IWA Annual Review 2012/2013

IWA Review of the Year Campaigning for the use, maintenance, and restoration of Britain’s inland waterways

2012/2013

Š Tim Lewis

Welcome Les Etheridge National Chairman

IWA does more for boaters than any other organisation.

IWA advocates the conservation, restoration, good maintenance and sensitive development of all the navigable waterways of the UK, including the structures and buildings of the waterways that are an integral part of the waterway environment.

IWA encourages the fullest use of the inland waterways for recreation and commerce in so far as that is commensurate with the enjoyment of others.

IWA seeks to educate everyone about the use, benefits and heritage of the inland waterways by means of publications, practical examples and participative activities.

In recent months IWA has campaigned on many issues including the failure by some boaters to respect the mooring rules on the Trust’s waterways, the need for greater expenditure and coverage on dredging, and the further attack on red diesel and licensing by a Dutch MEP in the European Parliament.

It has been pleasing to see support from so many areas of the waterways public and progress on all of these issues as a result of that support.

IWA was heavily involved in shaping the proposals for the formation of the new charity, Canal & River Trust (CRT) IWA lobbied hard for a sensible deal from government. IWA is committed to helping make the new charity work and for the Environment Agency’s navigations to be included in CRT’s existing network The recent announcement that the transfer will be delayed is a very considerable disappointment and IWA will continue to campaign for a transfer at the earliest possible time.

At a local level, IWA branches have always supported and campaigned for local waterway issues but have recently become more active organising work parties and clean-ups thanks to the appointment of IWA’s first Branch Campaign Officer in April 2012.

IWA national committees manage, campaign and promote waterway causes and they are always looking to recruit new volunteers. The main national committees that manage various facets of IWA include Finance Committee, Navigation Committee, Restoration Committee, and Promotions & Communications Committee. These committees are particularly looking for individuals with professional skills to bring to the table. If you are able to offer any time or advice please do get in touch by emailing info@waterways.org.uk.

Contents Welcome ...........................................................................................1

What IWA Does for Boaters ............................................10

60 years in the making ..............................................................3

The Next Generation ............................................................12

A year of local Volunteering ...................................................6

Basingstoke Canal .....................................................................14

An Interview with IWA National Chairman ................2 Essex Waterways ..........................................................................4

Case Study: Local Campaigning .........................................11 Financial Activities .....................................................................13

Waterway Recovery Group ..................................................8

Cover photo: Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant rehearsal by Tim Lewis

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Les Etheridge

An interview with IWA National Chairman

When did you gain an interest in the waterways?

I discovered the magic of the inland waterways from a holiday I was reluctantly persuaded to take on the Norfolk Broads in 1971. My first trip on the canals came about in 1976 when I hired a boat from Morgan Giles at Aynho. The Southern Oxford was closed as a result of the drought a few weeks later. Although the lack of water made navigation very difficult, it did nothing to reduce the enjoyment of the trip. Shortly afterwards I read Narrow Boat by Tom Rolt and the inland waterways became part of my life.

Do you own a boat?

Whilst CRT and IWA have similar objectives, we clearly have different roles. CRT is a navigation authority, whereas IWA is not (other than for the Chelmer & Blackwater Navigation) and that potentially leads us at times to different views. A comparison was made at our AGM to CRT being the landlord and IWA being the tenant’s association, and I firmly believe that is a valid way of looking at it.

I bought a narrowboat in 1985 and over the years I have covered as much of the system with my family as holidays have allowed.

How do you view the relationship between the two?

What is your professional background?

I want IWA to always strive to be constructive and professional in our dealings with the Trust as there is no point in action which damages the reputation or image of the waterways. However I have made it clear to the Trust that we will say when we think they are getting it wrong.

In 1979 I qualified as a Fellow of the Institute of Actuaries.

I took early retirement in June 2006 from my position as Chief Executive of a mutual life assurance company based in Tunbridge Wells having been on the board of the company since 1985. I have maintained an interest in the industry since retirement and am now a Non Executive director of a life company with over £10 billion of funds under management.

What has been your involvement in IWA? I have been member for over 30 years. My active role in IWA started in 2004 when I joined IWA’s Finance Committee and was subsequently elected as a trustee in 2006. In 2007 I was appointed Deputy National Chairman and in 2008 became National Treasurer. I was elected National Chairman in 2012.

In 2011 I worked with WRG in respect of IWA’s Inglesham Appeal. Locally, I am also treasurer of IWA’s Kent & East Sussex Branch and was chairman of the organising committee of the 2013 National Trailboat Festival.

How do you view IWA? Some people say that IWA doesn’t represent boaters; this is simply not true. Much of the work we do benefits current and future boaters. We fully recognise the importance of navigation to the health, well being and future viability of the network. I also believe strongly in Waterways for All.

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What is the difference between IWA and the newly formed Canal & River Trust?

What about our relationship with other navigation authorities?

Of course we realise that Canal & River Trust only controls some of our waterways and IWA maintains a close interest in all the others. The Environment Agency remains a public body that has substantial navigation authority responsibilities and IWA continues to campaign for the inclusion of these within Canal & River Trust.

What has IWA been involved with recently?

In recent months IWA has campaigned on many other issues including the failure by some boaters to respect the mooring rules on the Trust’s waterways, the need for greater expenditure and coverage on dredging, and the further attack on red diesel and licensing by a Dutch MEP in the European Parliament. It has been pleasing to see support from so many areas of the waterways public and progress on all of these issues as a result of that support.

What do you think IWA’s main objectives are moving forward?

What I would most like to see in my term as IWA National Chairman would be the delivery of the benefits that Robert Aickman foresaw. To achieve that all inland waterway supporters must work together in a constructive manner and I believe IWA has a leading role to play in ensuring this.

60 years in the making …

© Canal & River Trust

IWA and Canal & River Trust

Over 50 years ago, IWA co-founder and great visionary, Robert Aickman proposed that a National Waterways Conservancy be created as an all purpose authority concerned with all the functions and potentialities of every navigable waterway in the country. Since that time IWA has always maintained the vision of a single body managing the inland waterways although it remained a long term aspiration.

Robert Aickman foresaw the benefits of volunteers and how they would respect and work for a Conservancy but not an Authority.

In July 2012, a new charity, Canal & River Trust was formed to take over management of the waterways, formerly governed

by British Waterways in England and Wales.

IWA was heavily involved in shaping the proposals for the formation of the new charity and lobbied hard for a sensible deal from government.

With the successful launch of Canal & River Trust, IWA reviewed its campaigning priorities. The main priority was the inclusion of the Environment Agency’s navigations within CRT, however the issue of so called ‘continuous moorers’ was also important. IWA is supportive of those who wish to live aboard their boat, and genuine continuous cruisers who travel the system in a progressive journey. IWA raised its concerns at the highest level within CRT and since then CRT has allocated extra resource to deal with the problem. IWA looks forward to seeing the issue dealt with but recognises it will take time.

In September 2012, IWA and Canal & River Trust signed a Memorandum of Understanding at the Trust’s first Public Meeting, which was held at the canal-side Bond Warehouse in Birmingham. The agreement was designed to recognise the mutual interests of the two charitable organisations and establish areas of co-operation as well as outlining specific commitments and responsibilities.

2012 Major IWA Festivals Canalway Cavalcade

Stroud on Water Festival

Preston Guild Canal Festival

A dedicated team of IWA volunteers pulled out all the stops to put on a wonderful show to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee at the annual Canalway Cavalcade at Little Venice during the May Day Bank Holiday weekend in 2012.

Stroud on Water Festival which incorporated the IWA Trailboat Festival was opened by Professor Mark Horton (from BBC’s Coast) and took place from 2nd to 4th June 2012 to give Stroud and Gloucestershire a taste of canal life and a chance to take a 3 mile trip along a newly recovered stretch of the canal.

Preston Guild Canal Festival incorporating IWA’s Campaign Festival took place from 25th to 27th August 2012 on the Lancaster Canal at Haslam Park, Preston. The festival celebrated the 10th anniversary of the opening of the Ribble Link and encouraged visitors to the Preston area of the Canal.

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Essex Waterways Round up of our year

Improvements to the Navigation The new landing stage at the Paper Mill slipway was completed in January 2012 and the planned Waterway Recovery Group Canal Camp took place in February to carry out vegetation management below Hoe Mill.

Work on the second phase of improvements to the North Quay at Heybridge Basin continued into 2012.

The new electricity supply was connected and new shore-power facilities were made operational. The final surfacing of the adjoining car parking was also completed in 2012.

Towpath improvements were also carried out adjoining the Maldon Golf Course.

Works on the North Quay at Heybridge Basin

2012 with the rebuilding of the downstream bridge.

The downstream bridge had seen many years of neglect during which time tree roots and ivy had caused serious damage to the structure which, as a result, required considerable rebuilding.

Essex Waterways had to undertake fairly major repairs to the gents’ part of the facilities block at Heybridge during August, 2012. The extent of rebuilding required was far greater than anticipated. Similar work was carried out to the ladies’ part of the block in October and included the installation of new showers, lighting and painting.

WRG at Rushes Weir Two Waterway Recovery Group week long Canal Camps provided volunteers during July and August to undertake replacement of eroded brickwork on the sloping weir face at Rushes Weir as well as repairs to other adjoining banks.

The final 2012 Waterway Recovery Group volunteer Canal Camp on the Navigation took place over the week covering the end of October and beginning of November and was spent dealing with trees overhanging the navigation and overgrown banks below Ricketts Lock.

A second phase of work to repair tunnels and sluices at Little Baddow Mill House was completed in late

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Other News Despite the economic climate demand for moorings on the Navigation remained buoyant throughout the year, although the number of visiting boats at Heybridge Basin was slightly down to around 450, due to the poor summer weather.

Colin Edmond retired as Navigation Manager during the year and has been replaced by Graham Brown. Two new Assistant Lengthsmen were also recruited.

Essex Waterways Helmsman School continued to prove popular not only on the Navigation, but also with many requests for training on several other waterways.

Meet the new Navigation Manager Graham Brown North Quay with power facilities and resurfaced car park

When did you join the Essex Waterways Team? September 2012 What is your background? I previously worked

Campsite Opens In 2012 Essex Waterways Ltd opened up a new Camping and Caravanning Club Certificated Site at Hoe Mill Lock on the Chelmer & Blackwater Navigation. There is a flat mowed grass camping area adjacent to the car park. The site is able to accept caravans, motorhomes or trailer-tents, as well as tents. There is a small toilet block with wash basin and drinking water, but no showers or other facilities.

The campsite is located in a quiet rural area with plenty of good footpaths to explore the countryside.

Visitors who are not members of the Camping and Caravanning Club can join on the spot, from which EWL gains a commission. There is also a small campsite at Heybridge Lock.

for Essex & Suffolk Water Company as the Senior Ranger. My role involved managing the Ranger team and included anything from site management and maintenance, to manning our rescue speed boat to assist anglers or boat users having trouble on the reservoir. Prior to that I worked for Maldon District Council looking after the local parks and open spaces, dealing with anti-social behaviour and being the face of the Council to the public.

What’s your favourite part of the job?

I enjoy all aspects of my role however I would say the best part is simply being out there and talking with our customers.

What has been your biggest challenge so far? My biggest challenge so far has been getting to

know who’s who along the 14 mile stretch of the Navigation. There are a lot of people who have an interest in the way the waterway is run and getting to know them as well as their links to the Navigation has been hard. The canal has a lot of history so there’s a lot of catching up to do!

What improvements works are planned for the Chelmer & Blackwater? We’re currently building a new facilities block at Paper Mill Lock which will be followed by another at Sandford. We’re about to undertake some major piling work along the towpath at Paper Mill Lock and resurfacing some of the towpath at Sandford. We also have some more major projects lined up, such as lock gate replacement and repairs at various locations.

What do you hope for the future of Essex Waterways? I would like to see more volunteers to build on the excellent team we already have. We have a long list of scheduled work which only ever gets longer as we look to consistently improve the experience for our customers visiting the Navigation.

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A year of Local Volunteering A round up of some of last year’s branch work parties and other local campaigns

Following the appointment of IWA’s first Branch Campaign Officer in April, the second half of 2012 saw a dramatic increase in the number of work parties being carried out by IWA branches around the country.

This increase in activity is partly down to IWA and CRT working together in practical ways to benefit the waterways. IWA branches have also worked in partnership with local canal societies, boat clubs, local community groups and local residents.

vegetation clearance mowing

canal clean ups

litter picking graffiti removal Himalayan Balsam slashing

painting planting installing mooring rings

Types of activity have included canal clean ups, vegetation clearance, installing new mooring rings and painting railings, lock gates, bollards and fences.

2011/2012 comparison

2011

2012

Number of branches holding work 7 parties

12

Total number of Work parties across all IWA branches

53

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Alison Smedley commenced work as Branch Campaign Officer in April 2012, and initially started by working mostly with branches in the Midlands and the North West. During 2013 she has started working with branches further afield and this has been helped by an additional member of staff, Stefanie Preston, who has been recruited as Branch Campaign Assistant.

Although most of the work parties have been carried out on CRT waterways (working in partnership with the CRT Volunteering Teams in each waterway area) there were also work parties on other waterways such as the Chelmer & Blackwater Navigation, which of course is managed by managed by IWA’s subsidiary company Essex Waterways Ltd. IWA’s Branch Campaign Team are also hoping to start working with EA and other navigation authorities in the future too.

The benefits of work parties are many. The physical work improves navigable waterways, but it’s also an opportunity to get new people involved. Non-members may decide to join IWA and existing IWA members may decide to get more actively involved by joining a committee. There are benefits for the volunteers as well. A work party is a great place to make new friends, discover your local waterway and get out in the fresh air and have some exercise.

Monthly work parties As well as ad hoc work party events around the country, such as canal clean ups, a number of IWA Branches now have regular monthly work parties on a particular day of the month. These are: IWA Warwickshire Branch – Lapworth - Tasks include lock painting, litter picking, veg clearance and path work. (supporting CRT’s Towpath Taskforce) on 3rd Thursday each month. 10am to 3pm.

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IWA Manchester Branch supporting Canal & River Trust Towpath Taskforce – location varies in the Greater Manchester area. Tasks include painting, vegetation clearance, pulling rubbish out of the canal and litter picking. 4th Saturday each month, 10am to 4pm.

IWA North Staffordshire & South Cheshire Branch (formerly Stoke-on-Trent Branch) and the Caldon & Uttoxeter Canals Trust – Caldon Canal – tasks include painting, hedge laying and vegetation clearance. Alternating Thursdays and Sundays in the 2nd week each month, 10am to 4pm.

IWA North Staffordshire & South Cheshire Branch (formerly Stoke-on-Trent Branch) and Trent & Mersey Canal Society – Cheshire Locks Trent & Mersey Canal. Tasks include painting and vegetation clearance. Alternating Tuesdays and Saturdays in the 3rd week each month, 10am to 4pm.

For further details of any of these look on the website (www. waterways.org.uk)

© Alison Smedley

IWA Manchester Branch at........

Case study – Manchester Branch

by IWA Branch Campaign Officer, Alison Smedley

IWA Manchester Branch was one of the first that I got involved with when I started working as IWA’s Branch Campaign Officer in April 2012. I had an informal meeting with the branch in May 2012. The committee was keen to hold work parties, but unsure of where to start, as the branch had not held any work parties for many years. We discussed some possible tasks and locations for work to be carried out, and then I set up a meeting with the Volunteering Team at CRT Manchester & Pennines. This was held in July at Dukinfield Junction, where the Ashton, Lower Peak Forest and Huddersfield canals all meet. Both the branch and CRT were keen to involve the well established local boating organisations, and so it was agreed to hold a “Work Party Taster Day” where anyone interested would have the opportunity to talk about what they would like to do.

On Saturday 15th September, IWA Manchester Branch hosted the meeting between local volunteers and CRT, to discuss future volunteering projects in the area around Dukinfield Junction. A good turnout of people, discussed some of the local issues. There was enthusiasm for a monthly work party to clear rubbish and carry out vegetation clearance. The meeting was then followed by a mini work party.

Plans then progressed for a large scale work party to celebrate the 40th anniversary of ASHTAC (a weekend in

1972 which saw 1000 people working on the then derelict Ashton Canal). This event took place over the weekend of 13th and 14th October 2012 and saw 100 volunteers across the two days take part in various activities in all three directions from Dukinfield Junction. The event was supported

by Waterway Recovery Group North West and at least a dozen of the volunteers from the original event came along for a bit of a reunion.

During this event, CRT took the opportunity to launch their “Towpath Taskforce” initiative for the Manchester & Pennines area. IWA Manchester Branch was pleased to be able to support this initiative and monthly work parties commenced on Saturday 27th October 2012. 14 volunteers, all of whom had been at the ASHTAC Reunion weekend, worked in both directions from Fairfield Junction at the top of the Ashton flight, picking litter, pulling rubbish out of the canal and clearing vegetation. The November work party saw similar activity carried out, this time at Failsworth on the Rochdale Canal.

These monthly work parties have continued into 2013, taking place on the 4th Saturday of each month in a different location in the Greater Manchester area. Such is the enthusiasm for these work parties that it is soon hoped that there will be separate IWA Manchester Branch work parties and CRT Towpath Taskforce work parties taking place each month.

Branches that held work parties during 2012:

Navigations that had work parties held

by IWA Branches during 2012:

Birmingham, Black Country & Worcestershire Chelmsford Chiltern Lichfield Leicestershire Manchester Milton Keynes Northampton North Lancs & Cumbria (now Lancashire & Cumbria) South Yorkshire & Dukeries Stoke-on-Trent (now North Staffordshire & South Cheshire) Warwickshire

Ashton Canal Aylesbury Arm Caldon Canal Chelmer & Blackwater Navigation Grand Union Canal Lancaster Canal Leicester Section of the Grand Union Canal Lower Peak Forest Canal Rochdale Canal Sheffield & South Yorkshire Navigation Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal Stratford Canal Trent & Mersey Canal Walsall Canal Westbridge Branch of the River Nene Worcester & Birmingham Canal Wyrley & Essington Canal

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Waterway Recovery Group 2

23,000 Volunteer Hours on Canal Camps in 2012 … and that doesn’t even include the hours and hours WRG regional groups spend restoring the canals every weekend!

Wow – it’s been a busy year

involved in a challenging and demanding project to restore a 275 metre section of the canal from Over Basin. Nearly Over 400 WRG volunteers have spent the summer and 50 volunteers participated in the project which started autumn months restoring locks, repointing damaged with a ‘technical’ plant operator’s camp and followed with brickwork, constructing landing stages, rebuilding towpaths a more traditional style canal camp and weekend dig. and re-profiling sections of canal on various restoration Equipped with five excavators, including two 20-tonne projects across England and Wales. We’ve travelled the excavators, three dumpers and country in our bright red vans two rollers, volunteers began heritage from the Lancaster Canal in the work to dig out the section north to the Wey & Arun Canal of the canal at Vineyard Hill. in the south, all the way across As week two started, 18 new to the Swansea Canal in Wales volunteers joined the project, scrub bashing and back again to the Chelmer and work continued to excavate and Blackwater Navigation in the line of the canal, as well machine operation Essex. In the winter months we as creating an overflow weir, a cleared miles of derelict canal of French drain and a new towpath. The Kent and East Sussex vegetation and trees on the Uttoxeter Canal, Herefordshire Canal Restoration Group then joined WRG volunteers on & Gloucestershire Canal, and Cotswolds Canals. the final weekend, where the clay dam was cut open and 275 metres of canal slowly went back into water. It was a 275 metres of new canal created by great achievement for WRG and thanks must go to all the volunteers in just 2 weeks! WRG was invited volunteers involved in this project.

by Herefordshire & Gloucestershire Canal Trust to get

bricklaying

lock restoration friends

1 2 3 4 5 6 8

WRG is run by volunteers for volunteers.

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WRG organised 28 week long Canal Camps in 2012.

80 volunteers helped lead, assist and cook on these Canal Camps.

WRG’s Regional Groups ran over 40 weekend digs across England and Wales in 2012.

63 Duke of Edinburgh students completed their gold residential qualification with WRG in 2012.

WRG volunteers come from all over the UK, France, Spain, Italy, Switzerland, Germany and even as far afield as Australia!

8 9 10

Over 100 volunteers attended WRG’s Bonfire Bash Weekend, clearing vegetation on the Herefordshire & Gloucestershire Canal.

60 WRG volunteers spent a weekend clearing the BCN – sinks, hoovers, bikes and of course a few shopping trolleys were recovered!

275 metres of new canal was created at Over Basin in just 2 weeks by WRG volunteers.

Feeding 18 hungry volunteers lunch on site involves a lot of food… 50 rolls, butter, 350g of cheese, 20 slices of ham, pot of humous, 1 x can of tuna, 1 cake, 25 biscuits, ½ cucumber, 6 tomatoes, 15 apples, 10 bananas, 25 bags of crisps… and of course lots of tea and coffee.

Name: Bob Age: 65 Occupation: Retired “I enjoy WRG weekends and Canal Camps because I get out in the fresh air, keep myself active and meet a wide cross section of people of differing ages and backgrounds. I also get to operate a variety of plant and machinery which I find great fun whilst getting the satisfaction of restoring the canal network.”

Name: Becky Age: 39 Occupation: Administrator “I’ve been doing this for 20 years, and it’s the best holiday I’ve ever had – to meet like minded people and to do a worthwhile activity is amazing!”

Name: Katrina Age: 21 Occupation: Student “Canal Camps are one of the best things I have done in last couple of years. Its a totally different experience from normal life.

I’ve been trained to use some awesomely cool ‘toys’ - my favourite is the brick saw! What makes Canal Camps special? Hard work, cool toys, laughter and great people!”

Building Bridges In October volunteers from WRG worked in partnership with the Canal & River Trust and May Gurney to help restore two historic accommodation bridges on the North Oxford Canal in Northamptonshire. Bridges 79 and 80, built back in the 1770s, had slowly fallen into a state of disrepair and WRG volunteers used their heritage restoration skills to restore these bridges back to their former glory.

The main aim of this project was to improve working relations with the Canal & River Trust, and develop a suitable framework allowing volunteers to work on more technical projects with the Trust in the future and demonstrate what volunteers can do.

Focus on Forestry The Waterway Recovery Group Forestry Team (WRGFT) draws its members from the main WRG regional groups. The Team has a firm belief in safe working practices, and all of its members who are chainsaw operatives have undergone training and gained LANTRA & NPTC qualifications.

In recent years the Group has undergone a resurgence and for the first time, in 2012, it ran a week long canal camp on the Uttoxeter Canal attended by over 25 volunteers.

WRG Forestry has carried out work from single tree removal on the Wendover Arm, Grand Union Canal to major scrub and tree clearance at Nynehead Lift, on the Grand Western Canal. In 2012 is has also been busy on the Wey & Arun Canal, Herefordshire & Gloucestershire Canal as well as the Cotswolds with more planned for 2013.

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What IWA Does for Boaters Around the country, 33 IWA branch committees, along with the national Navigation Committee, carry out vital campaigning work behind the scenes on behalf of not only members, but waterway users everywhere.

Planning IWA provided guidance on the new National Planning Policy Framework Guidance, which will help IWA branch committees and waterway societies to get waterway corridors protected in new local plans.

On a local level, IWA branch committees keep an eye on planning applications to local authorities that may affect the waterways, and submit objections if they discover anything that would have an adverse impact on navigation or use of the waterways. As an example, during 2012, IWA Lichfield Branch’s planning officer looked at 120 planning applications in its branch area, across 14 local authorities at district, borough and county level. Detailed comments were submitted concerning 57 of those planning applications, of which 21 were objections. The branch also commented on a wide range of strategies and plans put out for consultation by the various local authorities.

2012 Olympics During 2012 IWA lobbied regarding access to East London waterways during the Olympic Games, resulting in improved access and opening times during the lead up to and during the Games. IWA also provided logistics for moorings for boaters wishing to visit London during the Games.

Congested Moorings IWA provided comment and guidance on several consultations regarding mooring sites, particularly in the South East. A paper written by IWA London Region encouraged CRT and local authorities to work together to resolve the issues caused by congestion of visitor moorings.

Fire Safety and Carbon Monoxide Leaflets containing safety advice concerning Fire safety and Carbon monoxide were published by the Boat Safety Scheme, but without a way of distributing them to boaters. IWA Warwickshire Branch came to the rescue and arranged for distribution to marinas around the country.

European Issues IWA has been lobbying on UK boaters’ behalf concerning the use of red diesel and requirements for professional qualifications for those operating commercial craft, working boats and trip boats.

Consultations and proposed changes on both these issues were raised again during 2012/13.

Dredging and maintenance IWA continues to campaign for adequate maintenance of waterways, particularly with respect to issues such as dredging and vegetation control. IWA branch committees report maintenance issues to navigation authorities.

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A recent campaign by a local branch averted the need for a stoppage on the Trent & Mersey Canal when Lock 65 on the Cheshire Flight failed. The lock was closed for emergency maintenance but following lobbying by IWA Stoke-on-Trent Branch (now North Staffordshire & South Cheshire Branch), the adjacent duplicate lock (which had been closed) was reopened by CRT.

IWA provided logistics for boater moorings during the Olympics

IWA & HS2 A consultation on the new £42 billion HS2 high speed rail line between London and the Midlands was announced in 2011. The Government’s preferred route showed several canal crossing points and since then IWA has been involved with the proposals, locally and nationally.

IWA contributed to the initial preferred route consultation for phase 1, as did the then British Waterways (BW), and this resulted in a Service Level Agreement between HS2 Ltd and BW regarding the requirements at the crossing points of navigable waterways. However, further changes in the preferred route announced in January 2012 still cause major impacts on canals, such as the crossing and close passing of the Oxford Canal near Wormleighton, crossing of the Grand Union in the Colne Valley, and especially the triple crossings of the Trent and Mersey Canal in the Fradley area around Wood End Lock, in addition to a very wide crossing of the Digbeth Branch Canal (Birmingham Canal Navigations) near Curzon Street, and a wider crossing of the Grand Union under Saltley Viaduct in Birmingham. IWA has recently made official national responses to two further consultations on phase 1, including the ‘link connections’ to the phase 2 lines to Manchester and Leeds, following a consultation with members An initial preferred route for phase 2 from Birmingham to Manchester, and Birmingham to Leeds was announced in January 2013 and IWA will lobby to minimise the visual and noise impact of the new canal crossings, such as inadequate height for boat passage at a crossing of the Trent and Mersey near Bostock Hall, and inadequate clearance for leisure and commercial traffic on the Aire and Calder Navigation near Leeds, and to ensure proper provision for the protection of restoration routes which include the Ashby, Chesterfield and Barnsley canals. These issues are being discussed in detail in an IWA-led waterways working group partnership.

Later in 2013, there will be a formal consultation on phase 2 routes, to which IWA will make a response. In addition there will be a private/ public bill presented to Parliament to debate progression of phase 1, and subject to progress on addressing IWA’s concerns we will make further representations at that stage with our partners. IWA will continue to work with navigation authorities and other waterways interests impacted by the HS2 proposals. The Association will submit further responses to consultations, and is undertaking appropriate lobbying to ensure the best protection for the inland waterways.

Chester Weir, Upper Reaches of the River Dee at Chester

© Rept0n1x, CC-BY-SA

Proposed new lock siting in the Old Mill Race

Dee Lock in its present state

Case Study: Local Campaigning A Vision for Chester’s Waterways

During 2012/13, IWA Chester & Merseyside Branch worked in partnership with the Chester Canal Heritage Trust and Canal & River Trust to develop a waterway strategy which would be a key element in the Chester One City Plan. A suggested vision document has been presented to Chester Renaissance.

opportunity to maximise the regeneration potential of its waterspace. The prime need is to connect the upper reaches of the Dee with the tidal Dee and the Shropshire Union Canal so that Chester becomes a worthwhile boating destination. The first imperative is an improved and safe passage between the canal and the upstream Dee. This could be achieved by:

The vision will be a key element in safeguarding the Dee Branch of the Shropshire Union Canal and improving access to the upper reaches of the river Dee.

i) b uilding a lock adjacent to the weir on the Handbridge side of the river ii) improving facilities around the Dee lock itself iii) making the Dee Branch navigable again.

The proposals have gained support and momentum with coverage in the local press. Going forward, IWA Chester & Merseyside Branch will be lobbying local councillors.

These improvements will promote wider multi-use of the waterways (both boating and pedestrian), which in turn will be the catalyst for stronger regeneration of Chester’s neglected waterside areas.

The Waterways Vision for Chester

Canal boats and suitable sea-going craft could come up to Chester’s Riverside and cruise the upper Dee as far as Farndon. The neglected upper reaches of the river above Chester could be brought back to life.

The scheme would also allow craft now ‘trapped’ on the river to cruise the rest of the waterway system.

Chester would become an attractive waterway centre in the same way that Stratford has benefited from the reopening of the River Avon and the Stratford Canal.

Chester has a unique linked system of waterways – canal, tidal and non-tidal river - but, compared with other cities, Chester has been left behind in realising their regeneration potential.

• • • • •

The canal is under-used The Dee Branch is becoming derelict and unkempt The tidal Dee is all but deserted The upper Dee is inaccessible to visiting craft.

The riverside walks are blighted by rampant and neglected vegetation.

Above all, Chester’s waterways are not exploited as an inter-linked system. Yet, with a little imagination, the waterspace and its surroundings could be the focus for major regeneration around water-based activities as has been done elsewhere in the UK and Europe.

The time is now right to ‘make a difference’ by exploiting the regeneration opportunities offered by Chester’s unique and historic system of waterways.

The first step could be to determine the navigation opportunities for visiting boaters. This could then be followed by a financial and technical feasibility study of the options, possibilities and challenges involved in bringing these ideas to fruition and making the best of the waterways of Chester and West Cheshire.

The One City Plan offers Chester a golden

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The Next Generation WOW’s successful year in 2012

by Gillian Bolt IWA Youth Development Co-ordinator

As part of IWA’s commitment to working with and encouraging the next generation of waterways supporters and volunteers, we funded a huge number of WOW activities around the network in 2012.

The year really got under way with WOW activities run by the London Canal Museum at Canalway Cavalcade in early May, using resources provided by our WOW South kit co-ordinator. More resources were provided for the IWA Campaign Rally over the May Bank Holiday weekend at Stroud.

With the help of our WOW Wales & Shropshire Co-ordinator, WOW activities were offered at the Middlewich Folk & Boat Festival in mid June which were very well supported by local families, despite the interesting weather that prevailed at times.

Although IWA did not run a National Festival in 2012, the Northwich River Weaver Festival in late June brought hundreds more children into contact with WOW whilst the “Art is Rubbish” challenge took us into local schools. The prize winning entry was a superb model of the Anderton Lift, made by a Year 6 class and following the presentations, the model spent the summer on display in the Anderton Visitor Centre.

conditions of IWA’s National Campaign Rally at Haslam Park in Preston, during August, and thoroughly enjoyed themselves despite the weather.

Slight improvements in our wet summer of 2012 resulted in a good attendance and great WOW activity programme at the Maesbury Festival in early September. These activities were run by our WOW Wales & Shropshire kit co-ordinator with resources being loaned on for use at the Whitchurch Rally too.

IWA North Staffordshire & South Cheshire Branch has used its WOW activity resources at various local waterside events with IWA Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire Branch also using the kit to engage with local communities.

During the autumn, more WOW resources have been provided to North Walsham & Dilham Canal Trust, members of the Friends of the Cromford Canal for their Discovery Days and also the Grantham Canal Society. These events were extremely successful and the WOW resources have already been booked for their next events.

A couple of projects aimed at teenagers, in partnership with our colleagues in Get Hooked on Fishing, had to be postponed due to the high river conditions which prevailed during 2012 but we hope to rekindle those ideas during 2013.

More young people made knot tied “dragonflies”, duck hats and lace plates during the monsoon

New Initiatives A new initiative in 2012 was our WOW activity leaflets in branded WOW folders. These were taken to various hire boat companies who were asked to put them into their hire packs for holiday makers. They were very enthusiastically received and we received repeat requests from two of the companies with some very positive comments. We are already planning our strategy and companies to target in 2013.

Another new initiative is the WOW mini-kit. This is a light, portable box with suitable display materials and two or three activities only thus enabling IWA volunteers to take WOW to their local audience at a lock wind, clean-up or awareness day. The aim is to equip every branch with the kit, giving them the freedom to engage with families whenever appropriate. The larger kits are, of course, still available for branches to book and use when they need to.

12

Independent Auditors’ Statement To The Trustees Of The Inland Waterways Association We have examined the summary financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2012 set out below.

This report is made solely to the company’s members as a body. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the members those matters we are required to state to them in a auditors’ report and for no other purpose.

To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the company, and the company’s members as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.

Respective Responsibilities of the Trustees and the Auditors The trustees (who are also directors of the company for the purposes of company law) are responsible for preparing the Summarised Consolidated Financial Statements in accordance with applicable United Kingdom law and the recommendations of the Charities SORP. Our responsibility is to report to you our opinion on the consistency of the summary financial statements within the Summarised Consolidated Financial Statements with the full annual financial statements and the Trustees’ Report, and its compliance with the relevant requirements of section 427 of the Companies Act 2006 and the regulations made thereunder.

The Inland Waterways Association Summary Consolidated Statement of Financial Activities For the year ended 31 December 2012

Opinion In our opinion the summary financial statements are consistent with the full annual financial statements and the Trustees’ Report of IWA for the year ended 31 December 2012 and complies with the applicable requirements of Section 427 of the Companies Act 2006 and the regulations made thereunder.

Saffery Champness Chartered Accountants Statutory Auditors Fox House, Temple End, High Wycombe, Bucks, HP13 5DR 8th June 2013 Trustees Statement These summary accounts have been extracted from the audited statutory accounts of the charity, which were approved on 8th June 2013 and, together with the annual report, will be submitted to the Charity Commission and Registrar of Companies. The auditors have issued an unqualified audit report on the full financial statements and on the consistency of the Trustee’s Report with those financial statements. Their report on the full annual financial statements contained no statement under sections 498(2) (a), 498(2)(b) or 498(3) of the Companies Act 2006. These summarised accounts may not contain sufficient information to allow for a full understanding of the financial affairs of the charity. For further information, the full accounts, the auditors’ report on those accounts and the Trustees’ Annual Report should be consulted. Copies can be obtained, free of charge, from The Finance Manager, IWA, Island House, Moor Road, Chesham, Bucks HP5 1WA and downloaded from www. waterways.org.uk.

2011

£

£

158,661

160,071

Grant Income

33,051

112,995

Subscriptions

390,938

387,294

Activities for generating funds

660,986

847,655

Unrestricted funds Incoming resources Donations & legacies

Publications Income Public Meetings and other activities Investment Income

4,824

541

14,458

18,019

26,636

32,669

1,289,554

1,559,244

455,021

781,440

4,015

7,510

Campaign and restoration costs

432,123

554,763

Membership support costs

178,630

160,226

5,362

7,718

Governance Costs

69,476

87,443

Transfer to restricted Funds

90,000

22,000

1,234,627

1,621,100

54,927

-61,856

90,371

16,919

66,149

-39,179

Total Incoming Resources Resources expended Cost of generating funds Investment Management costs

Public meetings and other activities

We also read the other information contained in the Summarised Consolidated Financial Statements and consider the implications for our report if we become aware of any apparent misstatements or material inconsistencies with the summary financial statements We conducted our work in accordance with Bulletin 2008/3 issued by the Auditing Practices Board. Our report on the company’s full annual financial statements describes the basis of our audit opinion on those financial statements and on the Trustees’ Report.

2012

Unrestricted Funds Net incoming/(outgoing) resources Restricted funds Net incoming re-sources Net gains/(losses) on listed investments Net movement in funds

211,447

-84,116

Fund balances brought forward

1,473,835

1,557,951

Total Funds

1,685,282

1,473,835

1,319,790

1,214,524

541,854

449,216

1,861,644

1,663,740

Summary Consolidated Balance Sheet As at 31 December 2012 Fixed Assets Current Assets Creditors: amounts due within one year

-156,824

- 165,491

1,704,820

1,498,249

-19,538

- 24,414

1,685,282

1,473,835

Restricted fund

511,128

420,757

Unrestricted funds - Designated funds

295,081

268,454

879,073

784,624

1,685,282

1,473,835

Net current assets Creditors: amounts due after more than one year Total net assets Funds

- General fund

Signed on behalf of the trustees:

Leslie Etheridge, National Chairman 8th June 2013

13

© Ray Carnell

Basingstoke Canal reopening cruise Easter 2013, leading boats wait as Athai crew and towpath walkers clear a fallen tree.

Basingstoke Canal In early 2013 the Basingstoke Canal reopened, three years after the owners allocated £1.6million for capital works. The occasion was marked with thirty boats participating in the cruise on nearly the full length of the canal. A landslip at Dogmersfield isolated the last few miles, but this is being addressed. Not only has the original £1.6million been spent but the owners allocated a further £4million of capital to maintain navigation.

and Brookwood flights 5 years ago. IWA, through constant encouragement, and with the support and help of Basingstoke (formerly Surrey & Hampshire) Canal Society and WRG, has played a significant part in persuading the owners to reopen. IWA argued the case citing the local benefits of the restoration to the economics of the canal, the general navigation benefits to the local economy and the benefits to the ecology.

The canal is a lovely waterway, especially the Hampshire Pound and parts of the Surrey section. It runs through some of the most prosperous boroughs in England.

Boaters can show their appreciation to the owners, Hampshire and Surrey county councils, by using the canal and by not objecting to the rise in mooring and navigation charges which are inevitable if the canal is to remain open and have improved boating facilities. There are issues regarding moorings, pump-outs and diesel.

Led by IWA, the issue of adequate all year round water, a major problem since the canal was built over 200 years ago, is being addressed. The canal had been severed by the closure of the Deepcut

Before the closure there were an estimated 1.3million users of the waterway including boaters.

The Inland Waterways Association is a non-profit distributing company limited by guarantee. Company registration number 612245.

Charity registration number 212342. Registered office: Island House, Moor Road, Chesham, HP5 1WA