Waterways Magazine - Winter 2023 - No 282

Issue 282 • Winter 2023

waterways www.waterways.org.uk

Why our canals are essential for our

health and well-being

Fund Britain's Waterways

Support the national campaign

Spotlight on

Chelmsford branch Heritage Inland Port Status for

Stourporton-Severn

Meet the man behind the Westminster campaign cruise

PLUS

Winter Walk

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Winter 2023 Contents

Issue 282 • Winter 2023

waterways www.waterways.org.uk

Why our canals are essential for our

health and well-being

16

Fund Britain's Waterways

Support the national campaign

p5 Welcome Les Etheridge (National Chair)

Spotlight on

Chelmsford branch Heritage Inland Port Status for

Stourporton-Severn

Meet the man behind the Westminster campaign cruise

Round up of all the happenings in IWA and beyond

p12 AGM

PLUS

Winter Walk

Meet our new Trustees

Beside the Ashby Canal winter cover.indd 1

p7 News

17/10/2023 14:19

COVER PICTURE: Autumn on the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal.

p14 IWA award winners Members’ valued contributions recognised

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p16 Stourport-on-Severn Heritage Inland Port status awarded

WATERWAYS EDITOR: Ross Stokes Tel: 01283 742962 r.stokes@wwonline.co.uk

p18 The benefits of our waterways Health and well-being

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

p22 Profile - Andrew Phasey

ADVERTISING DESIGN: Jo Ward

Meet the man leading the Thames campaign cruise on Westminster

ADVERTISING PRODUCTION: Samantha Furniss s.furniss@wwonline.co.uk

p25 Winter Walk

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 iwa@waterways.org.uk www.waterways.org.uk National Chair - Les Etheridge Company Secretary – Vedy Reddy For press enquiries 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

Ashby Canal

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p32 Branch focus Chelmsford 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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Winter 2023 16/10/2023 13:36

Welcome

from les etheridge, national chair

S

ince I wrote in the last edition of Waterways, the Government has announced its funding package for Canals & River Trust for the ten years from 2027. While claiming to recognise the value that our waterways provide, these actions are completely contrary.

Our waterways are already suffering from extended closures and, as the value of Government funding reduces through inflation and the planned cuts, things are only going to get worse.

In the simplest possible terms this is totally unacceptable to IWA and our colleagues within Fund Britain’s Waterways, which now has around 100 member organisations. Our first campaign event was held in central Birmingham in August and attracted wide media support, including television coverage from the BBC and ITV, over a number of days.

At the end of September Gloucester Docks saw another event, with boats cruising from Saul Junction to the docks and people marching from the National Waterways Museum in support.

Dredging problems resulting from the long hot summer in 2022 caused the visitor moorings in the docks to be unusable for a period, reducing the trade for local businesses. It was a real demonstration of the economic impact of there being insufficient funding to carry out the required maintenance. The event was organised by Fund Gloucester’s Waterways, a member of Fund Britain’s Waterways. I was pleased to be able to attend and speak in support of our campaign. Local campaigns are a really good way of adding weight to the message to Government.

Planning is well advanced for boats to cruise past the Palace of Westminster, carrying our Fund Britain’s Waterways and Protect Our Waterways banners. This is scheduled for Tuesday 14th November with a reserve date of Wednesday 15th November if the weather conditions are unsuitable for safe passage on the Tuesday. Please come and support us at Westminster on the day.

We will provide further details of how to do this in due course.

Our politicians need to understand just how many people care about the waterways. They simply cannot allow the many millions of hours of volunteer work in restoring and protecting waterways to be lost through failure to maintain the very small amount, in Government terms, of investment they need to prevent them deteriorating. To fail to make this small investment would, in my view, be tantamount to criminal.

Our AGM in Stourport was well attended and marked the end of my term as a Trustee and my second spell as IWA National Chair.

May I thank everybody for the support and encouragement I have received during my interim role as National Chair. IWA has played an essential role in restoring and protecting our waterways over many years and its work remains especially important in these trying and challenging times.

I will continue to work actively on IWA campaigns and look forward to your continued support for IWA.

Scenes from the first campaign event held in central Birmingham.

Winter 2023 welcome-Final.indd 5

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Winter 2023 17/10/2023 11:21

Waterways News

IWA to join key River Dee committee IWA Chester & Merseyside Branch has been invited to take a seat on the Dee Estuary Consultative Committee by the Environment Agency for Wales which manages the basic navigation structures, such as moorings and navigational aids, in the area covered by law for the estuary.

The area – from the Point of Ayr on the Welsh side to Hoylake on the English side of the Wirral to a point upstream near the weir in Chester – is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). There are special provisions covering the busy Port of Mostyn. The ancient and historic Port of Chester on the Dee sits within its boundaries.

The purpose of the committee is to be consulted upon management plans and construction of any significant work in the estuary. Most canal craft are unsuitable for the lower estuary but access to the tidal sections is blocked by the silting and poorly maintained condition of the Dee Branch from the main Shropshire Union Canal. There is increasing use of the estuary for commercial fishing and recreational uses, and Airbus uses the canal to transport wings by barge to Mostyn Port for export.

The historical significance of the port and its untapped potential has been well documented by the Chester Waterway Strategy in 2012, and later in the successful application for Historic Inland Port Status in 2021. The IWA position on these documents is that little has been achieved practically on the ground in that there are no facilities for seagoing craft to come to the port. The Dee Branch silting has worsened but also has limited headroom due to a modern road-bridge that replaced an earlier swing-bridge.

lock with moorings. This would attract boaters and eventually increase pressure for improvements to the Dee Branch. IWA is currently undertaking a feasibility study into accomplishing this goal.

Jim Forkin, Chair of IWA Chester & Merseyside Branch, said: “The awarding of this seat is entirely justified on the efforts put in by the volunteers at IWA to the historic port application and many events supporting canals in the North West. The plain truth is that, in the UK, canals and waterways contribute some £2.6bn to the economy and Chester simply is not encouraging boaters and navigators to visit the city to support businesses and jobs.”

Cruising waters While local councils up and down the country struggle with keeping their traditional town centres vibrant, Chester is in the fortunate position of being virtually surrounded by canals and a river. The problem is that its connectivity with the Dee Branch is closed and the weir prevents upstream navigation to Farndon and boaters’ facilities.

The IWA sees a way forward with the old mill race at the side of the weir being readily available for converting into a

The proposed site of the ‘lock in the weir’ where the mill race used to be.

The Dee Branch entering the tidal River Dee.

Winter 2023 News-Final.indd 7

Chester weir with the possible entrance to the lock shown on the right.

IWA Waterways |

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17/10/2023 16:52

Waterways News

IWA Welcomes HS2 cancellation The Inland Waterways Association has welcomed the cancellation of HS2 Phase 2 as announced by the Prime Minister in October. Cancellation of HS2 Phases 2a, 2b and HS2 East will avoid major noise impacts on waterway users at numerous locations and remove the blight on several canal restoration projects.

Phase 2a (Fradley to Crewe) was authorised in 2021 and early environmental work has been undertaken. Its cancellation and removal of its safeguarding “in weeks” will remove the threat of major disruption and noise to the Trent & Mersey Canal at Great Haywood Marina with its semiresidential boaters.

Phase 2b West (Crewe to Manchester) is currently before Parliament. Its cancellation and removal of its safeguarding “by summer next year” will remove the threats of disruption and noise at the Middlewich Branch Canal crossings and to the on-line moorings at Park Farm Stanthorne, and also at the three proposed Trent & Mersey Canal viaduct crossings and to residential boats at Oakwood Marina, along with the threat of possible subsidence of the canal around Billinge Flash.

It is not yet clear if the current Crewe to Manchester Bill and its Select Committee hearings will be dropped or if the Manchester section, which doubles up as part of the ‘Northern Powerhouse Rail’ route, may be retained pending a decision on a modified Network North scheme.

Either way, IWA is unlikely now to be called to put our case for better noise protection for canals to the Select Committee, or to receive the promised response to our questions about ground stability in Cheshire.

The HS2 East (Birmingham to East Midlands Parkway) plans had not been updated since abandonment of the East Midlands to Leeds part of Phase 2b East in the 2021 Integrated Rail Plan. Its cancellation and removal of the safeguarding on Phase 2b “by summer next year” (which presumably includes HS2 East) will enable the Ashby Canal restoration at Measham to proceed as part of the stalled Measham Waterside housing development. It also removes a crossing of the Coventry Canal at Polesworth.

Confirmation that the East Midlands to Leeds route has been abandoned, and removal of the safeguarding on that

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.

8 | IWA Waterways News-Final.indd 8

Billinge Flash.

section, simplifies the Chesterfield Canal restoration at Staveley which will no longer need a deepened lock and an extra lock on the section to be restored at Staveley under the Towns Fund. This also finally confirms avoidance of crossings of the River Soar at Kegworth, Cranfleet Cut on the River Trent, the Erewash Canal, Sheffield & South Yorkshire Navigation, and Aire & Calder Navigation.

Phase 1 which is under active construction will be completed, although with a smaller station at Euston. It will include the currently partly delayed section beyond Coleshill to Fradley and the Handsacre Link where it will join the West Coast Mainline. So the works affecting the Lichfield Canal restoration have not changed, with construction of the replacement Cappers Lane canal bridge and the canal diversion under Cappers Lane Viaduct expected to continue, although the timescale is uncertain. But the Trent & Mersey Canal bridge at Fradley and the grade separated junction at Streethay are clearly no longer needed.

IWA has sought to engage constructively with HS2 for more than a decade and has achieved various improvements to their plans, most notably saving the Trent & Mersey Canal at Fradley Wood End from devastation by three unnecessary viaduct crossings.

However, HS2 has never properly recognised the major noise impacts on canal users, and particularly on the residential use of boats, and the noise mitigation measures at many of the canal interfaces were therefore inadequate. While construction and operational noise will still affect the Grand Union, Oxford and BCN canals we are relieved that many others will now be spared, and that the two canal restoration projects blighted by uncertainty can now proceed unhindered.

Phil Sharpe

Parliamentarians hear how the waterways can contribute to sustainable energy solutions A meeting of the Waterways APPG took place on 13th September. Attendees heard from Ben Whittle of the Energy Saving Trust and Kate Gilmartin of the British Hydropower Association about the uses of inland waterways for sustainable power and heating. A number of MPs attended the meeting online from a committee room at Westminster.

Representatives of waterway organisations joined the meeting virtually by Zoom. The presentations were followed by a Q&A session.

Winter 2023 17/10/2023 16:52

Waterways News

Northampton Branch celebrates 10 years of adoption of Arm of canal

Lynda Payton

On 3rd September, members of the branch were joined

by Canal & River Trust representatives to celebrate the hard work of the volunteers who have been improving the towpath and the locks now for a decade. Around 370 task parties have been held since the first one in July 2013, providing more than 38,000 volunteer hours. They have been supported by the Canal & River Trust as well as several groups of corporate volunteers.

Photography competition

reminder

A reminder that our 2023 Photography Competition is still open and will remain so until the deadline on 1st December 2023. The closing date is later than usual as, while we have already received some excellent entries, the majority of the submissions we receive have been taken in the spring and summertime.

The deadline has therefore been extended to encourage more photographs which have been taken in the autumn and winter months. These are especially critical for IWA as we are always looking for suitable images for our calendars and Christmas cards. By entering the competition, your photographs could be featured in the 2025 IWA Calendar or even in next year’s Christmas card designs. Take a look at this year’s calendar as an example. It is currently available to purchase from the IWA Shop alongside our new range of Christmas card designs. Photography competition category winners will receive £25 to spend in our online shop, plus IWA goodies. The overall winner will also receive a print of their photo.

Visit our website for guidance on entering the competition and for details of this year’s categories: waterways.org.uk/photo.

Winter 2023 News-Final.indd 9

Navcom update Navigation Committee’s meeting on 12th July came two days after Defra’s long-delayed announcement of substantial cuts in grant funding to the Canal & River Trust (CRT) from 2027, which was inevitably the central focus of the meeting. Even before the future cuts, CRT is in a difficult financial position and there was much discussion of the visible impacts of the current situation (closures particularly on the Northern canals, reduced vegetation management, removal of litter bins). The need for the Fund Britain’s Waterways action group has been amply demonstrated and Navigation Committee is keen to provide its support through helping to spread the message about the benefits of waterways and the threats they face.

Navigation Committee’s two subgroups on freight and sustainable boating play an important role. We were delighted to welcome John Spencer of GPS Marine to the meeting as the new Chair of the Inland Waterways Freight Group. The reconstituted group met recently to identify the key issues that prevent water freight playing a more important part in the UK’s transport mix and to agree its agenda. The focus will be on areas of immediate concern where IWA can lend support, and on the production of a report on how water freight can provide economic, environmental, and societal benefits. Anyone with relevant knowledge who is interested in joining the group would be welcome.

The Sustainable Boating Group has produced publications on electric narrowboating and environmentally conscious boater behaviour which are now available on the IWA website, in addition to position papers on standards for electrical hookups and the environmental impact of dredging which are in discussion with CRT. The group will be reviewing IWA’s Briefing Note on Environmental Guidance for Boaters, particularly in the light of recent legislation which gives local authorities the discretion to extend the scope of their smoke control orders to include moored vessels. A working group to encourage the takeup of HVO has been set up with the Royal Yachting Association and the Cruising Association and a letter has been sent to the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero.

The use of waterways for transfer of drinking water to areas of most need was considered, following a recent workshop about the proposed Grand Union Canal scheme. This use is well established on the Llangollen and Gloucester & Sharpness Canals, but a new scheme would introduce a flow and require a water level rise, with impacts on the banks and on air draft at bridges and tunnels as well as possible surges, all of which are currently being modelled.

IWA’s HS2 lead, Phil Sharpe, continues to review HS2 developments and most recently has submitted written evidence to the Select Committee on subsidence risks, including the proposal of an alternative route to avoid the unstable Cheshire brine fields around the Trent & Mersey Canal.

Jonathan Mosse was approved by Navigation Committee and subsequently by Trustees as IWA’s new representative on the Boat Safety Scheme Advisory Committee. Adam Wyllie is representing IWA in a working group trying to mitigate the safety and inconvenience issues being caused by the discontinuation of small sizes of Calor gas bottles.

An updated version of IWA’s Policy on Residential Boating has been approved by Trustees and is available on the Library page of the website.

Sue O'Hare IWA Deputy National Chair and Chair of Navigation Committee

IWA Waterways |

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17/10/2023 16:53

Waterways News

News from the Eastern Front Two influential boating figures from the Anglian Region have retired. Irven Forbes, Waterways Manager for the Environment Agency (EA), and David Thomas, Chief Engineer and CEO of the Middle Level Commissioners, have both hung up their boots. They are replaced by Katherine Briscombe at the EA and Paul Burrows at the MLC. Both Irven and David were friends to boating in the Anglian Region and we wish them happy retirements, just as we wish their successors, Katherine and Paul, the very best. Paul has come from the Environment Agency to the Middle Level. We strongly hope that these changes herald even closer working ties between the two navigation authorities. Initial indications are promising!

Siltation of the tidal Great Ouse between Denver crossing and Salter’s Lode is becoming a growing problem, and has demanded an increasing frequency of dredging. Works on the tidal side of Denver Sluice coincided with the exit to Salter’s Lode Lock (downstream) becoming blocked and a hire boat grounding. This was quickly remedied with minimal interruption to boating. We are confident that ‘lessons have been learned’ and the risk of further blocking of Salter’s Lode minimised.

The crossing from Denver to Salter’s Lode is tidal. IWA has recently written a guide to this crossing, with helpful dos and don’ts which can be viewed and downloaded at https:// waterways.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/IWA-Guide-tothe-Denver-Salters-Lode-Crossing.pdf.

Prior to the clearing of Well Creek in the 1970s, Old Bedford River was the only navigable link between the Middle Level and the River Great Ouse.

This link was sadly lost when Clearing the OBR Welches Dam Lock was closed in 2006. A small, but determined, band of IWA members like to occasionally make passage up the Old Bedford River. This involves backing into the entrance and cutting through the silt with your propeller. Passage was last achieved in 2018 to coincide with the IWA Festival of Water in St Neots.

On 2nd May, Chris Howes & Christine Colbert (on Lily May) and Paula & Gerald Syred (on Platinum Fox) tried to again make passage. The siltation was 5ft up the tidal doors, and despite valiant efforts by

10 | IWA Waterways News-Final.indd 10

contractors, it was impossible to get onto the Old Bedford River in the available tidal window. Thanks are due to everyone assisting, particularly Paul Separovic of the EA and Tom Lanarch (formerly of Cams Conservators) of River and Rural Ltd. Let’s hope the next attempt will be more successful! A preferred site for the new Fenland Reservoir has been announced. This is on the Middle Level, north-west of the junction of the Forty Foot Drain and the Sixteen Foot Drain.

We are lobbying hard for open water transfer (rather than sealed pipe). This offers the real chance of restoring boating to Welches Dam and the Horseway Channel, as well as providing a welcome and wide range of healthy outdoor leisure opportunities.

The Middle Level Commissioners invested a lot of time and effort in putting the Middle Level Bill through Parliament.

This allowed them to charge boats wishing to use their waters a licence fee. Funds generated by the licence are ring fenced to be spent on the provision of navigation facilities on the Level. However because of unfortunate administration by Canal & River Trust, funds from the Gold Licence that should be going to improve facilities on the Middle Level are getting ‘lost’ and instead probably going to the EA. We are lobbying CRT hard to remedy this clear injustice.

The small city of Ely, with its shops, restaurants and glorious cathedral, has long been a popular stopping point on the River Great Ouse. The district council enforces mooring time restrictions which in summer months ensure everyone gets a fair opportunity to moor for up to 48 hours.

However in winter these same restrictions can appear overzealous. Ely District Council issues fixed penalty notices to overstayers. We pointed out that when, this winter, the river was frozen, forcing boats to move was unreasonable and dangerous. The council has now agreed to relax mooring restrictions when they have a ‘severe weather protocol’, Ben Di-Giulio, one of the two Denver lock-keepers, left in August for another job within the EA. Ben will be greatly missed as a friendly face and knowledgeable source of information.

We all look forward to seeing the first picture of the new ‘management’ Ben, spruced up in shirt and tie, and wish him and his family the very best.

Winter 2023 17/10/2023 16:53

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16/10/2023 13:48

Waterways News

Verena Leonardini

Bob Fox

IWA’s 64th Annual General Meeting was held on Saturday 23rd September at the Civic Hall in Stourport-on-Severn. We thank all of the members who attended either in person or on Zoom, and we are incredibly grateful to the volunteers and staff who helped out during the event.

Before the formal AGM, attendees watched a presentation about the Protect Our Waterways campaign by the outgoing National Chair, Les Etheridge, and Deputy Chair, Sue O’Hare. The presentation detailed the progress made since 2022 from a campaigning perspective and explored some of the funding issues which led IWA to launch the Protect Our Waterways campaign in 2023. The presentation also provided

Les Etheridge welcoming members.

an insight into the launch of Fund Britain’s Waterways and a summary of the progress made by the group so far include national media coverage, the launch of a petition and the success of the Birmingham Campaign Cruise.

Attendees were encouraged to come along to future FBW events including the Fund Gloucester’s Waterways Rally and the Westminster campaign cruise on 14th November.

After a short break for refreshments, members were asked to approve the minutes for the previous AGM held on 24th September 2022. Members also approved the appointments and reappointments of the following trustees for three-year terms.

• Stuart Craig • Nick Dybeck • Sue O’Hare • Peter Marlow • Paul Strudwick • Thomas White While the AGM provided an opportunity to welcome new Trustees and reappoint existing ones, we also said goodbye to our National Chair, Les Etheridge stepping down from his role at the end of his term. We are incredibly thankful to him for all he has done during his time in the role. Trustees met on Saturday 30th September to agree the way forward for IWA. The formal AGM was followed by a presentation of the 2023 IWA Awards at midday which are covered in detail on page 14. The AGM concluded with a Q&A session where members had the opportunity to direct questions to the trustees.

Vice President David Suchet speaking from the floor.

Bob Fox

2023 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

This was followed by a fascinating local waterways presentation by David Struckett on ‘Heritage Harbours and Heritage Inland Ports: Stourport and Beyond’. David Struckett also worked with the Stourport Civic Society to jointly organise a display of the history of Stourport and Stourport Basins which was exhibited at the AGM. Attendees enjoyed a free lunch at 1pm before departing for the afternoon activities which included a guided walk around heritage sites and the waterways of Stourport-on-Severn, and the option to join a boat trip down the River Severn.

Existing Trustees As well as the new trustees appointed at the AGM existing trustees Nick Dybeck and Sue O’Hare were also reappointed.

Other trustees are Rt Hon Sir Robert Atkins, Rick Barnes, Dave Chapman, Charlie Norman, Hannah Rigley (nee Sterritt) and Mike Wills.

AGM 2023.

12 | IWA Waterways News-Final.indd 12

Winter 2023 17/10/2023 16:53

Waterways News

STUART CRAIG

PAUL STRUDWICK

Stuart is a narrowboat owner and has just turned 66. He is married with two dependants: both furry and of the barking kind.

In mid-September 2023, he retired as the CEO of a small charity so, as a Trustee he will have a little more time on his hands to serve IWA. His career began in housing and homelessness for a decade and a half, until he got the travel bug. In 1991, he found himself volunteering as a fundraiser for a hospice project in the tiny kingdom of Swaziland (now called Eswatini) in southern Africa. Two years later he got the chance to work in South Africa, which has been the focus of several development sector jobs since. Possibly his favourite job ever was seven years at Comic Relief (2008-15) managing a portfolio of grants to organisations working on poor housing conditions in 14 different African countries.

He has become very familiar with how boards work in the charity sector, as many of the organisations he has worked with have been of a similar size to IWA. In particular he has a strong understanding of good governance; he has a good grasp of the respective remits of a staff team and a Board of Trustees; and he is very familiar with budgeting, management accounts, strategy development etc. As a recent charity CEO he was responsible for programme delivery, financial control, HR, fundraising, communications and all day-to-day functions of the charity. He would like to think this comprehensive set of responsibilities could be of value to the board.

Paul has been boating since he was taught to sail by an uncle at the age of 11, and has owned narrowboats on the canals for nearly 40 years. He joined British Telecommunications (then the GPO) in 1965 and took early retirement in 2000. Since leaving BT, he has run his own limited company and worked as a technician in one of the country’s top grammar schools.

Paul was first elected as a Trustee in 2006 and has had several spells as a Trustee since.

He has been London Region Chair since 2010 and served on Navigation Committee, Cavalcade Committee and the old Promotions Committee. He helped develop the Silver Propeller Challenge scheme and is committed to widening the membership of the Association so that IWA is recognised by others as being a ‘broad church’ representing not only the boating and heritage interests, but all other users such as walkers and casual visitors.

PETER MARLOW Peter has a lifelong interest in canals, particularly from a walker’s and nature-lover’s perspective. This dates from when he was taken to see Sapperton Tunnel when researching a school project.

He is a member of the Cotswold Canals Trust, his local restoration project.

Peter has experience as a charity Trustee, having served six years (two terms) with PM4NGOs, a USbased NGO which develops free guides in project management for the international development sector and provides online certifications. He is also a trustee of the Kambia Appeal, a UK-based charity that aims to improve the medical conditions in the Kambia district of Sierra Leone.

Peter is a chartered engineer, a member of the Institution of Engineering & Technology and a member of the Association for Project Management.

Winter 2023 News-Final.indd 13

THOMAS WHITE Tom has over 15 year’s experience across the maritime, defence, manufacturing and engineering sectors through positions at Rolls-Royce, Lloyd’s Register, Connected Places Catapult and most recently as Innovation & Net Zero at Thames Freeport. Tom is passionate about the role of our waterways in connecting people and communities across the UK, providing social value and creating new economic opportunities for regions. Having extensive experience in multi-party innovation programmes in maritime, decarbonisation and ecosystem development, Tom is also a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, Member of the Institute of Engineering & Technology and holds a BSc in Environmental Science.

IWA CEO Sarah Niblock has resigned her position as Chief Executive of the Inland Waterways Association. IWA is extremely fortunate to have the interim support of some highly experienced volunteers who, along with an enthusiastic Trustee team, will cover the position in the short term.

IWA National Chair Les Etheridge, said: “IWA would like to thank Sarah for the very positive contribution she has made during her employment. This will ensure that the very important work to Protect Our Waterways, and our leading role in the Fund Britain’s Waterways campaign, will continue to progress without pause. Nearly 90 organisations have now united to lobby and persuade national and local government that the benefits provided to the public by our canals and navigable rivers must be maintained without erosion through lack of investment. Many millions of people rely upon and value our inland waterways, and we must ensure they are protected.”

IWA Waterways |

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17/10/2023 16:53

Waterways News

2023 IWA award winners

Richard Bird Medals These medals are presented to members of the Association whose efforts and support are considered to have brought significant benefit to the Association over a sustained period.

There were two recipients this year: Alan Smith and Dave Pearson.

Alan was nominated for his quiet background support for the vast amount of IWA work carried out by Christine Smith.

While that has been very important, it understates Alan’s contribution to IWA and the inland waterways. At Cavalcade he can always be found working on an information stand or some other part of the background work. He is also very knowledgeable about the inland waterways and is a regular contributor to the waterways press, often writing to correct errors that have appeared in print.

Dave Pearson has served on the Birmingham, Black Country & Worcestershire Branch for more than 10 years, with four years as Chair. He has supported many local and national events enthusiastically acting as harbourmaster, a challenging job, on many occasions. He has been instrumental in developing and maintaining good relations between IWA and local waterways organisations such as the BCN Society and Coombeswood Canal Trust.

Dave largely initiated the Bradley Canal restoration, acting as Chair during its recent phase and driving it forward. He also actively supports the Lapal Canal restoration. He has a vast knowledge of waterways and other forms of transport, which has been very beneficial to the branch and to IWA in general.

Christopher Power Prize This is awarded to a person, society or trust who has made the most significant contribution to the restoration of an inland waterway. There is a cash prize associated with this award, which is given to the waterway restoration group associated with the winner, where the winner is a named individual. The aims and objectives of the group must be consistent with those of IWA. The trophy, a carved wooden otter, was presented to the Association by Volvo Penta. This prize was awarded to John Dodwell who has nominated the Montgomery Waterway Restoration Trust to receive the cash prize. Both the Trust and John are very deserving of this award.

John is Chair of the Montgomery Canal Partnership, which brings together various groups interested in completing the restoration of the Canal, including the Montgomery Waterway Restoration Trust. The Trust’s record for accessing substantial new sources of funding is outstanding, largely thanks to his in-depth knowledge of funders, coupled with his skill in preparing bids. Funding the restoration of a canal that runs through two different countries (each with its own unique legislation and grant regimes) is a special challenge.

The combination of contractors working alongside volunteers to ensure speedy delivery of new build and sympathetic restoration has proved highly effective.

The pace of progress over the past five years gives hope that we will see the full restoration of the Montgomery Canal achieved in the coming five years. As a result of his skilled leadership, the reputation of the Montgomery Waterway Trust is at an all-time high. Other major restoration groups are quick to praise John’s willingness to share his deep knowledge of SSSIs and offer support in a discreet way.

John is a highly effective ambassador for the wider inland waterways restoration movement.

Dave Pearson and his Richard Bird Medal

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Bob Fox

At its Annual General Meeting, IWA presented a number of awards to individuals and groups, celebrating their contributions to the Association and to the waterways.

Winter 2023 17/10/2023 16:53

Waterways News

Branch Achievement Award

Cyril Styring trophy

This is presented to the IWA branch which, in the opinion of a panel consisting of the National Chair, Deputy National Chairs and Chief Executive, has made the greatest progress and achievement in promoting the association’s aims and objectives during the past year.

This year the award went to the Birmingham, Black Country & Worcestershire Branch. Not only have its members carried out all their regular activities in terms of work parties and monitoring planning activities, but they have also been highly active in promoting the Fund Britain’s Waterways aspects of IWA’s Protect Our Waterways campaign, ensuring the success of the Birmingham campaign cruise in August, and also in the gaining of Heritage Inland Port status for Stourport.

The Association’s premier award goes to an IWA member who has, in the opinion of Trustees, made an outstanding contribution in furthering the Association’s campaign. This year it was awarded to Christine Smith.

Christine has worked in many roles in IWA and to all of them she has brought boundless quantities of enthusiasm and efficiency. She was not only Deputy Chair but also Publicity Manager and Liaison Officer for Canalway Cavalcade for a number of years. Her devotion to her various roles within the Cavalcade team has meant that she has had more or less a fulltime job for months at a time, but she has still found time to encourage others and has shown determination and resilience in the face of obstacles placed by statutory bodies. Christine has ensured the success of Canalway Cavalcade and has been largely responsible for it becoming such a major event.

In addition to Cavalcade, Christine was also Publicity Manager for the Festival of Water and, before moving out of London, served on the South London Branch Committee, helping to ensure the high quality of social events it runs.

Christine has made an outstanding contribution to IWA and is a thoroughly deserved winner of IWA’s most prestigious award.

IWA concern over CRT licence fee rises Bob Fox and the Branch Achievement Award

Vivian Bulkeley-Johnson Salt priz Awarded for the first time since 2013, the prize is given to the person or organisation who, in the opinion of Trustees upon a recommendation from IWA’s Inland Waterways Freight Group, has made an outstanding contribution to the furtherance of commercial waterways transport in the UK. The trophy is a hallmarked solid-silver salt, presented by Vivian Bulkeley-Johnson, a former IWA Treasurer from the 1950s and member of the Rothschild banking family, who financed the Willow Wren carrying operation. The award was presented to John Spencer who runs GPS Marine, a successful family firm engaged in a wide range of inland waterways activities (based on the Thames and Medway).

John has been running a lobbying campaign to promote inland waterways freight across the board, certainly not limiting himself to GPS’s sphere of operation. He is largely responsible for the fact that pretty well all the commercial operators on the Thames are now running on HVO with the very substantial savings in emissions and particulates this represents.

Over the past couple of years he has been extremely helpful in guiding the IWA Sustainable Boating Group with its trial work with HVO for use in inland waterways craft, and has won a wide range of freight, logistics and sustainability awards. Subsequent to his nomination for the Salt, John has taken over as Chair of the Inland Waterways Freight Group and will be leading an active campaign to increase the use of the waterways for freight.

Winter 2023 News-Final.indd 15

IWA is disappointed that the announcement by Canal & River Trust of its intention to increase boat licence fees disproportionately for different user groups does not take on board the concerns that IWA and many other organisations and individuals raised.

Firstly, we are opposed to the introduction of surcharges that appear to be an attempt to change the principle that there is only one type of licence, the Pleasure Boat Licence.

We are also still concerned about the divisive effect of the consultation and ensuing discussion and announcement on the boating community, particularly at a time when CRT and the waterways need everyone’s support.

Boaters use the waterways in a variety of ways, either with or without a home mooring. It is not necessarily the case that continuous cruisers use the system and its facilities more than boaters with a home mooring.

IWA does support the proposal to charge by area, as this would bring CRT in line with the Environment Agency’s charging system and make Gold Licence administration more straightforward.

Regarding overall price rises, bearing in mind that CRT is dependent for a good part of its income on a Government grant that is not inflation linked, we appreciate that the trust has no option but to try to raise more from other sources to compensate. However, increasing the licence fee beyond inflation risks pricing boaters off the system, or boaters simply being unable to pay, which could result in a net loss.

We would like to see CRT achieving a considerable increase in the non-boating income from all those who currently enjoy the waterways and whose benefits will suffer if they deteriorate.

Alongside this, we (and the Fund Britain’s Waterways action group) will continue to campaign for local and national government to recognise the many benefits including health and well-being that the inland waterways provide to a large part of the population and to fund them accordingly.

IWA Waterways |

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17/10/2023 16:59

Heritage Inland Port status for

Stourporton-Severn

Shellfen at Stourport.

David Struckett celebrates Stourport’s success at being named an Inland Waterways Heritage Port

I

n May 2020 – now over three years ago – Brian Corbett of the Maritime Heritage Trust (MHT) contacted IWA on realising that the idea of Heritage Harbours aligned closely with the Association’s concern for the heritage of inland ports, both to conserve and make greater use for visitors and to promote the retention of maritime industry and trades.

The pressures from unscrupulous developers and careless planning had led to the loss in many cases of access, facilities for boaters, historic buildings and use by boats of a historic nature, as well as capacity of the harbour or port designation.

We duly circulated information from MHT which, together with Historic Ships and Historic England, was promoting the scheme. Chester declared Heritage Inland Port status in 2021 and Shardlow in 2022 but, while we thought at an early stage that Stourport would be an almost ideal candidate with its origins at the beginning of the ‘canal age’, it was difficult getting support from a pre-occupied town council.

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Shellfen arriving.

Winter 2023 17/10/2023 11:28

Heritage Harbours

However, one advantage of a couple of local elections, and ‘biding time’, was that the right people were found who might just work together and respond to this ‘vision’ of a heritage guardian organisation that could pull things together. A meeting was called by David Struckett of BBCW Branch of IWA, consisting of local councillors (of all parties), the local civic society, canal society, and Stourport Forward, a development steering group set up at the time of the basin redevelopment programme soon after the turn of the millennium.

A few individual people came as well, making 25 attendees, on 18th April 2023. A Zoom connection was made with MHT for its input, the meeting was addressed by David, and several people asked questions. After half an hour the question was put: how many people think this (Heritage Harbour project) is a good idea? Result: unanimous raising of hands!

A second question followed: how many would be prepared to help, either serving on a proposed steering group or in any other way? About 12 people raised their hands, which was plenty for the subsequent discussions to get attendees talking to each other and fixing meetings.

As a direct result of this approach, regular meetings of a working group agreed both immediate objectives and discussed longer-term possibilities, and came up with 9th September 2023 at Stourport Yacht Club (as it occupies the clock warehouse) to announce to the world our new status. The day dawned bright and sunny, the Mayor, Councillor Mike Freeman, dressed up in his mayoral robes (and got rather hot). David opened proceedings by reminding everyone of the purpose of the day. Waterways World and Towpath Talk reporters were there to witness the spectacle, and Richard Parry (CEO of Canal & River Trust) spoke of his enthusiasm for Stourport: “what a wonderful place” and his support for the project.

The yacht club put on a barbecue and three stalls were there for fun and information (including IWA), while Stourport Civic Society put on a display of the history of the area. Elsewhere, the Fetch Theatre was entertaining children, Starline Narrowboats was open to visitors (including its workshops and a hire boat), and the narrowboat Bramble was on display to visitors. Also, the historic Severn barge River King was plying its trade on the river with passengers on the hour, and an unexpected visiting barge Shellfen on its maiden voyage after an extensive refit made the day (from my viewpoint).

It was unfortunate that three historic vessels were unable to attend as expected due to the extended stoppage for emergency repairs at Wolverley Court lock. They would have added boat-building interest, especially as one had been built in Stourport by Holt Abbott, one of the founder members of IWA. The longer-term possibilities of our Heritage Stourport group will hopefully be to address the several items of unfinished business from the basin redevelopment days, as well as to put the town and waterway connections on the tourist trails, both by Winter 2023 Stourport-Final.indd 17

Right and Below: Stourport plaque unveiling with David Struckett and the Mayor, Councillor Mike Freeman. all pictures courtesy of Rupert Smedley

water and land. Sadly, Brian Corbett passed away last autumn, but at least he had been in touch with the town council and knew that we were determined to start discussions. Mr Henry Cleary of MHT now chairs the Heritage Harbour scheme and facilitates regular communication between all ten sites. May it grow as more harbours and ports find they have a heritage to be proud of.

We are positive about the future use of this new status at Stourport, as various members of local authorities, both staff and elected councillors, as well as committed local organisations, are looking forward to creating a permanent consortium to this end, at next month’s meeting.

IWA Waterways |

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17/10/2023 11:28

HIGHLIGHTING THE BENEFITS

WATERWAYS FOR TODAY BENEFITS 3 and 8 In the final article of her series, Alison Smedley highlights another two of the 12 benefits outlined in IWA’s Waterways for Today report. Here, she explores the reasons why waterways can help save public expenditure on health and social care, and provide opportunities for young people.

Benefit 3:

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

Savings to the NHS and social care budgets Waterways can improve the health and well-being of people living near or on them, and are well placed to deliver social prescribing. The Lowland Canals of Scotland were restored with millennium funding and reopened in 2001. Studies carried out since then into the impact of the waterways on people in areas of high socio-economic deprivation found living beside a restored waterway cuts the risk of chronic disease and improves longevity.

Health practitioners are increasingly prescribing non-clinical services to address social, emotional or practical needs, such as mental health. Waterwaybased activities including canoeing and paddle-boarding, as well as towpath walking, jogging and even volunteering, are now available on prescription in many places.

Meanwhile, social workers and other professionals supporting troubled young people find that walking along a canal or river often encourages them to open up in ways they would never do in face-to-face formal meetings.

Investment in access to towpaths and waterway-based activities will bring these opportunities to many more people.

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

“As a foster carer, living on the waterways provided a tranquil and calm place to work with really challenging youngsters who social workers found hard to place. They experienced an alternative environment from the urban areas they came from during their weekends on the boat.”

David Akinsanya, former BBC journalist and public speaker

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Winter 2023 17/10/2023 10:03

Waterways for Today

Benefit 8:

Case study Volunteering on prescription

Education and young people

A partnership between the Canal & River Trust and a local health centre in Rochdale has led to prescriptions for volunteering as part of a holistic approach to better health and wellbeing.

The Lock 50 Gardening Group, part of the Canal & River Trust’s Green Recovery Project, works in partnership with the Wellfield Health Centre. It provides a blue-green space for the local community to engage with practical outdoor tasks on their doorstep through a social- and nature-based solution.

The health centre’s canalside location provides facilities such as toilets and storage for tools. This partnership has improved the health and well-being of dozens of participants, as well as seeing the transformation of green spaces for wildlife and people. Several volunteers have gone on to employment and further volunteering opportunities, demonstrating the impact that blue-green spaces can have on well-being, physical and mental health, and wider community engagement.

“If I wasn’t involved with this project, I would just be sat at home staring at four walls, which is not good for me. It’s just great being out and about in nature. It certainly clears your head.”

Volunteer, Rochdale Canal

Britain’s inland waterways offer some amazing hands-on education opportunities, particularly in science, technology and maths subjects, but also in humanities and the arts.

Outdoor classrooms and visits to local waterways provide a unique opportunity for school-aged children to get out of the classroom and see the built and natural heritage of their local waterway – at near zero cost to the education budget.

Our inland waterways played a key role in the Industrial Revolution, and visits to local canals and rivers can bring this history to life for young people. They can watch boats being worked through locks in exactly the same way they would have been 250 years ago, and help push a lock gate closed on stones worn smooth by centuries of other people standing in the same place doing the same thing.

Waterways offer many opportunities for intergenerational learning too. Visits, whether in school groups or with families, can also instil in young people an appreciation for the natural environment and the world around them.

Our waterways are an excellent introduction to the basics of how to harness nature effectively and are a brilliant gateway to STEM subjects, with teaching infrastructure (locks, bridges, channels) inspiring young people on to future careers such as civil engineering.

“I was lucky enough to grow up in the industrial North, around the waterways, which gave me a fascination with history as well as a deep-rooted understanding of the place that I’m from, and the impact it had on me.”

Liz McIvor, historian, author and presenter of BBC’s Canals: The Making of a Nation

Facts & Stats n A study led by Glasgow Caledonian University between 2001 and 2018 found that people living in deprived areas within 700m of the newly regenerated Forth & Clyde Canal had a 15% lower risk of suffering from cardiovascular disease, stroke or hypertension. n The same study found that it also lowered their risk of diabetes by 12%, and obesity by 10%. n Towpaths are accessible, free of charge and inclusive. For every £1 invested in the canal towpath network, there is a return of £7 in health benefits. n ‘Beat the Street’, a game that aims to get communities active and make physical activity accessible to everyone, was rolled out on canal towpaths in Sheffield, Burnley and Leicester over six weeks in the summer of 2021, with 11% of the local population taking part. The Canal & River Trust reported that 63% of participants were 18 or under and 37% were from ethnically diverse communities. There are plans to introduce the game at other canalside locations.

Winter 2023 Benefits-Final.indd 19

IWA Waterways |

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17/10/2023 10:03

Waterways for Today

Case study Youth engagement on the Kennet & Avon Canal A youth engagement programme run by the Canal & River Trust has succeeded in making waterways more relevant to young people living near the Kennet & Avon Canal.

Collaborating with Wiltshire Wildlife Trust, the project targeted people aged nine to 18 who were experiencing difficulties, disadvantage or vulnerability. Pupils from a local primary school, who struggle with a formal classroom setting, benefitted from weekly outdoor activities based in and around the natural environment. Another group took part in school holiday activities through a local police charity, while a third group were young carers involved in the practical or emotional support of parents, siblings or other family members.

The activities included boat trips, learning how to operate locks and den building, all of which helped youngsters with their self-esteem and confidence, communication skills, attitude, aspiration and resilience to learning through challenges. The programme also created positive student/adult relationships. Young people left with a greater awareness of the waterways plus new skills, including safe use of tools and controlled risk-taking.

20 | IWA Waterways Benefits-Final.indd 20

Facts & Stats n Research by the Blagrave Trust found that almost all outdoor learning interventions have a positive effect and that repeat, overnight or multiday activities had a stronger impact than shorter ones. Waterways close to schools offer ideal locations for repeat and varied exposure to the outdoor environment. n IWA’s Waterway Recovery Group has been offering family volunteering opportunities since 2017. Run as residential weekends, they have so far introduced 126 individuals to waterway restoration in a safe and inclusive environment, led by experienced volunteers. The events provide training activities for young people to improve skills and knowledge, while also teaching the importance of volunteering and of our industrial heritage. n Understanding and appreciating what has gone before is essential for creating a more sustainable planet. Lessons can be learnt from the past, while developing solutions for the future.

Winter 2023 17/10/2023 10:03

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21

16/10/2023 13:32

A lifelong love affair Ross Stokes talks to Andrew Phasey about his passion for our inland waterways and his plans to lead a campaign cruise on the Thames to the Palace of Westminster next month.

W

hen Andrew Phasey retired from the military in 2005 after 37 years, he could have been excused for wanting to take things easy. “I thought I would be smoking a pipe and wearing slippers, but things don’t work out like that, do they” the ex-Grenadier guard tells me over the phone from his base in Stourport-on-Severn where he runs a training centre with his wife Frances.

The couple share a lifelong passion for the water, having met as teenagers at a Stafford Education Committee. Today, at 73, Andrew is still active on the water, running boat handling courses up and down the country and taking on a variety of voluntary roles, while Frances is principal of Littlebury Training, managing the centre’s busy diary and ensuring Andrew is up to date with boat handling and under-pinning knowledge.

After he retired in 2005, Andrew came up with the idea of becoming a Boat Safety Scheme examiner, undertaking all the necessary training and qualifications.

Later he set up an RYA training centre for boaters on the River Severn and Stourport Basin.

The couple commissioned a 45ft narrowboat in 1997 from a small boat-builder and later sailed it to London where they fell in love with St Pancras Cruising Club.

“Frances loved the gardens,” Andrew recalls.

Over more than 25 years, the pair have maintained a strong link with the club with Andrew serving as commodore. The club encourages boaters from all over the country to enjoy the capital’s impressive rivers and canals, and organises many popular boating events.

“If SPCC has a speciality, it’s planning and executing safe and immensely enjoyable convoy cruises on the capital’s tidal waters: the Thames, Bow Creek, Deptford Creek, Barking Creek, Dartford Creek and the River Medway,” says Andrew. “It welcomes all boaters on these adventures, provided both boats and crews are river worthy.

“We’re happy to spend time helping crews prepare for these tideway adventures and we continue to be blessed with a good number of hugely knowledgeable and experienced tideway navigators, who give freely of their time and expertise as guides, mentors, VHF operators, tidal lock-keepers and the most competent crew one could wish to boat with.”

It was in his role as SPCC commodore in 2012 that Andrew led a convoy of 40 narrowboats as part of the 1,000-strong flotilla up the Thames for Queen Elizabeth II’s diamond jubilee celebrations. More than two years in the planning, Andrew and his fellow narrowboaters had to demonstrate that they were up to the task to the organisers and the Port of London Authority.

“I remember it was a cold and grey morning as we made our way up the Thames to join the fleet,” Andrew recalls of that spectacular day when boats of all shapes and sizes joined in the celebrations on the river. “People were already gathering on the bridges to cheer us on.”

Andrew and Frances were involved in another boat procession of an entirely different nature on the Thames five years earlier. In 2007 their boat was part of a fleet of 31 narrowboats that sailed from West India Docks to the Palace of Westminster to raise awareness of the need for more funding for inland waterways. The journey was not made easy, with weather typical for

Andrew teaches anchor drills at St Pancras Cruising Club

22 | IWA Waterways Phasey-Final.indd 22

Winter 2023 18/10/2023 07:44

Love Your Waterways

Boating abroad

Narrowboat convoy on the Thames

“We have to maintain our navigation ways, not just for boaters but for walkers, cyclists and anglers too.

Everyone stands to gain – birdwatchers, kayakers, rowers, paddleboarders – there has to be space for all of us.” the time of year – January, to coincide with the boat show at Excel.

Andrew recalls a big marine police presence on the day, with all vessels boarded and served with ‘stop and search notices’ before being allowed to continue on their way.

“Barry Gardiner, the minister responsible for waterways at the time, later left his post.

I don’t know whether it was because of or in spite of our actions,” says Andrew who, as

part of the Fund Britain’s Waterways steering group, is planning a similar campaign cruise to Westminster next month.

Narrowboats will assemble overnight at West India Docks on Monday 13th November, before sailing at noon the following day to Westminster. Eighteen boats have so far agreed to take part, including one or two larger commercial vessels. Andrew hopes a few more will join the cause, as well as supporters on the neighbouring bridges. “It is a big river and we want to have a presence so we are looking for as many boats as possible to join us.”

The Phaseys haven’t lost any enthusiasm for the cause and remain as passionate as ever about our waterways.

“We have to maintain our navigation ways, not just for boaters but for walkers, cyclists and anglers too,” says Andrew.

“Everyone stands to gain – birdwatchers, kayakers, rowers, paddleboarders – there has to be space for all of us. It costs time and money to ensure the waterways are kept in good condition.”

The Phaseys also own a 50-year-old Dutch steel river cruiser moored in Brussels. They enjoy hosting visitors keen to learn the ropes about boating on the Continent which differs significantly from the UK. “For example, just down the way in Brussels there is a lock which is 225m long by 25m wide with a rise and fall of 9m. We often have to share it with boats of 3,000 and 4,000 tonnes,” says Andrew. “This requires a different sets of skills to the UK.”

The Phaseys’ Dutch river cruiser Hafren in Ittre lock, one of the deepest in Belgium

Professional activities Andrew is a RYA instructor in various disciplines, including Inland Waters Helmsman, marine band VHF, Diesel engine, first aid, and the International Certificate of Competence.

Volunteering

Frances at the helm of their narrowboat

Winter 2023 Phasey-Final.indd 23

Andrew’s volunteer activities include: • Chair of Royal Yachting Association Inland Navigation Panel.

• CRT Council representing Association of Waterways Cruising Clubs (AWCC).

• Elected member of CRT Appointments Committee.

• Vice-chair National Executive Committee of AWCC. • Boat Safety Scheme Technical Committee and BSS Management Committee.

• Senior trainer and assessor for the IWA’s Certificate of Boat Management (COBM).

IWA Waterways |

23

17/10/2023 11:42

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17/10/2023 11:10

Festival of Water

Festival of Water

'Joey' Convoy a highlight

Winter 2023 FOW-Final.indd 25

Convoy at festival site.

Hundreds of visitors attended the festival.

IWA Waterways |

Joe Dixey

Mike Anson

Convoy on Wyrley & Essington.

Joe Dixey

Drive a digger was a popular attraction.

Pelsall Bridge.

Mike Anson

H

undreds of visitors flocked to the annual IWA Festival of Water at Pelsall North Common over the August Bank Holiday weekend. The event was especially popular among families, with children enjoying a range of activities – from driving a digger to testing their skills in the Arena with Giant Jenga, Connect 4, football and tug of war.

Festival visitors were treated to an unexpected reenactment of the coal-carrying era on the Sunday morning. Bernard Hales and a group of his friends assembled a convoy of five BCN day-boats, otherwise known as ‘Joeys’, and then spent two days towing them to the festival site behind the tug Enterprise No 1. Much to the delight of the festival organisers and attendees, the resulting train of boats emerged from Pelsall Works Bridge and paraded the length of the festival site. To round off the spectacle, the crews pulled off a fine feat of boatmanship by turning the entire convoy, which comprised more than 400ft of linked boats, in the entrance of the Cannock Extension Canal, and then returned the way they had come.

The festival boasted an incredible choice of food and refreshments including stone-baked pizzas, gourmet burgers, Caribbean street food and ice cream. Trade stalls offered everything from toys and books to marine engine parts, pet portraits, jams, chutneys, cookies and even bonsai trees. There were a number of charity stalls too, with many promoting specific restoration projects in the local area and beyond including the Birmingham Canal Navigation Society, Lichfield & Hatherton Canals Restoration Trust, and the Wilts & Berks Canal Trust.

The bar was popular, serving a wide choice of beverages including ciders and ales. Trade was steady throughout the weekend and was spurred on by a good turnout for the Open Mic Variety Show and a superb programme of entertainment. There was never a dull moment in the Entertainments Marquee where local artistes and festival favourites performed, including Miles & Margaret, The Buskateers, and Reflections.

More than 70 boats – from traditional working boats to modern narrowboats, all adorned with bunting, banners and flags, were moored on the Wyrley & Essington Canal in Pelsall. The variety and sheer volume of boats attracted a great deal of interest while the static Illuminated Boat Display proved very popular as festivalgoers enjoyed strolling along the towpath on Sunday evening to admire the vibrant spectacle.

The Ray Dunford Trophy for the best illuminated/decorated boat was awarded to Terry Smith for his narrowboat Moranwyl Phyllis, with commendations going to Bob and Mary Metcalf of Chedoona.

25

17/10/2023 10:04

Past Events Birmingham Campaign Cruise

Campaign gains

momentum

Kev Maslin (Chasing the Boats)

As mentioned in the Autumn 2023 edition of Waterways magazine, IWA is a member of Fund Britain’s Waterways (FBW). FBW is a coalition of organisations representing hundreds of thousands of users and supporters of inland waterways. The group is campaigning for national and local government to act now and protect the public benefit and natural capital of our waterways.

The FBW campaign has gained momentum rapidly in recent months, and awareness of the group has increased considerably within the waterways community and media. Support for the group has not just been limited to waterways users however, as successful campaigning events including cruises in Birmingham and Gloucester have helped to generate support from the general public too.

A Fund Britain’s Waterways Campaign Cruise took place in Birmingham city centre on 13th August. The event was well attended and we certainly made our presence known, with over 50 boats gathering outside the Mailbox and plenty of supporters on the towpaths and footbridge too.

This has helped to increase awareness of the campaign considerably – not just among people who happened to be in Birmingham on the day but also on social media and in both regional and national press.

The Campaign Cruise was featured on television with coverage appearing on both ITV Central News and the BBC Breakfast Show. It was also mentioned in radio broadcasts with Radio 4 and Radio 5. In addition to ITV and BBC, the Press Association also covered the event which resulted in articles on The Independent, AOL News, Yahoo News and Birmingham World websites.

Visit the FBW website to read news articles and press coverage, or to watch a recording of the presentation that was livestreamed during the event: fundbritainswaterways.org.uk/fbw-news#media.

Gloucester Campaign Rally and Cruise A newly formed group called Fund Gloucester’s Waterways organised a rally and cruise which took place at Gloucester Docks on 30th September. The group, which is a member of Fund Britain’s Waterways, has been campaigning for more government funding for waterways in Gloucestershire. The Gloucester Campaign Rally and Cruise saw dozens of boats cruise from Saul Junction to the Main Basin in Gloucester Docks.

Waterways supporters took part in a march on foot from the National Waterways Museum and joined with boaters to hear talks at midday from both national and local waterways groups. Speakers included Les Etheridge – Chair of Fund Britain’s Waterways and former IWA National Chair – and Richard Parry, CEO of the Canal & River Trust.

FBW on Tour

The Narrowboat Trust

Throughout the summer, we followed the progress of the Birmingham Canal Navigations Society’s working boats Atlas and Malus as they took #FBWonTour.

The boats started at the Fund Britain’s Waterways Campaign Cruise in Birmingham, before making their way down to Brownhills Canal Festival. Their next stop was our Festival of Water 2023 in Pelsall which took place during the August Bank Holiday weekend.

Meanwhile, there was also plenty of discussion about the Fund Britain’s Waterways campaign at Retro on the Water which is an event that took place in Gloucester on the same weekend.

The end of August didn’t mean the end of the voyage for Atlas and Malus, however, as they continued the tour by attending the Black Country Boating Festival which took place in September at the Bumble Hole Nature Reserve.

Upcoming Events Westminster Campaign Cruise Membership FBW has almost 100 members now and we hope that the group will soon well surpass this milestone.

We welcome suggestions so please email the FBW Membership Team if you are aware of any organisations that may wish to join: membership@ fundbritainswaterways.org.uk

Following a successful event in Birmingham in August, Fund Britain’s Waterways has organised another Campaign Cruise. This time, it will be held in Westminster in order to increase awareness of the funding issues facing our waterways amongst MPs and parliamentarians. The cruise past the Palace of Westminster will take place on Tuesday 14th November 2023. Please do consider getting involved, either by bringing your boat, assisting as crew, or failing that – waving and shouting your support from Westminster Bridge. fundbritainswaterways.org.uk/fbw-activities

Visit our website for more information: fundbritainswaterways.org.uk 26 | IWA Waterways Campaign-Final.indd 26

Winter 2023 17/10/2023 15:34

Campaigning With You

Protect Our Waterways

Get Involved Petition

Please sign the Fund Britain’s Waterways petition which calls on the prime minister to guarantee future funding of the entire 5,000-mile network of navigable canals and rivers.

The FBW campaigning coalition aims to deliver hundreds of thousands of signatures to 10 Downing Street this autumn.

There’s so much at stake. Please add your name and help us by circulating widely to your networks. www.change.org/p/fund-britain-s-waterways

Donate The Fund Britain’s Waterways group now has the ability to accept donations so please do consider donating to FBW. Making a donation will help the group to continue campaigning for government to provide sufficient grant funding to retain the huge environmental, economic and social benefits that Britain’s inland waterways provide. All the donations will go into a restricted fund and will contribute towards campaign costs for Fund Britain’s Waterways. the_inland_waterways_association.donr.com/fbw2

Resources FBW has developed a range of free resources to help you to get involved in the campaign and show your support for the waterways. These resources can be downloaded from our website here: fundbritainswaterways.org.uk/fbw-resources

Window Stickers Attendees at upcoming IWA or FBW events such as the Westminster Campaign Cruise will be able to collect a free, professionally printed window sticker from the campaign stand. We are also considering ways to distribute window stickers to IWA members, either by including them in membership renewal packs or with future editions of Waterways magazine.

In the meantime, please download, print and proudly display a temporary window sticker from the FBW website.

Whether you are afloat or on dry land, these will send out a striking message.

Social Media Graphics You can show your support for the campaign by sharing our social media posts. However, we also encourage you to create your own posts using the range of social media graphics available on the FBW website. Just make sure to include the hashtag #FundBritainsWaterways in your posts! You can also make a real statement by updating your cover photo on Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn to our FBW cover graphics.

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

The campaign has been promoted alongside the Fund Britain’s Waterways campaign at IWA events throughout the summer. Visitors to our Festival of Water event stopped by the campaign stand to learn more about the work we are doing to #ProtectOurWaterways and to collect a free window sticker.

Attendees at our AGM in September enjoyed a presentation about Protect Our Waterways by then National Chair, Les Etheridge, and Deputy Chair, Sue O’Hare. The presentation detailed the progress made since 2022 from a campaigning perspective and explored some of the funding issues which led IWA to launch the Protect Our Waterways campaign in 2023. It also provided an insight into the launch of Fund Britain’s Waterways and a summary of the progress made by the group so far.

Even if you haven’t been able to attend any IWA events recently, there are still plenty of ways that you can get involved in the campaign including: Writing to your MP to tell them how much you love your local waterways using our downloadable template: waterways. org.uk/letter-writingcampaign Identifying areas where there has been a longterm need for action to correct a fault, but nothing has happened and it just gets worse Volunteering with us to protect the waterways in your local area Sending photos to us which highlight the threats facing our canals by emailing them to protect@ waterways.org.uk or entering them in our Photography Competition (see p9) Helping to spread the word on social media by using the #ProtectOur Waterways hashtag, engaging with our content and sharing our posts Signing up to our campaign mailing list Donating to help us campaign to Protect Our Waterways

• •

• •

•

• •

Visit our website for more information: fundbritainswaterways.org.uk Winter 2023 Campaign-Final.indd 27

IWA Waterways |

27

17/10/2023 10:41

IWA Christmas

gifts & cards FREE POSTAGE

£6.99

2024 IWA Calendar Code X039 320 x 172mm One month to view with space for daily notes.

Illustrated with a waterway scene in a detachable postcard format.

Calendar Envelope

Free

Code x036 Add required quantity to your order.

shop now

£3.75

Save money on our Unique Heritage Collection featuring iconic British waterways structures.

£8

Notelets Code IWA507

T-shirt Code various

Tea Towel code IWA500

174 x 118mm, 10 in a pack with envelopes

Sizes S-XXXL 100% organic cotton

450 x 700mm Premium cotton

Gift Ideas p028-029_iwa.indd 28

£5

Tote Bag code IWA508

£6

Sturdy eco canvas tote, long handles

£6.50

A5 Notebook code IWA509

141 x 210mm, 96 ivory lined sheets

waterways.org.uk/shop 16/10/2023 13:43

p

Christmas Cards £3.99 (per pack)

Code X151 Fulbourne, Stretton Arm Photo by Tim Lewis

Code X150 New Mills Peak Forest Canal Photo by Victor Gibbons

Recent Christmas Favourites

Code X152 Marple Peak Forest Canal Photo by Nicola Turner

£3.50

Printed on high quality card.

Supplied in packs of ten per design.

Message inside:

“With Best Wishes for Christmas and the New Year”

£3.50

Code X147 Trent & Mersey Canal Photo by Andrew Murdoch

£3.50

Code X146 Bridge 75, Milton Keynes Photo by Roger Agnew

£3.50

Code X149 Broad St. Bridge, BCN Based on a photo by Kev Maslin

£3.50

All packs consist of a mixture of designs from previous years.

Envelopes included.

Pack A Code X025

50 Christmas Cards.

10 cards each of five designs.

Pack B Code X026 Code X145 Winter Cruising (Audlem) Original painting by Dave Gardham

Code X148 Old Turn Junction Based on a photo by Alan Baylis

£14.95

£9.95

30 Christmas Cards.

10 cards each of three designs.

Postage is free on specified items

Find out more and visit our website to see lots more designs

01494 783 453 p028-029_iwa.indd 29

however, when they are purchased with non-specified items, UK postage costs £3.50. Free postage when you spend over £40. See website for details.

FREE POSTAGE

When you spend £40 or more 16/10/2023 13:43

Walk with iwa Discover new ways to enjoy the waterways with our self-guided walks. Follow the step-by-step instructions in this guide or online using your smartphone, and find out about history and heritage features along the way. More walks are available at waterways.org.uk/walks.

Exploring

Dadlington and the Ashby Canal Walk Clive Walker takes a canalside stroll .

D

adlington is a picture-postcard Leicestershire village, which has close connections with Richard III and the Battle of Bosworth. It is the only recorded burial site for the slain from the battle and the church itself is well worth a visit if it is open.

Local history The Roman Fenn Lanes, the Ashby Canal and the Ashby & Nuneaton Joint Railway all pass through this pretty parish which has a rich history dating to Saxon times.

Dadlington has close connections with Richard III, who lost his throne and his life at the Battle of Bosworth in 1485. Recent findings place his death in the Parish of Dadlington and, in 2015, Richard’s body returned to the village on its journey for reinterment at Leicester Cathedral.

The area is also associated with the Quaker movement, with founder George Fox born in the nearby village of Fenny Drayton where a monument stands to his memory. Fox’s mother is believed to have been born in Dadlington.

In the 1830s there were reports of a great stir in the district concerning grave robbers and the appearance of the ghost of a lady on a white horse.

The story goes that a beautiful young local girl fell in love with a farmer and

30 | IWA Waterways Walk-Final .indd 30

married him against her landed family’s wishes. However, the farmer died within a year and the girl died shortly after, and was buried alongside her husband. Her parents felt great remorse and decided that their daughter should be reburied in the family plot.

They hired four labourers from Hinckley to dig up her body in Dadlington churchyard, under the cover of darkness. However, their work was clumsy and broken bits of the coffin were left strewn all over the churchyard.

The four labourers laid low and kept their silence as the nocturnal activities became the subject of village gossip.

Unable to contain their curiosity, however, they set out for the village one evening to listen to the stories. As they made their way home by horse and cart, their path was blocked by a lady on a white horse.

To their horror they recognised the face of the dead woman whose corpse they had recently moved. They watched in horror as the horse bolted and jumped a hedge into an arable field and disappeared.

The tale of the graveyard marauders was told by one of them to local historian Tom Harrold who recorded the story for prosperity. More local facts and information about the area can be found at dadlington-history.myfreesites.net.

The walk 1 Dadlington church

Start your walk with the Dog and Hedgehog pub to your left and Dadlington church to your right, and head slightly downhill to a road junction to pick up a footpath on the opposite side of the road.

Over stile 1. You are now in a disused quarry. Note the metal beacon on the far side of the quarry, which is used to commemorate historic events. Follow the distinct path down into the quarry and up the other side to stile 2. Then turn right and follow the fence on the right to stile 3. Continue ahead to go down towards the canal.

2 Cross Bridge 31 Note the metal girders and the rails. Go down the steps and proceed left along the towpath passing under the bridge.

Beware: this stretch between bridges 31 and 32 is popular with walkers and can become very muddy. After walking ½ mile, leave the towpath by a green Winter 2023 17/10/2023 10:42

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waymarker at bridge 33. Go through two metal gates and cross over the bridge to access a further metal gate. You are now on the Leicestershire Round, a long-distance path that skirts the county boundary.

Stoke

1

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3 Cross the field Cross the field to a further two gates between a footbridge which takes you STOKE GOLDING over a field drainage ditch. Now look for Roseway a yellow footpath marker in the hedge, 7 6 diagonally on your right; alternatively ad d Ro o o w Sher turn right here and go around the edge of ad ST MARTIN’S d Ro oad the field until you find it. Cross over the woo yR CONVENT SCHOOL Sher kle Hin ditch and turn sharp left following the Statio n Roa duntil you reach a road hedge boundary, 6 St Martin’s Convent School where you will see a further yellow post ahead of you, turn immediately right by a low brick bridge. and follow the hedge to the corner of the At the footpath marker in the middle field which brings you onto a broad farm of the field, veer left, go over stile 4 4 Stapleton Lane track. Follow this track with its avenue and proceed slightly uphill to the field Cross Stapleton Lane and continue to of oak trees, passing some allotments on edge. Instead of going through the gate follow the Leicestershire Round, which your left and a farm on your right, until shares the route with the Ambion Way you come to a road. St Martin’s Convent at this point. The unnamed meandering School can be seen off to your left. brook to your left marks the county 7 Hinckley Road boundary.

Once you’ve reached St Martin’s 5 Leicestershire Round Convent School, cross the road carefully After around ¼ mile you will be able to to the pavement on the opposite side. cross this brook on a footbridge. There Now turn right and follow Hinckley are two arrows on the footpath marker Road for ½ mile back to your starting on the opposite bank. Ignore the footpath point in Dadlington. to the left and instead continue to follow There are fine views north-eastwards the Leicestershire Round using the arrow once you have passed the housing on pointing to the right. Watch your footing the right. in this field; there are often hidden ruts See if you can spot an unusual where cattle have been grazing. treehouse close to the end of your walk.

Winter 2023 Walk-Final .indd 31

IWA Waterways |

31

17/10/2023 15:36

Springfield Basin

BRANCH

FOCUS

Spotlight on...

Chelmsford branch

SPRINGFIELD BASIN The Chelmsford Branch was formed in the 1970s. The Chelmer & Blackwater Navigation, which is 14 miles from Heybridge to Chelmsford, was in private ownership at this time. The branch spent the early years campaigning for the opening of the navigation to recreational craft following the end of commercial traffic in 1972. Several boat rallies were held in Chelmsford, resulting in private craft being allowed on to the navigation and the navigation company operating the trip-boat Victoria.

In 1985, the branch published its report ‘Springfield Basin...and beyond’.

This called for the reopening of the then derelict basin in Chelmsford, provision of a new cut to link with the town’s rivers and the development of the adjoining vacant gasworks land. Springfield Basin was a location in the town centre, at that time the county town of Essex (now a

city), that was little known and became ugly and unappealing with rubbish and run-down buildings. The branch wanted to restore the navigation to its original terminus, but also to bring local people and visitors to the area and to encourage sympathetic reuse of the land surrounding the navigation.

By 1992, it had been possible to arrange partnerships for the restoration of Springfield Basin. The branch would arrange funding and volunteers to restore Springfield Lock and the feeder stream to the basin. Chelmsford Borough Council would allow use of its land, the National Rivers Authority would dredge the basin, and Essex County Council would repair the original canal bridge.

Following the reopening of Springfield Basin in May 1993, the local authority produced a series of development briefs to promote redevelopment of the surrounding area. These initially encouraged

redevelopment at the head of the basin, allowing public access for the first time.

Provision of the new cut to link the navigation to the Rivers Chelmer and Can, which flow through Chelmsford, was supported for many years by council planning policies, only to be dropped by a subsequent change of political control.

Following a further change of leadership, the linking of the rivers is currently being proposed with the construction of a new lock alongside the existing automatic weir. The branch is supporting the council’s Waterways Working Group and Chelmsford River & Canal Link Group (CRACL) to achieve this and to make more use of Chelmsford’s waterways as an asset to the city.

The Springfield Basin area has benefitted in the last 30 years from major urban regeneration and now has a marina and boat mooring at the basin, as well as high-end luxury flats and other properties.

Springfield Basin

32 | IWA Waterways chelmsford-Final.indd 32

Winter 2023 17/10/2023 17:02

Chelmsford Branch

SOCIAL EVENTS

ESSEX WATERWAYS LTD After the restoration of Springfield Basin, the branch continued to assist the navigation company by seeking grant funding and undertaking lock and bank repairs. However, in 2003 the company went into administration, with the possibility that the navigation would close. In the absence of potential operators to take over, the branch worked with IWA to form Essex Waterways Ltd (EWL), a wholly owned subsidiary of IWA, to take responsibility for the operation and maintenance of the Chelmer & Blackwater Navigation.

EWL commenced operation in 2005 as a not-for-profit volunteer-led company managing the waterway for public benefit. Under its management, the navigation is now a commercial success, becoming more popular each year. The branch continues to support EWL. Setting up EWL in 2005 was an ambitious plan and could not have been achieved without some very committed and forward-thinking members of the Chelmsford Branch and from IWA Head Office and Trustees. EWL has some paid staff doing essential work, but it is also dependent upon its unpaid directors and many volunteers.

The branch continues to hold monthly social evenings from September to April with waterway-related talks, as well as the occasional outing.

The committee still monitors and comments on planning applications and local plans that might affect or benefit the navigation. Chelmsford City Council is seeking partners to develop the remaining sites beside the navigation at Chelmer Waterside.

There are currently proposals for a new country park in the river valley to the east of Chelmsford. This, together with the reuse of the redundant waterworks at Sandford Mill, could provide a new visitor destination to serve the expanding city and relieve the pressure on Paper Mill Lock where the increased number of visitors is causing some concern.

Busy scenes at Paper Mill.

VOLUNTEER WORK PARTIES With the success of volunteer work parties in Springfield Basin, the momentum continued with the formation of the Essex Waterway Recovery Group, which provided volunteers for many years to work on the Chelmer & Blackwater Navigation and restoration projects throughout the country.

Today, Essex Waterways has its own volunteer coordinator (lucy.pegram@waterways.org.uk) and volunteers are directed to her. EWL operates three trip-boats with volunteers to raise income towards the maintenance of the waterway. Volunteers also assist with maintenance and improvements.

Winter 2023 chelmsford-Final.indd 33

IWA Waterways |

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17/10/2023 17:02

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