 10 years on, with visitors spending a total of just over £10m annually. n A regeneration strategy looking at sustainable development on the Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal forecasts 258 additional tourism jobs and £5m net additional GVA from tourism.

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Adam Finch

An apprentice at Tooley’s Boatyard.

Benefit 9:

Jobs, training and apprenticeships

“This apprenticeship is really important to me. I have always wanted to be a mechanic of some kind and I’ve always been drawn to boats, but I only recently figured out it was possible to combine the two. It means a lot to me to have a job that I really enjoy.”

Waterways offer many opportunities for employment, training and apprenticeships. These include jobs in tourism and leisure or the hospitality sector, working in a wide range of fields for a navigation authority, or in jobs created through regeneration of a local area, such as in the construction industry.

Waterway restoration projects also offer opportunities for employment, training and Jacob, apprentice at Tooley’s Boatyard, Banbury apprenticeships. Although often led by volunteers, restoration sites have to comply with all construction, environmental, heritage, health & safety legislation and processes. This can provide valuable work experience for young people, or adults wishing to retrain, ahead of seeking employment in the construction Facts & Stats industry, civil engineering or other fields. n A 2012 study found that additional physical Waterway projects often highlight the UK’s civil engineering prowess, with activity on Scotland’s canals led to a £77,000 bridges, locks, tunnels and aqueducts to be rebuilt and new canal channels direct reduction in employer costs through to be designed, along with flood alleviation schemes and environmental reduced absenteeism, along with wider benefits improvements. Regeneration and restoration projects also demand innovative in terms of increased productivity. solutions to engineering problems, from the historic 19th-century Anderton n A study carried out 10 years after the Boat Lift to its 21st-century counterpart, the Falkirk Wheel. There are further Millennium-funded restoration of the opportunities for innovation in the use of floating homes, boat design and Huddersfield Narrow and Rochdale canals using canals as part of an integrated transport policy. found that around 500 jobs had been created.

Waterway locations offer enticing investment The innovative opportunities for developers, which in turn Falkirk Wheel create jobs in local communities. on the Forth & n Canalside property attracts a price premium of Clyde Canal. between 5% and 10% according to a 2019 study from the London School of Economics. New developments alongside restoration projects can also see this benefit. Evidence suggests a 15% to 20% uplift in the value of waterside properties by incorporating a restored canal into plans for a site. n A new roundabout in Gloucestershire, which incorporates two crossings of the Stroudwater Navigation, was awarded prizes by the Institution of Civil Engineers at their South West Civil Engineering Awards 2021, including the People’s Choice Award.

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Autumn 2023 18/07/2023 14:26

Waterways for Today

Apprentice on the Wey & Arun Canal Adam Rayner became the first apprentice taken on by an independent canal restoration society when he signed up as a water environment worker with the Wey & Arun Canal Trust in 2021. Bridgwater & Taunton College, the only place offering a water environment apprenticeship, developed the Level 3 course in partnership with the Environment Agency, National Trust, Canal & River Trust and Somerset Drainage Board. The 18-month scheme has seen Adam working with Wey & Arun Canal Trust staff and volunteers to gain on-the-job training, while studying both remotely and in person at the West Country college with fellow students from as far afield as York and Cumbria. With no shortage of projects and ongoing canal maintenance tasks, Adam has received a thorough grounding in many elements of canal restoration, from site work and health & safety through to habitat management. The trust employs two fulltime maintenance and restoration staff so was well placed to take on an apprentice. Adam’s background working with the Girlguiding and Scouting movement, and his interest in the outdoors, made the role appeal. The apprenticeship means he will get hands-on experience, and a professional training qualification at the end of it.

Photo © Wey & Arun Canal Trust

Apprentice Adam Rayner who is employed as a water environment worker.

“I had no previous experience of working on canals, but with the skills and experience I’ve gained I am now confident and capable working with the Wey & Arun Canal Trust, managing different aspects of the waterway and working with volunteers to progress the restoration.”

Adam Rayner, apprentice, Wey & Arun Canal Trust

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Organising a national trailboat festival Festivals are essential for drawing attention, both locally and nationally, to restoration and improvement projects, generating awareness and support. Such events are encouraged and promoted by IWA to highlight projects and, as well as drawing local political attention, trailboat festivals can also be a source of additional income. Gatherings of boats, illuminated at night and decorated with bunting and flags, on even a small part of their previously disused canal, can give enormous pleasure to all. A waterways festival can add considerably to the quality and tone of the locality, be it urban or rural. It leaves people wanting to see more improvement, oiling the wheels towards greater progress.

By holding your own trailboat festival, your restoration can encourage recruitment of members, encourage your committee and hopefully attract more funding and resources.

There is no set design for a festival as its very nature will depend upon the waterway being promoted. It will also rely in part on the make-up of your committee and the time and effort they are willing to volunteer. Additionally, it will depend on the basic assets and finance that are available and the extent of support from local politicians and the community.

IWA has supporters in all parts of the country and we can approach those local to you to ask for assistance with festival preparation. A WRG team may be able to provide manual assistance in constructing, running and dismantling at the event, and IWA has people who have been staging such events for many years who may be available for advice, in person, by phone or email. We are also able to loan free a 2-ton trailer full of equipment necessary to stage an event (although you would need access to a 4x4 vehicle with a tow bar to collect it).

Some marketing for the event can be carried out centrally as part of the IWA programme advertised each year and the IWA website can be used. There is also the massive publicity and prestige advantage of your event being badged the ‘IWA National Trailboat Festival’ for a particular year. You can apply to our Finance Committee for help with your early organising costs.

The format for applications is to submit a written request.

As each event tends to be unique to its waterway and to its organising committee, all we need at the outset is an outline proposal of your festival plan. We can send you advice on what this should cover and include an example for your guidance.

To secure the approval and support of IWA, it is necessary for us to feel sure the event is likely to take place, and that you will stage an event that is properly planned and a credit to your organising committee, local waterway and to IWA. You will need to plan several years ahead and have a suitable budget in place. Help can be given for applicants to compose suitable responses to some of the more complex questions – just email the address below. IWA is always looking for applicants to hold trailboat festivals some four or five years ahead to allow you plenty of advertising time. The first step is to check that you have the basic facilities available. Please email our Trailboat Officer for the list: Derek Smith, iwa.trailboat.festivals@gmail. com, 07500 300347.

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During her 11 years in the post, Alison’s role gradually evolved from Branch Campaign Officer, to Campaigns Officer taking on national campaigning activities, and then Campaign And Policy Officer incorporating the parliamentary activities. In early 2020, she became IWA Campaigns And Public Affairs Manager, heading up the small campaigns team which included Amy Tillson, who joined IWA to form the other half of the team in February 2020.

Branch work parties

Ashtac 40th anniversary clean-up organised by Alison.

Celebrating

11 years of successfully campaigning for our waterways

W

Alison Smedley recently left her role as Campaign & Public Affairs manager although she continues to work as a volunteer.

Here we pay tribute to some of the campaigns, events and activities that she led, initiated or was involved with during her 11-year stint at IWA.

Alison joined the IWA staff team in April 2012 as Branch Campaign Officer, initially tasked solely with supporting branches around the country in getting work parties up and running. She says she really enjoyed travelling around the country and helping set up branch work parties, liaising with the relevant navigation authority, assisting with recruitment of volunteers and promotion of the event, and even leading some of the work parties on the day.

A year later, a reshuffle in the staff team saw her spend part of her working week supporting the work of the IWA Navigation Committee with a second person recruited to work alongside her on branch work parties – Stefanie Preston worked with branches in the south of the country to get work parties up and running, while Alison concentrated on the branches in the Midlands and the North.

During this time, Alison organised a series of large-scale city canal clean-ups – from 2012 through to 2016 – with weekend ‘BCN Clean-Up’-style events held for three years in Manchester. Alison also organised one-day large-scale canal cleanups in Nottingham, Leicester and Stoke-on-Trent as well as some additional one-day events on the canals around Birmingham, such as a particularly successful event at Kings Norton.

Alison also helped branches to set up regular (usually monthly) work parties in a number of locations, many of which are still running today such as the Manchester Branch monthly work parties and the Cheshire Locks work parties on the Trent & Mersey Canal (run as a partnership between IWA North Staffordshire & South Cheshire Branch, the

hen Alison Smedley was recruited to work as IWA’s Branch Campaign Officer, a full-time paid role, she had already been volunteering for the Association for 20 years, at branch and regional level. Having done a stint as a Trustee some years earlier, she had been made an MBE for voluntary services to the inland waterways in 2010.

Alison never dreamt she would have the opportunity to work for IWA, especially having moved to Staffordshire in 2000, a long way from IWA head office. The fact that she had recently been made redundant when IWA advertised for someone specifically based in the Midlands seemed too good to be true.

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Autumn 2023 18/07/2023 11:12

Love Your Waterways

Alison on a Himalayan balsam work party, July 2013.

Alison organised a few Himalayan balsam work parties in her first two summers working for IWA, as pulling up this invasive non-native plant makes for a great, easy-to-organise and all-age-friendly work party. IWA’s Himalayan balsam campaign kicked off in earnest in 2014, with a concerted effort over two specific weeks in June and July, seeing eight branches hosting Himalayan balsam bashes on 10 different waterways with 166 volunteer days seeing 10.7 linear miles of waterway cleared of the plant, which crowds out native species and contributes to bank erosion. Alison organised and led many of the work parties herself, and assisted branches around the country in organising their own. A successful application for funding for resources provided branches with their own Himalayan balsam kits, including gloves, posters, information for organising work parties and leaflets to hand out to the public.

A similar amount of activity took place in 2015 too and, in the autumn of that year, all this activity contributed to IWA’s Himalayan balsam campaign being announced as the winner in the Environment Category of the Living Waterways Awards 2015.

In 2017, the campaign was relaunched as ‘Pull Snap Stomp’ (a phrase coined by Alison), with new information leaflets and posters. As well as work parties, this campaign had an additional element

Alison with volunteers and CRT staff on a Nottingham Clean-Up she coordinated in September 2013.

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of encouraging people to pull up the plant when they were out for a walk, snap the root off, put it to one side of the path and stomp on it to prevent it from regrowing.

Navigation committee In February 2013, Alison was asked to take on the Secretariat of Navigation Committee, and continued to provide the admin support for the committee until April 2020 when Amy Tillson replaced her. In her role as Navigation Committee secretary, Alison represented IWA at meetings with Navigation Authorities, responded to consultations, and coordinated IWA’s policy documents

IWA parliamentary events Alison organised IWA’s parliamentary events, which were held annually from 2014 to January 2020 when the last one was held just pre-Covid. These included parliamentary dinners, along with presentation of the Parliamentarian of the Year award, held in 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2018. These were evening events held in one of the dining rooms at the House of Commons.

Alison wrote an IWA Waterways Manifesto for the 2015 and 2017 general elections, which was distributed physically and electronically through a massive letter-writing and email campaign to get members/supporters to ask the candidates in their constituencies to pledge their support for the manifesto. A similar exercise was carried out for the Welsh Assembly elections in 2016, with the manifesto also published in Welsh.

Alison organised, and took part in her dinghy, the Old Bedford River Campaign Cruise ahead of the Festival of Water at St Neots in 2018.

IWA Waterways |

MIKE DAINES

Himalayan balsam project

In 2017, the campaign was relaunched as ‘Pull Snap Stomp’ (a name coined by Alison), with new information leaflets and posters.

STUART COLLINS

Trent & Mersey Canal Society and Canal & River Trust). Alison led the first work party at Lock 54 in August 2012 and, after a few months, recruited a work party organiser from among the volunteers. Three work party organisers later, these monthly events are still going strong, having recently celebrated both their tenth anniversary, and having worked on every single lock of this duplicated lock flight.

The year before Alison was recruited to help branches get work parties up and running, there had been seven IWA branches that were already running work parties, with 25 of them held in 2011.

By 2016, Alison had increased the number of IWA branches running work parties to 24, with a total of 392 work parties held across the country that year.

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Love Your Waterways

For the 2019 general election, Alison wrote an updated parliamentary briefing document which was sent to all MPs with waterways in their constituencies.

To coordinate this activity, Alison researched and created IWA’s Parliamentary Directory which identified all the constituencies which had navigable waterways or active restoration projects, along with the name and contact details of the current MP (which obviously needed updating after each of the general elections). This directory is available on our website.

That activity was then followed up by organising Parliamentary Receptions (a drop-in style session for all new and reelected MPs) after each general election – 2015, 2017 and in January 2020 (after the December 2019 general election).

A larger-scale reception was held in the Terrace Pavilion overlooking the River Thames to launch Waterways in Progress in 2019, to which all restoration societies, along with all MPs with waterways or restoration projects in their constituencies, were invited.

Alison supported the outsourced provision of the group’s secretariat, working closely with then parliamentary adviser, Jonathan Shaw, from 2014. She provided the secretariat in its entirety when it was brought in-house at the start of 2020, until January 2023, when it was taken over by Amy Tillson.

Environment Agency campaigns Alison coordinated several campaigns relating to the Environment Agency waterways – with big pushes on lobbying Government for better funding for the EA navigations in 2015, 2017 and 2018 which involved coordinating MP letter-writing campaigns and high-level meetings with EA and Government departments.

There were also some more focussed campaigns on the EA waterways, such as the campaign to save the moorings alongside a stretch of the Ouse in Ely which would have adversely affected local waterway businesses.

Gaptracker campaign Launched in 2018, this campaign saw Alison coordinating and then analysing the results of a survey carried out across the waterways network about boaters’ facilities. The results were shared with the larger navigation authorities and Canal & River Trust is still drawing on the findings of the research today, with a meeting last year to again discuss the

24 | IWA Waterways Smedley-Final.indd 24

Alison talking to Fiona Bruce MP at the January 2020 IWA Parliamentary Reception.

report. It was used to inform CRT’s recent facilities consultation which proposed solutions based on IWA’s Gaptracker report. The Middle Level Commissioners are also using the report as a baseline for their future facilities provision.

Scottish campaigning After attending the World Canals Conference in Inverness in September 2015, Alison realised that the Scottish waterways had many issues that needed addressing. In the absence of a local IWA branch, she took a lead on various campaigns. These included: Scottish Canals mooring and licensing pricing consultations Union Canal Towpath Study A planning application for yet another (complicated) electric moveable bridge at Firhill Basin on the Glasgow Arm Objections to Scottish Canals’ proposed ‘Rotate Project’, which would have seen one of the caissons on the Falkirk Wheel have a fixed platform for people instead of boats The closure of Ardrishaig Pier The closure of two lift-bridges on Forth & Clyde Canal Comments on Scottish Canals Asset Management Strategy which included the suggestion that whole sections of the Lowland Canals could face closure A seven-page letter to the Scottish Parliament in response to a request from Scottish Parliament Petitions Committee For the first few years, Alison took a lead on all these Scottish issues and had established some useful contacts across the three main canal areas. And then, in 2018, she recruited two of them: Richard Davies and Jonathan Mosse – both based on the Lowland Canals but with good contacts on the Crinan and Caledonian – to be Scottish representatives on IWA Navigation Committee.

• • • • • • • •

Sustainable boating group Alison supported the setting up of the Sustainable Boating Group, edited its Sustainable Boating Vision Paper, and was a member of the group from its inception in 2019 to January 2023. She worked closely with the marketing team who produced some great materials for the campaign including a Green Boating Guide and accompanying video.

Covid-19 campaign When the Covid-19 pandemic came along and closed our waterways to all but essential navigation in 2020, Alison spent most of the first lockdown working on a campaign which called for Government to provide sufficient support for waterway businesses, many of which were falling through the gap of the original help on offer due to the nature of their operations or the fact that many don’t have premises to qualify for the offered business rate support.

Waterways For Today report In 2022, Alison was tasked with researching and writing a report that could be used across the sector to demonstrate the benefits of wellmaintained and fully operational navigable waterways. The finished report includes quotes from a number of highprofile waterway supporters. Alison then worked with colleagues in the membership, campaigns and marketing teams to distribute, publicise and disseminate the report across its target audiences and the waterways sector. It continues to be a valuable document in IWA’s Protect Our Waterways campaign.

Read more from the report on page 18.

We’d like to thank Alison for the hard work she has put in over the years, both as a volunteer and member of staff, and wish her well in her new role with UNESCO’s UK National Commission.

Autumn 2023 18/07/2023 11:13

Middle Level Navigation

Navigating Olive Emily pictured on the Yaxley rural mooring with L-R Stephen Heywood, John Revell, Peter Cox, David Venn and Geoff Cowler.

Olive Emily moored on the Yaxley rural mooring under a big Fenland sky.

John Revell reversing Olive Emily the last half mile to the end of navigation in Yaxley.

the lowest bridges on The Middle Level While many narrowboats will struggle to get under Exhibition Bridge it can be done, as Mike Daines discovered on a trip to Yaxley

T

he Middle Level Navigation in Cambridgeshire is one of the least-visited parts of Britain’s navigable waterways, particularly away from the Link Route connecting the rivers Nene and Great Ouse. Much of it is also below sea level so anyone based there has a real sense of achievement when they cross the summit levels of the Leeds & Liverpool, Rochdale or Huddersfield canals (and vice versa).

Few boaters venture beyond Lodes End Lock near Ramsey, and even fewer venture these days under Exhibition Bridge and head for Yaxley where there are two pubs, a shop and a new mooring provided by the Middle Level Commissioners. The main problem is that Exhibition Bridge is very low but as local boater John Revell says: “It’s a fantastic stretch of river if you can get under the bridge.”

Small cruisers and canoes and kayaks will have few problems and the river is delightfully rural, wide and deep with low-lying farmland on one side and the drained Whittlesey Mere on the other, looking across to the Holme Fen national nature reserve (the lowest place in Britain), with abundant wildlife virtually everywhere. Many narrowboats will struggle to get under the bridge but it can be done.

I was one of John’s crew when we boated all the way to Yaxley in his narrowboat at the end of October on the last day of British summer time 2022. Once under the bridge it was plain sailing until we reached the main line railway bridge where we had to turn and reverse to reach the head of navigation and the new MLC mooring where we duly celebrated before returning.

A successful return as Olive Emily emerges again underneath Exhibition Bridge.

Autumn 2023 Yaxley-Final.indd 25

IWA Waterways |

25

18/07/2023 11:15

Protect Our Waterways

Huddersfield Narrow Canal.

Sue O'Hare

Spotlight on...

The Protect Our Waterways campaign has been gaining momentum, although there is still a lot to be done to raise its profile. We need waterways enthusiasts from all walks of life to help #ProtectOurWaterways.

Chris Howes

T

he Protect Our Waterways campaign has been gaining momentum, although there is still a lot to be done to raise its profile. We need waterways enthusiasts from all walks of life to help #ProtectOurWaterways.

Our major new campaign aims to increase awareness about the threats that funding cuts currently pose to our waterways. By campaigning, we hope to encourage Government to fund these valuable assets sufficiently.

The campaign has been widely publicised at a number of waterways events this year, starting with Canalway Cavalcade 2023. Soaking up the vibrant atmosphere at the event, it was hard to imagine that our waterways as we know them are in such peril.

We took the opportunity to promote Protect Our Waterways to our visitors and explain the issues.

Our National Chair, Les Etheridge, explained how IWA had been formed in 1946 when the inland waterways were under threat and that since then, through our work to protect and restore waterways, another 500 miles have been added to the network.

Despite the waterways being widely acknowledged for the many benefits they provide, Mr Etheridge stressed that our canals and rivers are sadly under threat again due to lack of funding. He therefore called upon the waterways family to come together to support the Protect Our Waterways campaign.

Crick Boat Show in May offered another opportunity to generate awareness of the campaign. We attended with the usual IWA stand on the quayside and the addition of a second stand in the main Boating Marquee which was dedicated to promoting the campaign and membership.

The Protect Our Waterways campaign was also promoted at Rickmansworth Festival in May, Braunston Historic Boat Rally in June, and Ware Boat Festival in July. We will continue to raise awareness about the campaign online, in the press and at waterways events including the 2023 Soham Lode.

Festival of Water.

26 | IWA Waterways Campaign-Final.indd 26

Get Involved: • Write to your MP to tell them how much you love your local waterways using our downloadable template: waterways.org.uk/letter-writing-campaign • Identify areas where there has been a long-term need for action to correct a fault, but nothing has happened and it just gets worse • Volunteer with us to protect the waterways in your local area • Send photos to us which highlight the threats facing our canals by emailing them to protect@waterways.org.uk or enter them in our Photography Competition • Help to spread the word on social media by using the #ProtectOurWaterways hashtag, engaging with our content and sharing our posts • Donate to help us campaign to Protect Our Waterways.

Visit waterways.org.uk/protect for more information

“I’ve personally benefitted from the waterways all my life, and I am determined to place them centre stage in the hearts and minds of parliamentarians, the media and the public. My top priority is the Protect Our Waterways campaign to ensure that all our inland waterways are adequately funded to deliver the benefits detailed in our Waterways for Today report.”

Sarah Niblock, IWA CEO

Autumn 2023 18/07/2023 17:23

Campaigning With You

Fund Britain's Waterways

Jim Forkin

In June 2023, and less than a fortnight before the Government’s announcement regarding future funding for Canal & River Trust (see page 9), the Fund Britain’s Waterways (FBW) action group was launched. FBW is a coalition of organisations representing hundreds of thousands of users and supporters of inland waterways. Together, we are calling on Government to act now and stop inland waterways from falling into disrepair.

Earlier in the year, a meeting was jointly initiated by IWA and the National Association of Boat Owners (NABO) in which waterways organisations discussed the threats to our waterways caused by inadequate funding. The organisations present all agreed on the need for joint action to influence national and local Government, through a new campaigning group. It was heartening to see the waterways family starting to come together in their desire to take concerted action. This represents an important part of IWA’s own Protect Our Waterways campaign.

It was the likelihood of a poor funding outcome for CRT in particular that triggered the formation of FBW. We had intended to launch the group in response to Defra’s announcement however, it was felt that by June the situation had become too urgent for us to wait any longer. Although it was CRT’s funding which provided the impetus, we are only too well aware that inadequate funding is by no means confined to CRT and is risking the whole waterway network. FBW is therefore campaigning for all navigation authorities to receive appropriate funding.

IWA is giving its full support to FBW and is providing the secretariat and administrative functions. Our National Chair, Les Etheridge, is chairing the steering group, which comprises representatives of the Association of Waterways Cruising Clubs, British Marine, IWA, NABO and the Royal Yachting Association.

FBW already represents hundreds of thousands of users and supporters of inland waterways, and membership will be

CRT closure notice, Dee Branch, April 2023.

Autumn 2023 Campaign-Final.indd 27

“Government needs to recognise that saying they value the inland waterways is not enough to prevent their decline. While we in FBW understand the financial pressures that everyone faces, the financial cuts are too deep, and adequate public funding needs to be allocated to maintain these national assets.”

Les Etheridge, Chair of the FBW Steering Group and IWA National Chair

broadened to include any organisation or individual with an interest in using or supporting inland waterways whether canal, river, tidal river or estuary. If you have any suggestions for organisations that should be invited to join, please email info@ fundbritainswaterways.org.uk.

The group is running a series of campaigning activities, starting with a campaign cruise in Birmingham on 12th-13th August. The date has been agreed to enable boaters to attend on their way to our Festival of Water at Pelsall two weeks later.

Our waterways need as many voices as possible to make the case for funding at a level to ensure that all the benefits documented in our Waterways for Today report can continue.

Visit the fundbritainswaterways.org.uk website to see how you can get involved, and please also like and share our posts on social media using the hashtag #FundBritainsWaterways.

CRT structure undergoing repair.

IWA Waterways |

27

18/07/2023 17:23

IWA Christmas

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Gift Ideas p028_iwa.indd 28

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waterways.org.uk/shop 18/07/2023 13:06

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Code X147 Trent & Mersey Canal Photo by Andrew Murdoch

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When you spend £40 or more 18/07/2023 13:09

Restoring more of the

Montgomery Canal

Crickheath Basin from the bridge.

P MOUNTER

John Dodwell, Chair of the Montgomery Canal Partnership, reports on the latest milestone in the long-term restoration of the Montgomery Canal

J

une 2nd this year was a significant day for the Montgomery Canal. Another 1½ miles was reopened down to Crickheath Basin, making a total of 8 miles from the Llangollen Canal at Frankton Junction. Now 80% of the canal in Shropshire has been restored, leaving only two more dry miles to the Welsh border at Llanymynech where the canal is in water.

This was the culmination of a six-year project with contractors restoring the basin itself and building a new nature reserve by Aston Locks. Volunteers led by the Shropshire Union Canal Society rewatered 550m of dried-out canal bed, including rebuilding the canal over a section of peat bog. They moved 15,000 tons of earth, stone, concrete blocks (67,000!) and other material. The volunteers came from far and wide, including Tyneside, London and Exeter. Some 169 volunteers took part in 100 work parties.

April 2023 was another significant milestone for the Montgomery. This was when work started on rebuilding Schoolhouse Bridge, about ½ mile on from Crickheath Basin.

This bridge was flattened by the highway authorities in the 1950/60s and replaced by an earth causeway. Due to the efforts of campaigners and following lengthy discussions with various authorities, agreement was reached to rebuild a navigable bridge. Costing about £1m, no funding has come from the public purse – an amazing demonstration of the affection in which the Montgomery Canal is held by the public. Work should be finished in autumn 2023. The bridge will then await the channel restoration to reach it.

30 | IWA Waterways montgomery-Final.indd 30

ABOVE: Crickheath South - clearance starts August 2020. (SUCS) BELOW: Crickheath South - phase 1B strip clearance, March 2023.

Autumn 2023 18/07/2023 11:20

Montgomery Canal

Crickheath Basin Reopening, Plaque unveiling.

INSET: Ribbon just cut.

Will you help volunteers restore more of the Montgomery Canal?

FROM THIS…

…TO THIS

Before restoration.

After restoration.

Nearly two thirds of the canal open already.

■ Restoration in Wales will extend the canal to the Shropshire border.

■ Just two miles of derelict canal in Shropshire: We are raising £250,000 towards the cost of the next stages of the restoration ■

BELOW: Ictus approaching the wharf.

DONATE NOW so we can continue restoration!

ed ** First £50,000 already rais ** Achievements in 2023...

Another 1½ miles reopened in Shropshire (to Crickheath) Reconstruction of the last lowered road bridge in Shropshire (Schoolhouse Bridge) ■ In Shropshire volunteers have started on the next section of derelict canal – but need funding to carry on.

■ ■

MontyA5 2023.indd 1

G DEAKIN

www.localgiving.org/charity/restorethemontgomerycanal 16/05/2023 12:28

Public Appeal Now the Restore the Montgomery Canal! group has launched a public appeal for £250,000 towards the cost of restoring the next section on Shropshire: to link Crickheath Basin to Schoolhouse Bridge and beyond.

Readers will find an appeal leaflet with this edition of Waterways and we hope that IWA members will be as generous and supportive as they were with the Schoolhouse Bridge appeal.

Why support the Montgomery Canal? ◆ Multimillion-pound support from the UK Government’s Levelling Up Fund and other sources means the already-navigable Welshpool section could reach the Shropshire border in the next few years. ◆ County councils in Powys and Shropshire and local MPs, keen to see the canal open, help with any opportunities for Government grants. ◆ Apart from those 2 miles in Shropshire, the canal to Welshpool and beyond is in an area with no water supply issues. ◆ Apart from the last couple of miles into Newtown, the canal is all owned by Canal & River Trust and all the locks have been restored.

The canal’s collection of structures – one of the best – tell the story of its life as a working canal.

The canal is the habitat for rare protected flora and fauna. The restoration strategy provides a detailed (and hard-won) compromise for a navigable canal with protected habitats.

Funding secured in Wales will rebuild two of the four blocked bridges north of Welshpool, dredge the channel and create new nature reserves. Further Government funding could pay for the other two bridges. So you can see how important it is to complete restoration in Shropshire.

Your generosity will support the team of skilled and experienced volunteers.

Without your donation, work could slow or stop. If you can sign the Gift Aid option, a tax rebate can add 25% to your gift.

www.localgiving.org/charity/restorethemontgomerycanal/ Autumn 2023 montgomery-Final.indd 31

IWA Waterways |

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18/07/2023 11:20

WEST COUNTRY BRANCH Branch

Focus

IWA’s West Country Branch continues its wide variety of waterway-based activities across its geographical area of Somerset, Dorset, Devon and Cornwall.

Bridgwater Docks The big news to report is the confirmation of the Government’s Towns Fund award of £4.2m towards the regeneration of Bridgwater Docks, which has been without boats since mid-2021 when they departed prior to Canal & River Trust terminating their lease of the docks from Somerset Council. The Towns Fund award will be supplemented by an additional £1m towards an improved cycle network within the docks area, which will make it more attractive for cycling within Bridgwater and help attract more people to the docks.

The West Country Branch has been lobbying for the regeneration of Bridgwater Docks since 2015 and strongly supported the application to the Government’s Towns Fund. Although it is anticipated that the Towns Fund award will go some way towards the regeneration of the docks, it is inevitable that further funds will need to be raised to complete the project.

The lower gates of Newtown Lock, showing their dilapidated state after years of neglect.

The Bascule Bridge at Bridgwater Docks, illustrating the rundown state of the winding gear for the bridge, not used for some 20 years.

32 | IWA Waterways Branch-Final.indd 32

Autumn 2023 18/07/2023 11:21

West Country Branch Volunteer work parties The volunteers continue with their great job supporting Bridgwater Docks, the Bridgwater & Taunton Canal and the non-tidal River Parrett at Langport. They carry out a variety of tasks including hedge laying, bramble clearance, strimming, painting railings, litter picking and much more. In recent months a small orchard has been created by the volunteers for Canal & River Trust on a piece of land adjacent to the canal in Bridgwater. This will continue to be looked after by the volunteers in the future.

While Covid affected the number of active volunteers, and thus the number of work parties undertaken by the branch, the year to 30th April 2023 saw a total of 3,545 hours worked, which compares well with the pre-Covid achievements.

West Country Waterway Guides The West Country Branch produces a series of waterway guides covering many of the principal canals and rivers within the area. A glaring omission has been for the River Parrett and steps have recently been taken to rectify this, with a new guide being produced by a freelance writer and due to be printed this summer. This follows the restoration of the slipway at Huish Bridge, Langport and its reopening in October 2020, which opened up 7.6 miles of non-tidal river through the delightful Somerset Levels and Moors to trail boats and other craft. (For information, contact Langport Town Council 01458 259700.)

IWA South West Inland Waterways Regeneration Fund The IWA South West Inland Waterways Regeneration Fund was established just over two years ago and is managed by an IWA Panel. The fund provides small grants for waterway regeneration in the South West, such as grants for seed finance for new/ proposed waterway projects and funding for small/medium waterway projects, all on the inland waterways within the geographical area of the West Country Branch.

Recent awards from the fund have included: • A grant to the Grand Western Canal management team (part of Devon County Council) to purchase five new notice boards and to update all 11 information panels that occur at intervals along the Devon section of the canal, many of which were designed over 20 years ago.

• A grant to the Friends of Exeter Ship Canal for a consultant’s report on the historic Gabriel’s Wharf on the canal, which is under threat from the proposed Water Lane development alongside the canal.

Taunton developments The threat of the River Tone flooding in Taunton is ever present and is expected to increase in the future. Outline proposals for enhanced flood defence works along the Bridgwater & Taunton Canal, from and including Firepool Lock to the railway bridge at Obridge, were made in 2022, to which the branch responded with a number of comments and questions. The proposals include raising the gates of Firepool Lock, which it is understood has raised objections from Canal & River Trust. The local authority is yet to respond due to the

Autumn 2023 Branch-Final.indd 33

Firepool Lock, Taunton: Bridgwater & Taunton Canal.

impact of Somerset becoming a unitary authority last April.

IWA Waterways |

33

18/07/2023 11:21

CLASSIFIED DIRECTORY

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